LOS ANGELES – While New York loves to highlight its biggest and flashiest stars, Tyrone Taylor and DJ Stewart, relative unknowns, have been unsung heroes for the Mets, which were 12-11 and had won eight of their previous 12 games before facing the San Francisco Giants on the road yesterday afternoon.

The game ended a six-game West Coast road trip for the Mets. They went 2-1 versus the Los Angeles Dodgers and looked to take the series finale against the Giants after dropping the first two of their three-game series. Outfielders Taylor and Stewart have been key to the Mets’ turnaround after they began the season 0-5. Taylor is in his first season with the team and Stewart his second.  

The 30-year-old Taylor was drafted by the Brewers in the second round of the 2012 MLB draft out of Torrance High School in Southern California. He made his MLB debut for them in 2019 and remained with the organization until the 2023 season before being traded to the Mets last December. During his time in Milwaukee, he had a slashline of .239/.294/.451.

While Taylor has not been an everyday starter for the team and is more of a utility man, he is certainly making the most of his chances when given the opportunity. As of yesterday, he’s only played two complete games in his last 10 big league appearances, but in that stretch, Taylor is batting .421, with one homer, seven RBI, two runs scored, and an OPS of .979.

Prior to the Mets meeting the Giants yesterday, in 17 games played and 44 at-bats, Taylor was batting .318, had an on-base percentage of .354 and an OPS of .786 with one homerun and 10 RBI.

While DJ Stewart’s batting average was lagging under .200 (.190), he had three homers, 11 RBI and an OPS of .816. The 30-year-old played high school ball in Jacksonville, Florida, and then spent two years playing college baseball for Florida State. He was drafted by the Orioles with the 25th overall pick in 2015 and made his debut with the team in 2018. His final season in Baltimore was in 2022, where he slashed .213/.327/.400.

Stewart signed a minor league contract with the Mets in February of 2023 and was added to their major league roster on July 4. In 58 games, he had 11 home runs, 26 RBI and batted of .244 His play earned him a one-year deal for 2024.

With Taylor and Stewart making unheralded but important contributions, the Mets have fought their way above .500. Although they made the playoffs in 2022, New York finished well below expectations last season, going 75-87 and missing the postseason. Last year proved they will need more than stars to be competitive. Taylor and Stewart are role players that can help them be in the mix for a playoff spot this season.

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After hearing her name called in last week’s WNBA Draft, Kaitlyn Davis saw her world move very fast. Picked in the third round by the New York Liberty, Davis is headed to Mexico to begin her professional career instead of preparing for training camp. The plan is for her to get exposure to pro basketball, gain skills, and then come to New York in early 2025 to begin working with the Liberty’s staff.

Davis, who played at the University of Southern California this year as a graduate student, earned her bachelor’s degree at Columbia University, playing three seasons (the Ivy League sat out the 2020-21 season) and earning First-Team All Ivy honors senior year. She and best friend, Abbey Hsu, who is graduating this spring, are the first-ever WNBA Draft picks from Columbia.

“It was a crazy moment that I’m super-grateful for,” said Davis, who watched the draft with friends. “My next journey is quickly upon me.”

She said “I told you so” to people who don’t hold ballers from the Ivy League in high regard. “I knew we were hoopers,” Davis said. “For me, as a player that’s coming from the Ivy League, it’s definitely encouraging and validating to see the respect that we’ve gotten this year.”

Davis will finish her master’s degree in entrepreneurship and innovation remotely. An early goal for pro hoops is to become more confident with her shot. Having adjusted extremely well in her transition from Columbia to USC, she is used to adapting to a new team. “I’m obviously putting an emphasis on being shot-ready,” Davis said.

Growing up in Connecticut, Davis went to both Liberty and Connecticut Sun games as well as those of the University of Connecticut. She named Breanna Stewart as a player who has had an impact on her. “I hope to be able to play with her,” she said.

Davis also offered words of admiration for both her coach at Columbia, Megan Griffith, and her coach at USC this past season, Lindsay Gottlieb. 

Gottlieb has given her players a spotlight, including some who might not be obvious to attract it. She is also willing to help her players be pro ready and have opportunities. 

Griffith taught her how to consistently work toward a long-term goal despite possible setbacks.

“Coach G has been transformational in my life,” Davis said of Griffith. “It was a lot of life skills we were taught at Columbia. On the court, she’s a phenomenal coach.”

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In the long, 78-year history of the New York Knicks franchise, few moments and few games exceed the drama, shock and euphoria that the final 47.1 seconds of Game 2 of their opening round, best-of-seven, Eastern Conference playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on Monday night engendered.

Trailing 101-96, the Knicks appeared headed for a loss and destined to go to Philadelphia tied 1-1 after taking Game 1 on Saturday at the Garden 111-104. Instead, by the time the humongous overhead scoreboard hovering above the court showed the game had officially ended with the Knicks winning 104-101, the building literally vibrated from the crowd’s collective thunderous shouts of exhilaration. Now they head to Philadelphia up 2-0 before Game 3 tonight (7:30 p.m.). Let’s recap how the tables turned: A 23-foot, 3-pointer from near the left corner in front of the 76ers bench by Jalen Brunson with 27.1 seconds remaining; a steal by Josh Hart at 16.1, muscling the ball from the 76ers fallen Tyrese Maxey, who was lying on his back on the 76ers ensuing in-bound pass by Kyle Lowry, leading to a go-ahead 25-foot, 3-pointer by Donte DiVincenzo from behind the top of circle with 13 seconds left; two ice-cold, pressurized foul shots by OG Anunoby at 6.1 seconds; and a missed, potential game tying 3-point attempt by 76ers center Joel Embiid as time expired.

Instant classic!

“We don’t give up. I think there are a lot of teams that probably would have given up in that situation,” said Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein, who had a critical offensive rebound to give DiVincenzo another chance to put the Knicks up after his first 3-point try was off target seconds before his decisive basket.

“It starts with Thibs (head coach Tom Thibodeau). He always believes no game is ever safe, so he instills it in us. It starts with him and the whole team had a belief that we could come back and it worked out.”

Thibodeau, who was a Knicks assistant from 1996-2003, placed Game 2 among the most memorable he has been a part of.

“Well, there have been some pretty wild finishes but that was right up there with the best of them,” he recalled. “That just shows you what the playoffs is all about. Oftentimes it’s a hustle play here, a hustle play there, just find a way to win…We got a lot of contributions from different people.”

With All-Star guard Jalen Brusnon laboring to counter the 76ers, physical, swarming defensive scheme being employed against him, shooting just 16-55 combined in Games 1 and 2, no Knick has embodied their will to win more than Josh Hart. The guard-forward has been tenacious and relentless on both ends of the court, posting team highs of 22 points and 13 rebounds in Game 1 followed by an indelible 21 points and 15 boards on Monday.

“He gives the team toughness, real toughness,” Thibodeau said of Hart. “It’s a big part of the fabric of this team.”

Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia at 1:00 p.m.

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It’s been an interesting couple of years for the women of Long Island University’s softball team. The LIU Sharks are again having a winning season and are looking to repeat as Northeast Conference champions and earn a trip to the NCAA Division I Softball Tournament.

“I’ve learned so many life lessons that I believe will really prepare me for after I’m done here at LIU,” said sophomore Nyae’ Dick, who grew up playing multiple sports, focusing on softball in high school. The science high school she attended did not have a softball team, so she played travel ball. In addition to sports, she focused on her studies, doing dual enrollment—attending high school and a community college simultaneously. By the time she received her high school diploma, Dick had also earned an associate degree, so she was able to enter LIU as a junior academically.

“That has allowed me to graduate with my bachelor’s degree this May,” she said. “I’ll be starting my master’s in exercise science this fall.”

As they hone their skills on the field, the players have also exercised their voices off it. When the university sought to relocate the team to its LIU Post campus on Long Island, members of the team filed a Title IX lawsuit. LIU has agreed to keep the team based in Brooklyn, at least until the conclusion of the 2025 softball season.
Dick admitted the lawsuit was stressful, but edifying. “I learned what it means to have courage and be resilient in the fight for what you believe is right,” she said.

With their location settled for now, the team still has a slate of games to play. The Sharks are in the thick of conference action, with the NEC Tournament beginning on May 9.

“I love the competitiveness [of softball], the teamwork, and the feeling of winning games together and cheering my teammates on,” said junior Jazmine Cuffie, who grew up on Long Island and started playing softball at age 10. “Everyone on this team competes and works hard together.”

Cuffie is studying childhood education and plans to become a fourth-grade teacher. Her father is a role model: He has been a teacher for 20 years and was also a collegiate athlete.

“I’m hoping to make improvements as an individual and as a team,” said Cuffie, who is graduating in December, making this her final season. “My goal is to get to the championship of the NEC, win, and go to regionals.”

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The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets 126-108 on December 16, 2022. Since then, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Lakers have lost 10 games in a row to Denver, including a 4-0 sweep in last year’s Western Conference Finals and two defeats in the opening round of this year’s playoffs.

The Lakers came close to ending the losing streak on Monday in Game 2 of their best-of-seven series, as they led by 20 points in the third quarter. But Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray nailed a fadeaway jumper over Davis as time expired, with the Lakers big man falling in front of the Nuggets bench as teammates mobbed Murray in celebration. The 101-99 win added to the unsolved puzzle the Lakers have in front of them that is the Nuggets.

It starts with the Nuggets’ two-time league MVP and last season’s Finals MVP Nikola Jokic, who punished the Lakers with 27 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in Game 2.

“Obviously, the only game that matters now is Game 3 and how we can get better,” said James after Game 2. “How we can figure this team out. So Game 3 is where my mindset is.”
James was also highly critical of the officiating, arguing questionable calls that went in favor of the Nuggets as well as non-calls impacted the outcome.  

“I don’t understand what’s going on in the replay center, to be honest,” a frustrated James said. ”(D’Angelo Russell) clearly gets hit in the face on a drive. What the f–k do we have a replay center for… [?] Makes no sense to me. It bothers me.”

James was referencing a call in the third quarter when Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. was called for a foul on Russell, which was then overturned on a challenge by Nuggets head coach Michael Malone.

“We’ve shown that we’re more than capable,” Anthony Davis said, after scoring 32 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. “We have stretches where we just don’t know what we’re doing on both ends of the floor. And those are the ones that cost us.”

“Remember this feeling as we take it back home to L.A.,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said as a way of motivating the team before game three tonight. “We got to give them that same feeling in Game 3. That needs to be the sole focus. The recovery process has to start now, us filling our cups back up. But Game 3, it’s all about Game 3 right now.”

The recent history between the two teams indicates the Lakers won’t defeat the Nuggets in four of the next five games to win the series. But that’s why the games are played. Game 3 is tonight (10:00 p.m. EST) in Los Angeles and Game 4 is Saturday night in L.A. (8:30 p.m. EST) 

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* This article was originally published here