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Weekend Hot Clicks: Jessica Killings; Can Golden State Warriors Repeat?
NBA Playoff Roundup
The NBA playoffs tipped off Saturday with the defending champion Warriors doing exactly what everyone thought they'd do—take care of Houston in Game 1. Steph Curry and Patrick Beverley drew double technicals early in the matchup ... ABC lost its video feed to the game at one point in the third quarter ... Curry had to go to the locker room twice to get his troublesome ankle retaped and is questionable for Game 2. Meanwhile, the Toronto Raptors lost at home to Indiana, falling to an abysmal 0-8 in the first game of an opening-round playoff series ... Boston erased an 18-point deficit but eventually lost 102-101 at Atlanta ... Oklahoma City embarrassed the Dallas Mavericks, 108-70, but Russell Westbrook's arrival outfit may have been even more embarrassing ... Before the playoffs began, our experts made their predictions on how they see the next 65 days playing out, with one San Antonio-Cleveland championship series among the bunch. At stake, bragging rights and a ring along the likes of those pictured below.
GALLERY: NBA CHAMPIONSHIP RINGS THROUGH THE YEARS
NBA Championship Rings Through the Years
2017-18 Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors swept the Cleveland Cavaliers to win their third title in four years. The team got reversible rings with 74 sapphries on one side of the ring. The 74 represents the total number of victories the team earned during the regular season and playoffs in bringing home the franchise's sixth championship.
2016-17 Golden State Warriors
The Warriors beat LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2017 NBA Finals to win their second title in three years.
2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers
NBA Finals MVP LeBron James and the Cavs defeated the defending champion Warriors in seven games for these rings featuring the Cavaliers’ “C” wrapped around the Larry O’Brien trophy.
2014-15 Golden State Warriors
The Warriors took home these beauties after upending LeBron James and the Cavaliers in six games for their first title in 40 years.
2013-14 San Antonio Spurs
The Heat aimed to three-peat, but the Spurs had other ideas. Kawhi Leonard had a couple of breakout performances on his way to series MVP, and San Antonio ran away from Miami in five games.
2012-13 Miami Heat
These rings would have never seen the light of day had Ray Allen not made one of the greatest shots in NBA Finals history. Thanks to Allen, the Heat rallied and defeated the Spurs in overtime in Game 6, and then won two days later to repeat as champs.
2011-12 Miami Heat
LeBron James got his first ring as the Heat overwhelmed the Thunder in five games. James averaged 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists.
2010-11 Dallas Mavericks
Dallas won three straight games to erase a 2-1 deficit and squash the newly formed Miami Big Three's title dreams. This was also the Mavericks' first NBA title in franchise history.
2009-10 Los Angeles Lakers
The Celtics held a 3-2 lead in this series, but the Lakers took care of business at the Staples Center in Game 6 and 7 to repeat as champs. This was the fifth and final set of rings for Los Angeles with Kobe Bryant.
2008-09 Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers survived in a pair of overtime battles and then pulled away from the Magic in Game 5 to win their first NBA title since 2002's three-peat. Kobe Bryant won series MVP with averages of 32.4 points and 7.4 assists.
2007-08 Boston Celtics
Acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen during the off-season paid off quickly for Boston. In their first year, Garnett and Allen teamed up with Paul Pierce to defeat the Lakers in six games and bring the Celtics new jewelry for the first time since 1986.
2006-07 San Antonio Spurs
LeBron James' Cavaliers broke through to the finals, but they were no match for the Spurs, who completed the sweep for their third title in five years.
2005-06 Miami Heat
In their first-ever NBA Finals appearance, the Heat became the third team in league history to win a championship after trailing 0-2. Dwayne Wade averaged 39.3 points in the next four games as Miami won the series in six.
2004-05 San Antonio Spurs
This series was almost as close as possible. The Spurs and the Pistons entered the fourth quarter of Game 7 tied, and Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili led San Antonio in the fourth quarter to its third title under coach Greg Popovich.
2003-04 Detroit Pistons
Larry Brown had an NCAA title ring, and a 4-1 victory over the Lakers gave the coach his first NBA championship ring. Brown remains the only coach to win an NCAA and NBA title.
2002-03 San Antonio Spurs
In one of the great all-time playoff performances, Tim Duncan fell barely shy of a quadruple double with 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists and eight blocks in the series-clinching Game 6.
2001-02 Los Angeles Lakers
The Nets did not put up much resistance as the Lakers completed a 4-0 sweep for their third straight title, giving coach Phil Jackson his ninth NBA title in 12 seasons.
2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers
Allen Iverson carried the 76ers to a Eastern Conference title and Game 1 victory against the Lakers, but Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal were too much for The Answer. Los Angeles won the next four games, including three straight in Philadelphia, to win its second straight championship.
1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers
In his return to coaching, Phil Jackson guided the Lakers to a 4-2 series victory against the Pacers, coached by Larry Bird. Shaquille O'Neal averaged 36.3 points and 12.3 rebounds, earning his first of three straight Finals MVPs.
1998-99 San Antonio Spurs
In a battle of dominant frontcourts, David Robinson and Tim Duncan bested Patrick Ewing and Larry Johnson as the Spurs defeated the Knicks in five games for their first NBA title.
1997-98 Chicago Bulls
Michael Jordan's jump shot with 5.6 seconds remaining in Game 6 gave the Bulls their second three-peat of the decade. Since then, Chicago has no NBA Finals appearances and only one conference finals appearance.
1996-97 Chicago Bulls
In a series featuring six Hall of Fame players, the Bulls defeated the Jazz in six games as Michael Jordan fought through food poisoning to lead Chicago to wins in Game 5 and Game 6.
1995-96 Chicago Bulls
Dennis Rodman tied an NBA Finals record in Game 2 with 11 offensive rebounds against Seattle and then did it again in Game 6, the series clincher, but Michael Jordan was once again the no-brainer series MVP, averaging 27.3 points 5.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists.
1994-95 Houston Rockets
Hakeem Olajuwon taught young Shaquille O'Neal a few lessons in this series as the Rockets swept the Magic for their second consecutive NBA title. The Rockets were the first No. 6 seed to win a Finals series.
1993-94 Houston Rockets
The Rockets ended a five-season title drought for the Western Conference as Hakeem Olajuwon charged victories in Game 6 and Game 7 in Houston.
1992-93 Chicago Bulls
The Bulls became the first team to three-peat since Bill Russell's Celtics in the 1960s. Chicago defeated Phoenix in six games, leaving Charles Barkley without a ring.
1991-92 Chicago Bulls
Michael Jordan shrugged his way to a NBA Finals record six first-half three-pointers in Game of 1 of this series, and the Bulls went on to win in six games.
1990-91 Chicago Bulls
The Bulls recorded their first-ever NBA title as Michael Jordan led the way averaging 31.2 points, 11.4 assists, 2.8 steals and 1.4 blocks to defeat the Showtime Lakers in five games.
1989-90 Detroit PIstons
For the first time since 1979, the NBA Finals did not include at least one of the Celtics or the Lakers. The Bad Boy Pistons faced Clyde Drexler and the Trail Blazers, winning in five games for their second straight championship.
1988-89 Detroit PIstons
The Lakers led entering the fourth quarter three times during this series but could never hold on as the Pistons swept them in four games.
1987-88 Los Angeles Lakers
This time, the Lakers got the best of the Pistons in a thrilling seven games series where the final two games were decided by a combined four points.
1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers
In a high-scoring series, the Lakers and the Celtics each broke the century in the first five games. Then Los Angeles held Boston to 93 points to win the series in Game 6.
1985-86 Boston Celtics
The Celtics captured their second title in three years, defeating the Rockets in six games. Larry Bird fell just shy of averaging a triple with 24 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.5 assists.
1984-85 Los Angeles Lakers
In a series that featured nine Hall of Fame players, the Lakers got revenge from one year earlier with a 4-2 victory against the Celtics.
1983-84 Boston Celtics
The Celtics came out on top in the first of three 1980s finals meetings with the Lakers. Larry Bird averaged 27.4 points and 14 rebounds, getting the best of Magic Johnson, who's Michigan State team got defeated Bird's Indiana State squad in the 1979 NCAA championship.
1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers
In a rematch of the 1982 finals, Moses Malone tore up the Lakers front line for 25.8 points and 18 rebounds per game as Philadelphia swept Los Angeles.
USC blind long-snapper gets in spring game
Saturday was another busy day on the spring football schedule with Alabama, Ohio State, LSU, Notre Dame and Tennessee among the schools holding their controlled scrimmages. But the day belonged to USC blind long-snapper Jake Olson, who completed two field goal snaps. Said Olson: "When I first ran out there and the crowd cheered, I had to fight back tears.”
Tony Romo is Throwing Fully
Speaking at a Saturday event, Tony Romo says he's throwing fully after shoulder surgery six weeks ago. The Dallas Cowboys quarterback fractured his left collarbone twice last season and started in only four games.
Lovely Lady of the Weekend
If you're the type who puts off doing your taxes until the final days, here's hoping this weekend's lovely lady, Jessica Killings, doesn't distract you too much. Shout out to Tom in Arlington for the recommendation. (Click here for full-size version.)
Ready for a Garden Party?
Ronda Rousey's first bout since her stunning defeat may be at MSG.
How the 2016 NFL Schedule Was Made
The MMQB's Peter King huddled with the NFL’s four-person scheduling team.
Sheryl in Peril?
Three-time Olympic gold medalist Sheryl Swoopes is under internal investigation at Loyola after 10 of her 12 returning players either transferred or asked to be released from their scholarships.
Bill Belichick's Best Birthday Present
16 years ago today, Bill Belichick turned 48 - and celebrated his birthday by making best draft pick in NFL history: pic.twitter.com/dN2uBIvWkj
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 16, 2016
Enjoying the Weekend
Arrival #Coachella pic.twitter.com/tZCBrt3LSd
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) April 16, 2016
Johnny Manziel Doing Likewise
Johnny Manziel -- Touches Down at Coachella ... With OVO Ryan https://t.co/HZK4jdFGkG
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) April 16, 2016
ODBJ Expanding His Reach
Seeing what this pinterest hypes bout https://t.co/VzWkLAy6nV
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) April 16, 2016
Odds & Ends
With the Boston Marathon on Monday, here are 36 celebrities (and other notable people) you had no idea enjoy running, including Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who turned 63 on Saturday ... What if the NBA playoffs were decided by who has the best footwear ... For the fishemen out there ... David Ortiz stole a base for just the 16th time in his 19-year career ... .Massive brawl in an American Hockey League game results in six players being ejected ... A week after taking the head basketball coaching job at UNLV, Chris Beard quit to go back to his old school ... Galleries: The Day in Sports April 17, April 16 and April 15.
Will the NBA Ever Have Another 3,000 Point Scorer?
On this day 29 years ago, Michael Jordan became the only NBA player beside Wilt Chamberlain to score 3,000 points in a season. He put an exclamation point on the feat by going off for 61 against 'Nique and the Hawks that night. No one has sniffed 3,000 points in a season since. By comparison, James Harden led the league this year with 2,376 points, one more than Steph Curry.
Steph Curry, Pro Quarterback
How does an MVP get ready for his first playoff game in what could be a repeat NBA Championship? Well, before the Warriors and Rockets tipped off, Steph Curry pretended to play football, baseball and soccer with the basketball.
Barbershop: The Next Cut
Enjoyed this review of the new Barbershop movie, and enjoyed even more watching the cameo of Anthony Davis. The Pelicans big man appears late in the film and creates some laughs when defending his unibrow. Barbershop won't be the highest grossing movie of the weekend, but it could be the funniest and most serious, all at the same time.
The View From Above
We combed through our photo databases and compiled this gallery of some of our favorite aerial and overhead pictures. (Click here for the full-size version.)
The View From Above
Maria Sharapova serves to Justine Henin at the 2007 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships in Madrid, Spain.
UCLA's Lew Alcindor (33) and Houston's Elvin Hayes battle for the tipoff in the Game of the Century, played in January 1968.
Gabby Douglas at the 2012 U.S. Olympic gymnastics trials.
Julio Jones makes a play on the ball against the San Francisco 49ers in a 2013 NFC playoff game.
Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers dunks the ball over a car in the final round of the 2011 NBA Slam Dunk contest.
Barbaro and jockey Edgar Prado winning the 2006 Kentucky Derby by a huge margin.
Muhammad Ali's 1966 knockout of Cleveland Williams in front of an Astrodome crowd of 35,460, a record at the time for an indoor fight.
Michael Jordan flies to the rim for a dunk in this 1987 action portrait.
Michael Phelps in the 200-meter butterfly semifinals at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials.
Matthias Steiner of Germany attempts to get from under the weights he dropped at the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
Worn out decathletes after the 1,500-meter run at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games.
Hungary swimmer Ervin Kovacs starts the 200-meter freestyle SM5 at the 2004 Paralympic Games.
Holly Holm stands over a knocked ouyt Ronda Rousey at UFC 193, held in Melbourne, Australia, in November 2015.
UCLA's Natalie Williams in a 1991 match against Stanford.
Ed Sprague of the Toronto Blue Jays watches a foul ball off his bat during the 1993 American League playoffs.
Chicago White Sox pitcher Wilson Alvarez stands under the last out pop up in a 1993 playoff game.
Georgia wide receiver Chris Conley running a 40-yard dash at the 2015 NFL Combine.
With a one-stroke lead heading to the final hole at the 2012 U.S. Open, Phil Mickelson (yellow shirt) blew his chance to win a third straight major when his tee shot bounced off this hospitality tent at Winged Foot and landed way astray of the fairway. He ended up with a double bogey.
USA goalie Jim Craig and Ken Morrow (3) defending the net in the 1980 Miracle on Ice victory over the USSR in Lake Placid, N.Y.
The view from the triple jump pit at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games.
A UConn player on the screen at AT&T Stadium in Arlington with the USA flag unfurled below prior to a 2014 Final Four game between the Huskies and Florida.
New Mexico's Cameron Bairstow (41) and Stanford's Dwight Powell during the 2014 NCAA Tournament.
Penn State players celebrate their 2014 national volleyball championship win over BYU.
Ben McLemore dunks over Shaquille O'Neal during the 2014 NBA All-Star Weekend in New Orleans.
New York City Marathon runners on the Verrazano Narrows Bridge in 1983.
Suzy Favor Hamilton is helped off the track after falling during the 1,500-meter final at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
Michael Jordan signing autographs with fans after a 1987 game vs. the Detroit Pistons.
In a fight that lasted just two minutes and eight seconds, Neil Leifer captured this memorable photo of Muhammad Ali's knockout of Sonny Liston in 1965.
Members of Korea's team pursuit squad at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
Tony Gonzalez does his signature dunk over the goal post, this time after scoring in a 2013 playoff game against San Francisco.
Edmonton's Cam Talbot blocks a shot as teammates Matt Hendricks and Darnell Nurse also defend against Philadelphia in a 2016 game.
The Dream Team's Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Magic Johnson during the final against Croatia in 1992.
Crimson Tide running back Lawrence Erekosima works on a confetti angel after Alabama's win over Clemson in the 2016 national title game.
The scene from the 2004 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials.
Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariotta gets pressured by an Ohio State's Tyquan Lewis in the 2015 college football national title game.
The 200-meter individual medley semifinals at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials.
San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick escapes Atlanta defenders during a 2013 playoff game in the Georgia Dome.
Tiger Woods and caddie Steve Williams celebrating his birdie putt on 18 to force a Monday playoff in the 2008 U.S. Open.
A look at the Dean Smith Center during a game between North Carolina and North Carolina State.
The view of Cigar in the stall with his handler in 1995.
Skip to the Stone (second from left) with Victor Espinoza up, comes out of the gate en route to winning the 2001 Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct.
Mets pitcher Matt Harvey warms up in bullpen before a game against the New York Yankees.
Toronto Blue Jays players greeting Joe Carter at home plate after his World Series-winning home run in 1993 against the Philadelphia Phillies.
One of the semifinal heats of the 60-meter hurdles at the 1999 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Atlanta.
Wayne Gretzky of the Los Angeles Kings in action vs. Edmonton Oilers goalie Grant Fuhr in 1998.
Mika Hakkinen of Finland, David Coulthard of Great Britain and Michael Schumacher of Germany on the winners podium after the 2008 Spanish Grand Prix.
Lennox Lewis lands a left to the head of David Tua during 2000 heavyweight championship bout in Las Vegas.
Action in the men's individual All-Around final at the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
Boston Celtics great Larry Bird in action vs. Magic Johnson of the L.A. Lakers during Game 1 of the 1985 NBA Finals.
Florida's Steven Harris holds up the trophy after the Gators defeated Ohio State in the 2007 BCS championship game.
Slovakia's Olympic hockey team before a game against the U.S. at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.
Nigeria's 4x100 meter relay team rejoices after winning the bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Atlanta Falcons cheerleaders during a 2013 NFC Conference playoff game between San Francisco and Atlanta.
Referee Zack Clayton counts out George Foreman after Muhammad Ali downed him in the eighth round of their 1974 bout.
Georgia running back Todd Gurley being tackled by an Alabama defender in the 2012 SEC Championship game.
Usain Bolt of Jamaica leading the field in a 100-meter semifinal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Luis Sojo of the Seattle Mariners trying to beat Omar Vizquel of the Cleveland Indians to the bag in the 1995 ALCS.
Hungary vs. Canada in a women's water polo preliminary game at the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games.
Toronto's Vince Carter at the 2000 NBA All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest.
Competitors at the 2014 European Handball Federation's final four, which included ZRK Vardar vs ZRK Buducnos.
Pavel Bure of Vancouver in action vs New York Rangers goalie Mike Richter in the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals.
LSU takes the field ahead of the 2012 BCS national championship game against Alabama.
Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer with his players before a playoff game vs Michigan State at Lucas Oil Stadium.
A competitor at the 2014 U.S. Surfing Championships in Huntington, Calif.
Yei Yah of Nigeria in a heat of the 50-meter freestyle at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Sergei Bubka pole vaulting in 1988.
Jorgen Persson of Sweden and Kalinikos Kreanga of Greece compete in table tennis at the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games.
Oregon linebacker Tyson Coleman takes aim at Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones in the 2015 college football national title game.
A professional bull rider at a 2013 rodeo in Hollywood, Fla.
Aaron Hernandez looses the ball while being tackled by Michael Boley of the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI.
Troy Dumais of the U.S. en route to a sixth-place finish in the springboard at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Former Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott in her luxury box at Riverfront Stadium.
Denny Hamlin takes the checkered flag ahead of Martin Truex Jr. in the 2016 Daytona 500, the closest finish in the history of the race.
Day three of the 1st Investec Ashes Test match between England and Australia in July 2015.
Kristi Yamaguchi in action during the women's singles free skating finals at the 1992 Olympics in Albertville, France
Janie Wagstaff in the 100-meter backstroke at the 1992 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials.
One of the yachts in the 2006 Volvo Around the World Sailing race.
The pack rides during the fifth stage of the 2004 Tour de France cycling race between Amiens and Chartres.
The view from inside Cowboys Stadium before Dallas played the New York Giants in September 2009.
Triathletes swim the 2.4 mile portion of the 2010 Ford Ironman World Championship in Kailua Bay, Hawaii.
Toronto catcher Pat Borders making the tag at on Mark Lemke of the Atlanta Braves in Game 6 of the 1992 World Series.
Gilbertville (Iowa) Don Bosco's Mack Reiter, top, has Lake Mills' Dan Helgeson in a choke-hold during the 2003 Class 1A, 125-pound championship match in Des Moines, Iowa.
Julia Pakhalina, left, and Anastasia Pozdnyakova of Russia competing in the synchronized springboard final at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Dick Hoyt pushing his son Rick in the Wheelchair Division race of the 1991 Boston Marathon.
Ohio State's field goal team during the 2015 national championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Surfers during a paddle-out ceremony in memory of NFL standout Junior Seau at Oceanside Beach. Calif., in 2012.
Kathy Ireland, left, and Elle Macpherson at Cotton House Resort in The Grenadines in 1990.
Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins watches a shot by the Los Angeles Clippers go in the basket.
Friday Night's MLB Highlights
#http://www.120sports.com/video/v172615596/mlb-highlights-april-15
Coachella Embraces a Legend
Mavis Staples was among the first-day acts at Coachella this year, which is reason enough to close with this Staples Singers classic.
Click here for previous versions of Hot Clicks, and visit our Extra Mustard Page throughout each day for more offbeat sports stories and videos and the latest Cheerleader of the Week gallery. Also check out the SwimDaily Page for the latest updates and Instagram pictures of models who have appeared in our issues.
