Ball Girl #125: Midweek Pulse Check

Welcome to another edition of Ball Girl. We’ve got NHL comebacks, NBA Cinderella stories, and the most unexpected glow-up of 2024 (spoiler: it’s a Ball brother, but not the one you think). Oh, and Taylor Swift continues to live rent-free in the sports world, because at this point, she might as well be calling plays for the Chiefs. Let’s get into it.

🏒 NHL: Flyers Fly, Wild Flop, and Vegas is Back Like Your Ex in Your DMs

Vegas Golden Knights beat Minnesota Wild, 4-1
Vegas snapped their losing streak like a girl deleting her ex’s number — but for real this time. The third period? Pure dominance. Pavel Dorofeyev was out here serving goals like it’s happy hour at a rooftop bar. Two power-play goals and an assist? Yes, chef. Meanwhile, the Wild looked like they were holding onto "good vibes only" instead of, you know, a lead. Vegas reminded everyone why they’re top-tier, while Minnesota fumbled the bag harder than a girl in six-inch heels at brunch.

Philadelphia Flyers beat Florida Panthers, 4-3
The Flyers came back from a 2-0 deficit like they were starring in their own redemption arc. Noah Cates said, “I’ll handle this,” dropping two goals, including the third-period game-winner, which basically made Florida question all of their life choices. Fun fact: the Panthers were undefeated when leading after two periods this season — until now. Imagine being that good at finishing a game and then deciding to take a day off. Philly, meanwhile, finally strung together two wins, which is as rare as a guy who actually texts back.

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🏀 NBA: Houston, We Have a Bucket (and a Problem for the Rest of the League)

Houston Rockets beat Memphis Grizzlies, 120-118
Jalen Green was feeling himself in this game. Career-high-tying 42 points, shooting like he’s got a vendetta against the rim, and now he’s in the same convo as Hakeem Olajuwon? NBD. The Grizzlies had a 13-point lead in the fourth, which they then lost like a girl leaving her phone in an Uber. Houston, on the other hand, showed up with some serious main-character energy and pulled off a win that has them looking more and more like a legit playoff threat. Someone update their Hinge bio.

Detroit Pistons beat NY Knicks, 124-119
Detroit has been hotter than an overpriced espresso martini in January, and Cade Cunningham is the barista serving it up. The man dropped 36 points, went beast mode in the third quarter, and led the Pistons to their eighth win in ten games. Meanwhile, the Knicks, who were just flexing after beating the Bucks, fell apart faster than a summer fling. Brunson, KAT, and Mikal Bridges tried to keep things interesting, but ultimately, Detroit was that girl. Someone get them a top-six seed and a verified check.

👑 Did somebody say… GOSSIP?

Babies, Pop Stars, and Football OH MY!
Taylor Swift liked an Instagram post, and the internet lost its mind. Patrick and Brittany Mahomes welcomed their third child, Golden Raye (yes, that’s the actual name, don’t shoot the messenger), and Taylor, being mother in every sense, showed her support. Between double dates, private suites at Chiefs games, and now baby likes, T-Swift is officially in her NFL WAG era. At this point, she might as well start scouting rookies for the draft.

🎤 LiAngelo Ball’s $13M Def Jam Deal
The Ball brother you forgot about just pulled off the ultimate plot twist. While Lonzo and LaMelo are out here hooping, LiAngelo decided, “Actually, I rap now,” and signed a $13 million deal with Def Jam. His song "Tweakers" went viral, even getting a nod from Damian Lillard (aka the only NBA player whose rap career we actually acknowledge). The man not only secured the bag but also owns his own record label now, so yeah, the glow-up is real. Time to see if he’s the next big thing or just another athlete-turned-rapper. Place your bets.

And that’s a wrap! Stay tuned for more tea, more drama, and more sports takes that’ll spice up your group chat. Until next time — stay hydrated, stay delusional, and always bet on yourself (and maybe Jalen Green). 💋