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Pro Teams Postpone Games in Minnesota

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MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL – Monday’s 2:10pm series opener between the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins was postponed as a cautionary move by the Twins and local authorities as the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul reacts to the fatal shooting death of Daunte Wright after a police traffic stop in the Brooklyn Center area.

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“Out of respect for the tragic events that occurred yesterday in Brooklyn Center, and following the additional details in this evolving situation, the Minnesota Twins have decided it is in the best interests of our fans, staff, players and community to not play today’s game.

The decision was made by the Minnesota Twins after consultation with Major League Baseball, and local and state officials. Information regarding the rescheduling of today’s game, and corresponding ticket details, will be released in the near future.

The Minnesota Twins organization extends its sympathies to the family of Daunte Wright.”

The NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and the NHL’s Minnesota Wild also postponed home games because of a 7:00pm (local) city-wide curfew put in place as authorities brace for another display of civic protests. The Minneapolis area was at the heart of intense protests last Memorial Day weekend after the fatal shooting of George Floyd. A dismissed Minneapolis police officer is currently on trial for that incident which was the root of nation-wide protests last May.

The NBA issued the following statement in announcing the cancellation of the Brooklyn Nets at Timberwolves game:

“The National Basketball Association announced that in light of the tragic events in the Minneapolis area yesterday, tonight’s game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center has been postponed. The decision to postpone was made by the NBA after consultation with the Timberwolves organization and local and state officials.

“Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Daunte Wright during this difficult time.”

Brooklyn Center police held a news conference and stated the officer that shot Wright Sunday afternoon did so accidentally, confusing a fire arm with a police taser.

 

Tatum Scores 53; Celtics Win in OT

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BOSTON – Boston Celtics all-star forward Jason Tatum scored a career-high 53 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter and overtime, to lead the Celtics to a 145-136 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night. It was the first 50-point game for the 23-year-old Tatum. Boston’s Jaylen Brown had 26 points. Marcus Smart added 24 points, eight assists and six rebounds to help Boston to its fourth win in five games.

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“Scoring 50 is a big thing in this league,” said Tatum. “It’s a night I’ll always remember. First 50-point game and we got the win on top of that. Every win right now is big. So we’ll take it.”

Boston erased a 17-point deficit in the third quarter and then led by eight points in the fourth before Minnesota was able to fight back and send it into overtime. The Celtics took a 135-129 lead on a three-pointer by guard Kemba Walker.

Minnesota got within 135-132 on a three-point play by D’Angelo Russell. But Boston outscored the Timberwolves 10-4 to close-out the home victory. Center Karl-Anthony Towns led the Timberwolves with 30 points and 12 rebounds. Russell finished with 26 points and Anthony Edwards had 24 points in the loss.

Boston finished their seven-game homestead at (4-3) and now depart for a three-game Western swing that starts in Denver on Sunday, April 11. Boston also plays at Portland and at Los Angeles against the Lakers on Thursday night.

NBA: Celtics Approach Final Month

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Boston Celtics Competing for Playoff Spot in Eastern Conference

BOSTON – Since dropping six of eight games between March 11 and 24th, the Boston Celtics utilized the NBA Trading deadline to shake-up an inconsistent line-up and have won three of their last four games and five of their last eight. After a home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight which caps a seven-game home stand (3-3), Boston heads out west for three games to begin the crucial final month of the NBA regular season.

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Remember! The NBA season began a month later than usual and will conclude on May 16, rather than the normal mid-April finish.

Boston is coming off an important and hard fought victory over the Knicks, (101-99) at TD Garden. Celtics’ all-star swingman Jaylen Brown had a double-double effort with a game-high 32 points and 10 rebounds with two steals while fellow all-star forward Jayson Tatum added 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Boston’s team-leader in guard Marcus Smart had one of his best all-around performances of the season with 17 points and nine assists.

Celtics forward-center Tristan Thompson made his return to the lineup and recorded seven points, eight rebounds and a season-high three blocks in just over 22 minutes coming off the bench.

The Knicks were led by RJ Barrett and his 29 points and five rebounds while Julius Randle added 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Newly acquired Celtics forward Evan Fournier is out and under league protocol guidelines. Just a week ago, Fournier scored 20 of his 23 points against Houston (April 2) during the fourth quarter on seven-for-seven shooting including six three pointers.

Fournier’s performance came after his scoreless, 0-for-10 debut with the Celtics after his trade from Orlando. According
to ESPN Stats & Info, Fournier is the second Boston Celtics player in the last 25 seasons to score 20 points on 100% shooting in a quarter, joining Paul Pierce who recorded the feat in 2009 against Chicago.

Fournier’s seven three-pointers on the night was also tied for the second most by a Celtic in franchise history coming off of the bench behind Eddie House’s eight three pointers which he made against Sacramento on Jan. 28, 2009.

Boston tonight faces a (13-39) Minnesota team, losers in three of their last four games, including a 141-137 loss at Indiana (April 7) to begin this current two-game road-trip. Minnesota’s head coach, Chris Finch, took over on February 22. He is 6-15 since taking the reigns from dismissed Coach Ryan Saunders.

Hill Named Managing Director of USA Basketball’s Men’s Senior National Team

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Hill to Replace Jerry Colangelo as Head of Men’s Senior National Team After Tokyo Summer Olympics

COLORADO SPRINGS – (SOURCE: OFFICIAL NEWS RELEASE) – Olympic gold medalist and 19-year NBA standout Grant Hill has been approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors as the next managing director of the USA Men’s National Team. Hill will succeed current managing director Jerry Colangelo after the Tokyo Olympics.

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“It is a tremendous honor to serve as managing director of USA Basketball’s Men’s National Team. I am looking forward to working with the USA Basketball staff and Board of Directors to lead this program so uniquely positioned for continued growth and for developing and promoting our top talent in events around the world,” said Hill. “As a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team, I know the thrill and responsibility it is to represent our country. I am confident USA Basketball will continue to showcase the top talent and highest character players in our country.”

“We are very excited that Grant Hill will join USA Basketball as our USA Men’s National Team managing director. Grant is a proven leader of consequence and character who will continue to help us achieve on our twin goals of winning international competitions and representing our country with honor” said USA Basketball Board of Directors chair and retired General Martin Dempsey. “In making this announcement, I also want to emphasize how much everyone associated with USA Basketball appreciates Jerry Colangelo for everything he did for USA Basketball over the past 15 years.”

Taking control in 2005 of a USA National Team that hadn’t won a major international competition since 2000, Colangelo rebuilt the program from the bottom up. Under Colangelo, the USA men have compiled a remarkable 97-4 overall record and have claimed top honors in six of eight FIBA or FIBA Americas competitions, including Olympic championships in 2008, 2012 and 2016.

Hill played for five USA Basketball teams, won two gold medals and one bronze medal and compiled an overall record of 26-1 (.963 winning percentage). He was a member of the gold medalist 1996 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team and the 5-0 1996 USA National Team. Hill as a collegian was a part of the 1992 USA Developmental Team that trained against the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team, the bronze medalist 1991 USA Pan American Games Team and the gold medalist 1990 USA U18 Championship Team.

Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 2018, Hill’s NBA career covered 19 seasons, and he was a seven-time NBA All-Star and a five-time All-NBA selection. Playing four collegiate seasons at Duke University, he helped lead the Blue Devils to back-to-back NCAA national titles in 1991 and 1992 and to a runner-up finish in 1994.

NBA Sets 2021 Draft Date

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NEW YORK – The NBA announced that NBA Draft 2021 presented by State Farm, is scheduled for  Thursday, July 29, beginning at 8pm EDT. The first round will be televised by ESPN and ABC, and the second round will air on ESPN.

The NBA also announced additional key dates relating to the draft.

NBA Draft Combine: Subject to evolving public health conditions, Microsoft Surface NBA Draft Combine 2021 is scheduled to take place Monday, June 21 through Sunday, June 27. ESPN networks plan to televise the NBA Draft Combine, with coverage featuring five-on-five games and strength and agility testing.

NBA Draft Lottery: NBA Draft Lottery 2021 will take place on Tuesday, June 22, airing on ESPN at 8:30 p.m. ET.

NBA Early Entry Application and Withdrawal Deadlines: The deadline for an early entry player to apply for this year’s NBA Draft is Sunday, May 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The deadline for an early entry player to withdraw from the NBA Draft is Monday, July 19 at 5 p.m. ET.

Additional information regarding the Draft, Combine and Lottery, including the location for each event, will be announced as details are finalized.

Basketball Africa League: Debuts in May

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DAKAR – (Source: Official FIBA News Release) – The Basketball Africa League (BAL) announced that the league’s historic inaugural season will tip off Sunday, May 16 at the Kigali Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, with 12 teams from the continent of Africa competing in the new professional league.

The BAL, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA), builds on the foundation of club competitions FIBA Regional Office Africa has organized on the continent and marks the NBA’s first collaboration to operate a league outside of North America. The first BAL Finals will be held Sunday, May 30.

The BAL has created robust health and safety protocols for the 12 teams and personnel traveling to Rwanda, based on guidance from the World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, with advice from public health officials and medical experts.

“We are thrilled that the inaugural Basketball Africa League season will take place at the world-class Kigali Arena,” said BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall. “Through the BAL, we will provide a platform for elite players from across the continent to showcase their talent and inspire fans of all ages, use basketball as an economic growth engine across Africa, and shine a light on Africa’s vibrant sporting culture.”

“We are extremely happy to finally launch the highly anticipated first season of the BAL,” said FIBA Africa and BAL Board President Anibal Manave. “FIBA and the NBA have been working closely together to develop protocols to address the health and safety of all players, coaches and officials. The experience of hosting the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers in Rwanda late last year will contribute to a safe and successful inaugural BAL season.”

The league today also announced an adjusted competition format for the inaugural season, which will feature a total of 26 games at the Kigali Arena. The competition will tip off with an 18-game group phase with the 12 teams divided into three groups of four. During the group phase, each team will face the three other teams in its group once. The top eight teams from the group phase will qualify for the playoffs, which will be single elimination in all three rounds.

Below are the 12 club teams from 12 African countries that will compete in the inaugural BAL season:

COUNTRY TEAM
Algeria GSP (Groupement Sportif des Pétroliers) **
Angola Petro de Luanda (Clube Atlético Petroleos de Luanda) *
Cameroon FAP (Forces Armées et Police Basketball) **
Egypt Zamalek*
Madagascar GNBC (Gendarmerie Nationale Basketball Club)**
Mali AS Police (Association Sportive de la Police Nationale) **
Morocco AS Salé (Association Sportive de Salé) *
Mozambique Ferroviàrio de Maputo**
Nigeria Rivers Hoopers BC (Rivers Hoopers Basketball Club)*
Rwanda Patriots BC (Patriots Basketball Club)**
Senegal AS Douanes (Association Sportive des Douanes) *
Tunisia US Monastir (Union Sportive Monastirienne)*
*Champion from national league that earned representation in the inaugural BAL season
**Secured participation in the inaugural BAL season through a BAL qualifying tournament

Champions from the national leagues in Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia earned their participation in the inaugural season.  The remaining six teams, which come from Algeria, Cameroon, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique and Rwanda, secured their participation through BAL qualifying tournaments conducted by FIBA Regional Office Africa across the continent in late 2019.

The BAL groups and additional details about the league will be announced at a later date.

Celtics Rally for Win at OKC

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OKLAHOMA CITY – Jayson  Tatum scored 20 of his 27 points in the second half and the Boston Celtics rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-94. Celtics All-Star swingman Jaylen Brown added 25 points to help the Celtics close out a four-game trip and even their season record. Boston had lost five of six before winning at Milwaukee on Friday and at Oklahoma City on Saturday.

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OKC’s Moses Brown scored a career-high 21 points and tied a Thunder record with 23 rebounds. The team announced before the game that veteran center Al Horford will be inactive the rest of the season while the team’s young players develop. Brown moved into the starting lineup and set a franchise record for rebounds in a half with 19 before the break.

Theo Maledon chipped-in with 22 points for Oklahoma City.

The Thunder led 80-76 heading into the fourth quarter. Jaylen Brown kept the Celtics in it with 13 points in the third.

NBA: Celtics Strike Buck

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MILWAUKEE – Boston struck Buck, errr … back.

A night after the Boston Celtics lost to the Milwaukee Bucks at the TD Garden in New England, Jayson Tatum scored 34 points and added six rebounds, Marcus Smart had 23 and the Boston Celtics beat Milwaukee 122-114 on Friday night and snapped a Bucks’ eight-game winning streak and spilt the two-game home and home mini-series.

The Celtics, who led 60-55 at the half, hit nine of 14 three-pointers in the third quarter to build the lead to 103-89 entering the final period.

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Newly acquired Celtics bigman Moe Wagner and veteran Celtics guard Smart extended Boston’s lead to 118-97 with three-pointers in the fourth quarter. Boston’s All-Star guard Kemba Walker added 21 points, and All-Star swingman Jaylen Brown had 18 for the Celtics.

Boston finished 22 of 47 from beyond the arc. Smart was 7 for 10, and Brown and Tatum added four apiece.

Celtics Acquire Fournier From Magic

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BOSTON – (Official News Release) – The Boston Celtics acquired guard Evan Fournier from the Orlando Magic in exchange for guard Jeff Teague and two future second round draft picks, the team announced.

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“Evan has established himself as a highly-efficient scorer, whose combination of shooting and playmaking will make an immediate impact on this team,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. “He’s someone who has consistently produced on the offensive end, and we think his unique abilities will fit in seamlessly with our current group.”

A nine-year veteran from Saint-Maurice, France, Fournier (6-7, 205) is averaging a career-high 19.7 points on 46.1% shooting (38.8% 3-PT) in 26 games played with Orlando this season (all starts). His 2.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.8 three-point field goals in 2020-21 also represent career-high averages.

Fournier has reached the 20-point mark 14 times in 26 games in 2020-21, with both of his 30-point efforts occurring over the last four contests. He has connected on at least five 3-point field goals in five games this season, including a career-high six 3-pointers made (of 8) against Brooklyn on March 19.

Originally drafted by Denver with the 20th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Fournier has produced 14.4 points (45.0% FG, 37.6% 3-PT, 80.6% FT), 2.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, while averaging 28.5 minutes played in nine seasons with the Nuggets and Magic. The 28-year-old is one of nine NBA players to average 15.0 points and shoot 35.0% from beyond the arc in each of the last five seasons since 2015-16.

Signed as a free agent on Nov. 30, Teague averaged 6.9 points (41.5% FG, 46.4% 3-PT), 1.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 34 games (five starts) during his lone season with the Celtics.

Celtics Get “Big,” Acquire Two Centers

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BOSTON – (From Official News Release) – The Boston Celtics acquired 6-11 center Moe Wagner from the Washington Wizards, and forward/center Luke Kornet from the Chicago Bulls as part of a three-team deal, the team announced today. Boston sent guard Javonte Green and forward/center Daniel Theis to Chicago to complete the transaction.

Wagner (6-11, 245), 23, is averaging 7.1 points (50.8% FG, 31.0% 3-PT, 78.8% FT), 2.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 25 games (13 starts) with the Wizards this season. He has scored in double figures eight times in 2020-21, including a season-high 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting against the LA Clippers on Feb. 23.

Originally selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 25th pick of the 2018 NBA Draft, the former University of Michigan standout has averaged 6.9 points (49.7% FG, 30.2% 3-PT, 81.0% FT), 3.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assist in 113 games played over three seasons with the Lakers and Wizards.

Kornet (7-2, 250), 25, has averaged 2.0 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 7.2 minutes played in 13 games for the Bulls this season. The four-year pro has posted career averages of 6.1 points (39.7% FG, 33.5% 3-PT, 76.4% FT), 2.6 rebounds, 1.0 assist, and 15.3 minutes in 115 career games (33 starts) with New York and Chicago.

Theis spent each of his first four NBA seasons with the Celtics after being signed as a free agent out of Germany on July 20, 2017, averaging 7.2 points (55.4% FG, 34.5% 3-PT, 74.0% FT), 4.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 18.8 minutes in 236 career games (106 starts). The Salzgitter, Germany native is averaging a career-high 9.5 points on 55.2% shooting (34.7% 3-PT) in 42 games this season.

“Daniel has been a hard worker and consummate professional that has continued to improve each year since he’s been in Boston,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. “We thank him for all of the effort and sacrifice he poured into this organization, and wish him all the best moving forward.”

Ainge met with media members via a Zoom conference call this morning.