If it weren’t for Caldwell-Pope, the NBA Finals could very well be tied at two games apiece. Instead, his play in Game 4 contributed to a tight win for the Lakers, who are now one win away from basketball immortality.
As you’d expect, LeBron James and Anthony Davis made a number of big plays down the stretch of the Los Angeles Lakers close win over the Miami Heat but this series could very well be tied at two games apiece if it weren’t for the contributions of Caldwell-Pope.
After finishing with just five points (on 1-for-5 shooting) and one assist in Game 3, Caldwell-Pope came out on a mission in Game 4. He assisted on the Lakers first bucket of the game and then scored the team’s next eight points, surpassing his point total from Game 3 in the first five minutes of Game 4; he finished the opening frame with 10 points (on 4-for-6 shooting) and two assists in just 10 minutes of play. It was a night-and-day turn around from his effort in the prior game.
Despite not scoring in the second quarter, KCP entered the half with a team-high 10 points, which were crucial given the Lakers clung to a two-point lead at the break.
As LeBron and AD took over in the third, Caldwell-Pope didn’t even attempt a shot in his 10 minutes on the floor. He did, however, dish out another two assists; one leading to a triple from Markieff Morris, the other resulting in a 3 from Anthony Davis.
But Caldwell-Pope’s biggest moments came when it mattered most.
Let’s set the scene:
Approaching the three-minute mark of the fourth quarter, Miami won’t go away. The Lakers lead 90-88 but can’t seem to create enough distance to feel comfortable against a gritty Heat squad. Nearly 33 minutes of game time had elapsed since KCP last scored a bucket and it appeared that his hot start was just that and nothing more.
Then he delivered his two biggest moments of the game:
KCP with back-to-back big buckets for the Lakers!@Lakers 95@MiamiHEAT 91
Just like that, Los Angeles was up seven with under two minutes remaining as Laker nation let out a collective sigh.
After LA held on for a six-point win, LeBron praised Caldwell-Pope for his big moments late in Game 4: “Whoever is out on the floor with me, I believe can make plays, and tonight was a case in point of KCP. Stays ready. He works on his craft.
“Like you said, that 3 in front of their bench was a huge 3, and obviously the drive at the end of the shot clock was two big back-to-back plays in the fourth quarter, where we needed to continue to score versus this team.”
Head coach Frank Vogel lauded Caldwell-Pope for having a big bounce-back performance and essentially echoed LeBron’s sentiment, saying “KCP down the stretch – big guts to take the shots that he took – and it was a huge five points, obviously.”
Caldwell-Pope, who is tied for the longest-tenured Laker alongside Alex Caruso and Kyle Kuzma, has been the subject of much scrutiny during his three years in Los Angeles. KCP, who is represented by the same agency as LeBron in Klutch Sports, signed a one-year deal worth $18 million with LA in 2017.
He would then sign a one-year deal worth $12 million in 2018 and just last offseason signed a two-year deal worth just under $17 million.
But was it all worth it?
Through the first 10 games in the 2019-20 season, KCP was shooting a meagre 23.8% from beyond the arc, causing many Laker faithful to write him off given LA’s financial commitment to him over the past three years. He would bounce back to shoot a shade under 40% from deep for the remainder of the season but the narrative of his being overpaid had seemingly been decided already.
But KCP continued to perform. In fact, Caldwell-Pope’s performance has often been a barometer for LA’s success.
According to NBA.com Stats, Caldwell-Pope averaged 9.8 points while shooting 40.4% from 3 in the Lakers’ 51 regular-season wins. In their 18 losses? His scoring average dipped to 7.9 points and his 3-point shooting percentage fell to 32.4%.
The playoffs have been no different – in fact, the contrast is even more stark: KCP is averaging 11.3 points on 41.9% 3-point shooting in LA’s 15 wins and is averaging just 5.8 points on 22.2% 3-point shooting in the team’s four losses. And while there have been a number of ups and downs for this postseason, KCP has etched his place in Lakers lore with his defence and shooting.
After going 3-for-8 from deep in Game 4, KCP has now hit 40 3-pointers this postseason, tied with Kobe Bryant for the second-most 3s made by a Laker in a single postseason. Bryant also holds the record with 49 triples during LA’s title run in 2010.
Bryant’s record may be out of reach but the Larry O’Brien Trophy is in sight, and the Lakers might not be in position to hoist it without Caldwell-Pope.
As for the scrutiny and the ups and downs during KCP’s time in LA, him having such a big hand in title No. 17 would be poetic justice.
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TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
“Like you said, that 3 in front of their bench was a huge 3, and obviously the drive at the end of the shot clock was two big back-to-back plays in the fourth quarter, where we needed to continue to score versus this team.”
