Florida Sentinel Bulletin

The No. 5 seed Dallas Mavericks and No. 3 seed Minnesota Timberwolves play in the Western Confer- enceFinalsofthe2024NBA Playoffs.

Who will win the series and advance to the NBA Finals?

Check out these NBA Playoffs series picks and predictions for the Western Conference matchup.

The Timberwolves are – 180towintheseriesinNBA Playoffs odds provided by Fan Duel Sportsbook.

The Mavericks are+146.

Inside the NBA: Analysts Unanimously Pick Timberwolves In Series

1. Mavericks TNT’s crew likes Minnesota’s chances to win the series against Dallas. “I think this is going to be a fabulous series, I like the Wolves,” Charles Barkley said, of his prediction.

Timberwolves in 7

Sporting News: Timberwolves Will Defeat Mavericks In

Seven Games Stephen Noh writes: “This series is going to be a dogfight between two great teams. Minnesota is as well- equipped as anyone to slow down Luka’s pick-and-rolls while also having another quality defender to throw at Irving. That should give the Timberwolves the edge in this series.”

The NBA playoffs’ conference finals are set.

Four teams remain in the bracket, and only two will emerge with the chance to play in the 2024NBAFinals.

The league-leading Boston Celtics continued their dominant run through the Eastern Conference with their second straight five-game series win, this time against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Boston will meet the surprising Indiana Pacers, who routed the short-handed New York Knicks inGame7.

In the Western Conference, the Minnesota Timberwolves knocked off three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the defending champion Denver Nuggets in a thrilling Game 7 comeback to reach the conference finals for thefirsttimesince2004.

Each team must win their best-of-7 series to advance. All four rounds of the NBA playoffs are best-of-7, and teams are not reseeded after each round. The team with the better regular season record in each series will have homecourt advantage for that series. All series are played in a 2- 2-1-1-1 format, with the team with the better record hosting Games1,2,5 and 7 (if necessary).

 Patrick Mahomes

Before Patrick Mahomes became a superstar quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, the Texas native suited up for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Mahomes impressed with his play on the field throughout his collegiate career, but he also maintained an impressive record in the classroom.

Mahomes boasted a 3.91 GPA during his college years at Texas Tech University, ac cording to a report from Tyler Today.

“He started getting college credits at Tyler Junior College when he was still in high school,” Mahomes’ mom, Randi, said.”…I admit I am a proud mom. I am very proud of his athletic achievements. However, I am more proud of his scholastic achievements.”

Mike Ford

        The University of South Florida Football program is in mourning this week over the loss of former USF running back Mike Ford. Ford, who scored 23 career rushing touchdowns in his time at the University of South Florida, has passed away at the age of 38.

     Embodying a rugged running style, Ford had a breakthrough season as a rookie in 2007, leading the Bulls to an Associated Press Poll ranking of number two. Ford scored 12 running touchdowns to lead the squad.

     After his time at USF, Ford went on to play for Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.

Antoine Winfield Jr

   The Buccaneers signed All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. to a four-year, $81.4 million contract extension, including $45 million in guarantees. The deal was a major cog to fall into place not only for the Bucs’ 2024 season but the foreseeable future.

According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, Winfield Jr.’s deal includes a $20 million signing bonus. His 2024 base salary is $4 million, all guaranteed, dropping his cap figure from $17.1 million on the franchise tag to $9 million.

Winfield Jr.’s base salary goes up to $21 million, fully guaranteed, in 2025, $19.5 million in 2026 and $18.5 million in 2026, giving him cap figures of $26 million, $24.5 million and $23.5 million over those three years. After 2025, his contract will only have $10 million in dead money against the Bucs’ cap.

Shaq and ex-wife Shaunie

The ex-wife of Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal published a memoir detailing their marriage.

In the book Undefeated: Changing the Rules and Winning on My Own Terms, which was published on May 7, Shaunie Henderson says she isn’t sure she was in love with the four-time NBA champion.

Henderson and O’Neal were married in 2002 and have four children together.

“Looking back, I don’t know that I was ever really in love with the man,” Henderson writes. “But I was in love with the idea of being married to the man I had a family with. I was in love with the idea of building a life together. I truly did enjoy spending time with him. [NBA] road trips gave me a chance to be with my husband and experience the NBA life for a little while.”

Legend John Stallworth Donates $1.2 Million To HBCU School

Pittsburgh Steelers legend donates $1.2M to Alabama A&M foundation.

John Stallworth was a legend on the field as a member of the world-class Pittsburgh Steelers.

And he’s a legend of the field as well.

Stallworth, who played his entire 14-year career in Pittsburgh, earned Steelers’ team MVP honors twice and was named to the All-Time Team in 1982, made a big-time contribution to his alma mater on Friday.

The John Stallworth Foundation and the Alabama A&M Foundation have formed a new endowment: The John and Flo Stallworth Endowed Scholarship … and the first gift to the new endowment is $1,214,721.

The news was announced following Stallworth’s commencement address at his old school.

Stallworth, now 71, broke all the school’s records for receptions during his career, and did much the same in his Steelers career. He played in eight league championship games and in four Super Bowls … and he helped the Steelers of course win all four.

Stallworth earned a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002 and was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.