Blast From The Past: May 17th In Sports

1983 — The New York Islanders beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-2 to win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup.

1988 — John Stockton of Utah ties Magic Johnson’s NBA playoff assist record with 24 in a 111-109 loss against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals.

1998 — David Wells pitches the 13th perfect game in modern major league history as the New York Yankees beat the Minnesota Twins 4-0.

2003 — Funny Cide runs away from the field on the turn for home and finishes with a near-record 9¾-length victory in the Preakness. The gelding’s victory is second to Survivor’s 10-length victory in the first Preakness, in 1873.

2006 — Tim Duncan scores a team-playoff high 36 points, tying an NBA postseason record by hitting his first 12 shots. Duncan adds 12 rebounds as San Antonio staves off elimination with a 98-97 victory over Dallas in Game 5.

2008 — Big Brown, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, charges to the lead turning for home and then cruises down the stretch to win the Preakness Stakes. The colt, named for UPS, wins by 5 1/4 lengths over Macho Again. The undefeated colt tries to become the first to win thoroughbred racing’s first Triple Crown in 30 years in three weeks at Belmont.

2011 — Dirk Nowitzki shows no rust from a nine-day layoff, making 10 of his first 11 shots and an NBA playoff-record 24 straight free throws on the way to 48 points, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 121-112 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference final.

2014 — California Chrome wins the Preakness in dramatic fashion, outrunning Ride On Curlin, to keep alive his bid for horse racing’s first Triple Crown since 1978. The chestnut colt, ridden by Victor Espinoza, covers the 1 3-16th mile course in 1:54.84.