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DAILY SPORTS BRIEF – June 18, 2025

Intro:

Welcome to your midweek sports download! The Panthers are officially a dynasty, the NBA Finals are heating up, and MLB bats are hotter than your neighbor’s grill. Let’s get to the good stuff.

Top Sports Stories:

Panthers go back-to-back! Florida Panthers clinch their second straight Stanley Cup, defeating the Oilers 5-1. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 32 shots, and Matthew Tkachuk had 2 goals.

Thunder strike again: Oklahoma City takes Game 5 of the NBA Finals, 120-109 over the Pacers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drops 31, and Jalen Williams adds 28 as OKC moves one win from a title.

MLB fireworks: The Astros hit five homers in a 13-3 rout of the A’s, while the Rockies bash four in one inning to stun the Nationals 10-6. Summer is officially here.

Score Recaps:

NBA:

Oklahoma City Thunder 120 – Indiana Pacers 109 (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 31 pts, Jalen Williams 28 pts)

MLB:

Phillies 3 – Marlins 8

Pirates 3 – Tigers 7

Rockies 10 – Nationals 6

Angels 4 – Yankees 0

Diamondbacks 4 – Blue Jays 5

Twins 5 – Reds 6

Mets 4 – Braves 5 (10 innings)

Orioles 5 – Rays 1

Cardinals 12 – White Sox 2

Royals 6 – Rangers 1

Brewers 3 – Cubs 5

Red Sox 0 – Mariners 8

Guardians 3 – Giants 2

Astros 13 – Athletics 3

Padres 6 – Dodgers 8

NHL:

Florida Panthers 5 – Edmonton Oilers 1 (Panthers win Stanley Cup, Bobrovsky 32 saves)

MLS:

St. Louis CITY SC 3 – LA Galaxy 3 (Joao Klauss hat trick)

Columbus Crew 2 – Vancouver Whitecaps 1

New England Revolution 0 – FC Cincinnati 2

Philadelphia Union 2 – Charlotte FC 2

Chicago Fire 1 – Inter Miami 2

NFL (Offseason News):

Giants WR Jalin Hyatt exits practice early; Falcons sign UFL's leading rusher. Chiefs confirm Travis Kelce is back for another run. No blockbuster trades reported.

Player of the Day:

Joao Klauss, St. Louis CITY SC – Hat trick hero in a wild 3-3 draw with LA Galaxy. Not all heroes wear capes, but some do wear shin guards.

Today's Biggest Games:

NBA Finals Game 6: Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 8:00 PM ET, ABC

MLB: Yankees vs. Red Sox, 7:05 PM ET, ESPN

NHL: (Season complete – enjoy the parade, Panthers fans!)

Born on This Day:

Lou Brock – MLB Hall of Famer, legendary base stealer

George Mikan – NBA Hall of Famer, pioneer of the big man era

Died on This Day:

Willie Mays – MLB legend, one of the greatest all-around players in baseball history (d. 2024)

Jack Buck – Hall of Fame broadcaster, voice of the St. Louis Cardinals (d. 2002)

Where Were You When...

On this day in 1938, the Brooklyn Dodgers signed Babe Ruth as a coach. Not a bad backup plan for a struggling team.

Wrap Up:

That’s a Wrap! You made it to the end — more informed than most fantasy league commissioners. Share this with your friends or that coworker who still thinks Ken Griffey Jr. is active. See you tomorrow for more sports mayhem.

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