9 can’t-miss sporting events this weekend

19 May 2017 21:24

“You want basketball? We got basketball. You want hockey? We got hockey. You want ...”

May is one of the most underrated months of the sports calendar. We’re heading into sleepy summer, when the days are hot, long, and perfect for sitting in a ballpark, drinking cold beers, and eating way too many peanuts. But we still have a lot of exciting sports before the doldrums set in, like NHL and NBA playoffs, as well as exciting golf, NASCAR, and horse racing events.

And I’m of the opinion that there are few things better than beautiful weather paired with beautiful dunks. So, without further ado, here’s a list of the best way to spend your sporty time this weekend.

WHAT TO WATCH

All times Eastern

BASEBALL

The Brewers play the Cubs this weekend, which should be good, because the Cubs are fun and the Brewers are currently in first. You can catch the game at 2:20 p.m. on CSCh, FSWI.

PREAKNESS

The Preakness Stakes are this weekend, and you can find our full coverage of Pimlico here. If I were a betting woman — which I am, I lost $26 at the Kentucky Derby — I’d put my money on Always Dreaming or Classic Empire. If Always Dreaming wins, we’ll have a Triple Crown bid on our hands. And wouldn’t that be fun?

NBA CONFERENCE FINALS

Get your brooms out of the closet, Cleveland and Oakland, because it looks like both the Cavaliers and Warriors are on their way to doing some serious sweeping. The Celtics face off against the seemingly unstoppable LeBron and Friends for Game 2 on Friday at 8:30 p.m. on TNT. The Spurs will fight to keep their heads above water in the Warriors whirlpool for Game 3 on Saturday at 9 p.m. on ESPN. Then the Celtics and Cavs will face off again for Game 3 on Sunday at 8:30 p.m. on TNT.

WNBA

There are a bunch of good games this weekend: You can find the full schedule here.

NHL CONFERENCE FINALS

Things are heating up on the ice (sorry): All games are on NBC: We’ve got the Penguins vs. Senators Game 4 on Friday at 8 p.m., Predators vs. Ducks Game 5 on Saturday at 7:15 p.m., and then Penguins vs. Senators Game 5 on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Also, the semifinals and gold medal game of the World Championships are this weekend. The last countries standing are Canada vs. Russia and Sweden vs. Finland. America isn’t in the running, so you might not care, but in the event that you do you can watch on NHL Network.

GOLF

Falling the week after The Players, the AT&T Byron Nelson is sometimes overlooked, but this year’s field actually has four of the top six players in the world: Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, and defending champ Sergio Garcia are all in Dallas this week. Our golf guru Brendan Porath says, “That’s a legit field playing on a course that can yield super low numbers and get a little crazy on the weekend.”

You can watch Friday on the Golf Channel from 4-7 p.m., and then Saturday and Sunday from 1-2:30. Head over to CBS on Saturday and Sunday from 3-6 p.m. to watch the rest.

NASCAR

The All-Star Race is when 16 drivers go around the track 70 times — with strange rules we won't get into — in an attempt to win a million dollars. You can watch it on Saturday at 8 p.m. on FS1 (the green flag will be at approximately 8:25).

INDYCAR

Interested in watching more cars go fast around a track? You’re in luck: The Indy 500 qualifiers are this weekend! Coverage begins on ABC on Saturday and Sunday at 4 p.m.