Daily Sports: NBA Western Conference Finals Resume Tuesday

The NBA playoffs resume tonight, with Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals being the focal point of the daily sports diet for Tuesday. Memphis visits San Antonio in a game that tips at 9 PM ET on ESPN, and I would presume that means you get the entertaining pregame set of Michael Wilbon and Magic Johnson, with Jalen Rose and Bill Simmons along for the ride.

It was a significant night yesterday in the NHL playoffs when Detroit beat Chicago and took a 2-1 series lead, reminding us again that hockey is the sport where no favorite is ever safe. That gives the two conference semi-finals not involving Chicago or Pittsburgh some heightened importance, and both of them are part of an NBC Sports Network doubleheader tonight. The action starts at 7:30 PM ET, with Boston visiting the New York Rangers, and the Bruins trying to build on their 2-0 series lead. Then we go west, where San Jose hosts Los Angeles, and the Sharks can even this series at 2-2 with a win.

National baseball coverage on Tuesday requires the MLB Network and they’ll have the Yankees-Orioles from Camden Yards at 7 PM ET. These teams gave the ESPN audience a great show last night, with the Yankees tying the game in the bottom of the ninth at 4-4 and then winning in ten innings. Baltimore’s now five games out and at that uncomfortable spot where, regardless of the calendar, you really need to start winning games.

Other MLB action includes the first of a two-game set between Detroit and Cleveland, and the continuation of the Oakland-Texas series. Over in the National League, Zack Greinke makes his return to the mound from injury for the Dodgers, and his return to Milwaukee after the Brewers dealt him last July.

Our fun, non-game related option for tonight is on the NFL Network at 8:30 PM ET, and it’s a half-hour look at one of society’s most crucial developments in the late 1980s and early 1990s—that of the Tecmo Bowl video game. Perhaps the documentary can explain why you could never block Lawrence Taylor on an extra point try or why Bo Jackson was quite literally impossible to tackle. Or why the Washington Redskins, in the Hogs era of their offensive line, had to grind out rushing yards on a reverse to Ricky Sanders. America deserves answers and maybe tonight we’ll get some.

Later today at TheSportsNotebook, our MLB coverage will feature an early look at who the American League All-Star team should be. You can also check out playoff series overviews with our NHL analysis and NBA commentary.