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Stanley Cup: Panthers Alive and Well

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SUNRISE – The Florida Panthers are right back in their chase for the Stanley Cup Final after a come from behind, 3-2, overtime victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday. However, as much as the Panthers have to celebrate with their comeback win, they still trail the best-of-seven series 2-1 and are aware of the importance of following it up with another victory when they host Game 4 on Saturday.

“That’s a big momentum game for us,” Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, whose late third-period goal forced overtime, told Sportsnet. “Now we’ve just got to win one more game.”

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unloaded a long shot from just inside the blue line that found the mark at 4:27 of overtime to cap a back-and-forth affair. It was his seventh of the playoffs and his fourth career overtime winner.

“We had to find a way,” said Verhaeghe, who added an assist.

With his team on the verge of falling behind 3-0 in the series, Tkachuk — who missed most of the first period because the concussion spotter pulled him from the game after the forward was on the receiving end of a hard check — scored yet another clutch goal.

Tkachuk buried a loose puck with 2:13 remaining in regulation while goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was pulled for an extra attacker.

“Probably the gutsiest win I’ve ever been a part of,” said Tkachuk, who notched a franchise-record 11th goal of the playoffs and added an assist. “Proud of the team. We’re not done yet.”

Brandon Montour also scored for the Panthers and Bobrovsky made 25 shots in a strong performance. Bobrovsky’s biggest stop came on a third-period attempt from Michael Amadio while Vegas held a 2-1 lead.

The Panthers recorded their first ever Stanley Cup Final win. They were swept in their only other appearance, 1996 against the Colorado Avalanche.

Nuggets Back in Control of NBA Finals

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MIAMI – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Denver Nuggets stand two victories away from their first NBA title and their top two players are coming off historic performances. But the Nuggets remember their Game 2 home loss and know they will need to deliver a supreme effort on Friday night when they face the Miami Heat in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

Denver holds a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven series and are setting out to win back-to-back games in Miami. The Nuggets controlled the second half during a 109-94 win on Wednesday night and re-gained the crucial home-court advantage which makes Miami need to win a game at the Mile High city.

“Good win for us,” said Nuggets coach Michael Malone, “but we did not come down here to get one win.”

What Denver did get was history-making outings from two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.

Jokic produced a stat line of 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists and became the first player ever to log at least 30 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in an NBA Finals game. It was just the fifth such contest in NBA playoff history — three coming from Jokic and one each from Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Murray scored a game-high 34 points to go with 10 rebounds and 10 assists. It represents the first game in which two players on the same team scored at least 30 points during a triple-double in NBA history.

“They played amazing,” veteran forward Jeff Green said. “They took what the defense gave them. Jokic has been doing it all year. Both of them, Jamal as well. We feed off of those guys. They make the game easy for us and we try to do the same for them.”

Denver also dominated the interior. The Nuggets had a 58-33 rebounding advantage and a 60-34 edge in points in the paint.

The Heat appear to be losing steam during a playoff run that began with them claiming a berth through the play-in round and then upsetting the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.

Miami took a 3-0 lead over the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals. Since then, the Heat have dropped five of seven games.

And if Miami falls behind 3-1, two of the final three games of the series are scheduled for Denver. The Nuggets’ loss in Game 2 was their first in 10 home games this postseason.

Heat center Bam Adebayo said the squad has faced challenging situations before.

“You trust one another to do their job, and you let the chips fall where they may,” said Adebayo, who had 22 points and 17 rebounds in Game 3. “You trust 1 through 5, 1 through 15. You trust the staff. Everybody has a belief that you can get that job done.

“If everybody has that belief and everybody comes with the right mindset, that is how you can get it done.”

Jimmy Butler scored 28 points on Wednesday. The Miami star is averaging 20.7 points and shooting 42.1 percent in the series.

“I continue to be who I am,” Butler said of his Finals performance. “We will continue to be who we are as a group, as a team. We’re going to go out here and compete together. We’re going to win together.”

Meanwhile, limiting the damage from Jokic and Murray will be part of the focus. Jokic is averaging 33.3 points, 14 rebounds and 9.3 assists, while Murray is contributing 26 points, 10 assists and 6.7 rebounds.

“I think this is the time where the players show what they’ve got,” Jokic said one day after posting his 10th triple-double of the postseason.

Miami guard Tyler Herro will again sit out, coach Erik Spoelstra said Thursday. Herro broke the hand on April 16 in Game 1 of the first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks and underwent surgery on April 21.

–Field Level Media

Sox-A-Pa-Loser

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CLEVELAND – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The errors keep piling up for the Boston Red Sox, who face the host Cleveland Guardians in the rubber match of a three-game series on Thursday. Boston matched its season high with three miscues in a 5-2 loss on Wednesday and leads the American League with 43 errors. The Red Sox committed all three errors in the fourth inning on Wednesday, leading to a pair of Cleveland runs.

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“It’s frustrating because we’re working,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “It’s not lack of effort, it’s not lack of work. It is who we are right now. At some point, you have to slow the game down … they’re trying; right now it’s just not happening for us.”

Boston has lost four of its last five games, while Cleveland has won six of its last 10. Guardians designated hitter Josh Bell has driven in a run in six straight games.

“It’s frustrating because we’re working,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “It’s not lack of effort, it’s not lack of work. It is who we are right now. At some point, you have to slow the game down … they’re trying; right now it’s just not happening for us.”

Boston has lost four of its last five games, while Cleveland has won six of its last 10. Guardians designated hitter Josh Bell has driven in a run in six straight games.

Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor committed a costly error in Wednesday’s victory, but finished with three hits, including a run-scoring single. Naylor has 34 RBIs in his last 32 games.

“Josh was pretty locked in after that error,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said after the win. “You could tell he wanted to get some payback. He had a pretty eventful night. There wasn’t much that went on out there that he wasn’t a part of.”

Cleveland will send right-hander Aaron Civale (1-1, 2.04 ERA) to the mound in the series finale. He returned from the injured list after missing 48 games with a strained left oblique and tossed five scoreless innings against the Minnesota Twins last Friday.

Civale, 27, was pleased with his performance after missing large gaps of time due to various injuries over the past two years.

Boston-Based Rithmm Raises $2 Million

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) –  Rithmm, Inc., a Boston-based start-up specializing in AI-driven sports betting technology, closed on a $2 million seed funding round.

The funding round was led by prominent investors, including Boston Seed Capital, Counterview Capital, Oyster Ventures, Correlation Ventures, Service Provider Capital, and Permit Ventures. This significant capital infusion will propel the company’s expansion and enable the launch of its NFL product, while further enhancing the platform’s capabilities and empowering sports bettors worldwide.

Rithmm developed an innovative sports betting platform that leverages the power of advanced analytics with an intuitive user interface, enabling sports bettors to build custom analytical models easily and use them to make smarter and more informed betting decisions.

The platform eliminates the complexity and barriers associated with traditional sports betting analytics, making it accessible to users of all skill levels.

“This timely infusion of capital will play a pivotal role in propelling our technology forward, enabling us to broaden our reach with an eagerly awaited NFL product and providing our users with an unparalleled sports betting experience,” said Megan Lanham, CEO of Rithmm.

“We believe that Rithmm is poised to disrupt the industry by providing users with advanced analytics and insights previously reserved for professional sports bettors,” said Peter Blacklow, Managing Director at Boston Seed Capital. “Their AI-driven platform has the potential to level the playing field and transform the way sports bettors approach strategy. We are thrilled to support Rithmm in their mission to redefine the sports betting experience.”

Pro Golf: LIV and Let Die

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NEW YORK/RIYADH/PONTE VEDRA BEACH – Staff Report with references from Official News Release – In a move to reunite the disparate and desperate worlds of professional golf, the feuding entities of the touring pro golf circuits reached agreement to unify the business of golf.

In an early morning news release sent to the tour’s media contacts and posted on PGATour.com then reported publicly by CNBC-TV, the PGA Tour and LIV tour seem to be merging after the 2023 season. Although the news release was vague and noted much to come as details are worked out in the future, the remaining concept to become a part of the regular golf scene will be “team golf.”

The agreement will end all pending litigation between LIV and the PGA Tour.

The face-saving news release for LIV golf read as follows:

The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the Public Investment Fund announced an agreement to unify the game of golf, on a global basis. The parties have signed an agreement that combines PIF’s golf-related commercial businesses and rights (including LIV Golf) with the commercial businesses and rights of the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour into a new, collectively owned, for-profit entity to ensure that all stakeholders benefit from a model that delivers maximum excitement and competition among the game’s best players.

In addition, PIF will make a capital investment into the new entity to facilitate its growth and success. The new entity – with a name to be determined – will implement a plan to grow these combined commercial businesses, drive greater fan engagement and accelerate growth initiatives already underway. With LIV Golf in the midst of its second, groundbreaking season, the PGA TOUR, DP World Tour and PIF will work together to best feature and grow team golf going forward.

Notably, today’s announcement will be followed by a mutually agreed end to all pending litigation between the participating parties. Further, the three organizations will work cooperatively and in good faith to establish a fair and objective process for any players who desire to re-apply for membership with the PGA TOUR or the DP World Tour following the completion of the 2023 season and for determining fair criteria and terms of re-admission, consistent with each Tour’s policies.

“After two years of disruption and distraction, this is a historic day for the game we all know and love,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “This transformational partnership recognizes the immeasurable strength of the PGA Tour’s history, legacy and pro-competitive model and combines with it the DP World Tour and LIV – including the team golf concept – to create an organization that will benefit golf’s players, commercial and charitable partners and fans. Going forward, fans can be confident that we will, collectively, deliver on the promise we’ve always made – to promote competition of the best in professional golf and that we are committed to securing and driving the game’s future.

“We are pleased to move forward, in step with LIV and PIF’s world-class investing experience, and I applaud PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan for his vision and collaborative and forward-thinking approach that is not just a solution to the rift in our game, but also a commitment to taking it to new heights. This will engender a new era in global golf, for the better.”

“Today is a very exciting day for this special game and the people it touches around the world,” said PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan. “We are proud to partner with the PGA Tour to leverage PIF’s unparalleled success and track record of unlocking value and bringing innovation and global best practices to business and sectors worldwide. We are committed to unifying, promoting and growing the game of golf around the world and offering the highest-quality product to the many millions of long-time fans globally, while cultivating new fans.

“There is no question that the LIV model has been positively transformative for golf. We believe there are opportunities for the game to evolve while also maintaining its storied history and tradition. This partnership represents the best opportunity to extend and increase the impact of golf for all. We look forward to collaborating with Jay and Keith to bring the best version of the game to communities around the world.”

Under the terms of the agreement, the Board of Directors of the new entity will oversee and direct all the new entity’s golf-related commercial operations, businesses and investments. The new entity will work to ensure a cohesive schedule of events that will be exciting for fans, sponsors and all stakeholders. PIF will initially be the exclusive investor in the new entity, alongside the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and the DP World Tour. Going forward, PIF will have the exclusive right to further invest in the new entity, including a right of first refusal on any capital that may be invested in the new entity, including into the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and DP World Tour. The PGA Tour will appoint a majority of the Board and hold a majority voting interest in the combined entity.

Separately, PGA Tour Inc. will remain in place as a 501(c)(6) tax exempt organization and retains administrative oversight of events for those assets contributed by the PGA Tour, including the sanctioning of events, the administration of the competition and rules, as well as all other “inside the ropes” responsibilities, with Jay Monahan as Commissioner and Ed Herlihy as PGA Tour Policy Board Chairman. PIF’s Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan will join the PGA Tour Policy Board. The DP World Tour and LIV Golf will retain similar administrative oversight of events on their respective Tours.

The Board of Directors of the new commercial entity will include Al-Rumayyan as Chairman and Monahan as Chief Executive Officer; the new entity’s Board will also include an Executive Committee comprising Al-Rumayyan, Monahan, Herlihy and PGA TOUR Policy Board member Jimmy Dunne. The full Board will be announced at a later date, and it is anticipated that all three founding members will have representation.

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, said “This is a momentous day. We are delighted to be able to not only reignite our relationship with PIF, but also to have the opportunity to build on our current Strategic Alliance partnership with the PGA Tour. Together we will be stronger than ever and well positioned to continue to bring the game to all corners of the globe. To partner in this new entity and influence the growth of the game for all our DP World Tour members is energizing and exciting.”

All parties will work in the months to come to finalize terms of the agreement, with details to be announced in due course.

Red Sox Face Guardians

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CLEVELAND – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Cleveland Guardians outfielder Will Brennan boasts an unremarkable track record, but the 25-year-old Colorado native may hold the key to the team’s search for offensive consistency.

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Brennan will look to continue his hot streak when the Guardians open a three-game series against the visiting Boston Red Sox tonight. Cleveland has won two straight, while Boston is beginning a six-game road trip after losing the final three games of a four-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays.

After batting .204 in April and struggling for most of May, Brennan is 11-for-21 (.524) in his past six games. He made his major league debut last year, appearing in 11 late-season games.

“I’m just growing up every single game up here,” Brennan said. “You have to take a step back and look at what’s going on. It’s pretty awesome to see what you’re doing every day. You’re playing in the big leagues. Struggle comes along with that.”

Cleveland also received a much-needed boost last week from first baseman Josh Naylor and second baseman Andres Gimenez, who were a combined 20-for-50 (.400) as the Guardians went 4-3 on a road trip to Baltimore and Minnesota last week.

Cleveland’s biggest need is more production at the bottom of the order. Brennan could help address that issue with his continued development.

“This might sound dramatic,” Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan said, “but he might be one of our best players once he gets going. He has contact, power, he can run and has a great arm. If he gets going, I think we can be in a really good position.”

The Guardians are beginning a six-game homestand with the series against Boston, which is 30-30. The Red Sox have scored a total of five runs during their three-game skid.

“I don’t want to sound pessimistic or negative, but we have to do it,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “We can talk all the talk. We can say that we’re better than this and all that. But at the end, we have to be better. We have to go out there and perform.”

The Red Sox will send left-hander James Paxton (1-1, 4.26 ERA) to the mound in the series opener. He allowed one run and struck out eight over five innings in a no-decision against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.

Paxton pitched a total of 21 2/3 innings over the previous three seasons due to a number of injuries. He has allowed two or fewer runs in three of his first four outings this season, logging 27 strikeouts in 19 innings.

“I really didn’t know what to expect,” Paxton said. “Coming back through the minor leagues, I think I was topping out at 96, 97 (mph with the fastball). But it’s just not the same atmosphere as pitching in the big leagues. I’m just going out there and letting it rip and it’s feeling good coming out.”

Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez is 2-for-14 against Paxton, who is 1-3 with a 5.47 ERA in five career starts against the Guardians.

Cleveland will counter with right-hander Shane Bieber (4-3, 3.72 ERA), who allowed seven runs over four innings against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.

Bieber has gone 3-3 with a 5.50 ERA in six career games (five starts) vs. Boston. He yielded two runs over seven frames in a 5-2 road victory over the Red Sox on April 28.

Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers is 3-for-13 (.231) against Bieber with two home runs.

–Field Level Media

Tampa Bay Rays Befuddle Red Sox

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Shane McClanahan pitched six innings of one-run ball and three players went 2-for-4 as the Tampa Bay Rays posted a 4-1 win over the host Boston Red Sox on Monday afternoon – the make-up date for last Friday’s wash-out.

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McClanahan (9-1) struck out five and allowed just five hits and two walks, bouncing back from his first loss of the season. Justin Turner’s solo home run in the sixth inning was the lone blemish for the Tampa Bay ace.

Yandy Diaz, Wander Franco and Francisco Mejia all had two hits for the Rays, who used a three-run fifth inning to post their third straight win to finish the four-game series.

Rafael Devers was 2-for-4 and Christian Arroyo doubled for Boston.

Red Sox righty Brayan Bello (3-4) struck out the side in the opening inning and allowed just two baserunners over the first four frames, but a five-hit fifth helped the Rays jump out to a 3-0 lead.

Luke Raley hit a leadoff double to center and a Manuel Margot chopper through the left side plated the first Tampa Bay run. Margot moved to second on the throw and scored on Mejia’s ground-ball single to center two batters later.

Diaz and Franco followed with back-to-back hits to load the bases before Josh Lowe made it 3-0 on a fielder’s choice grounder.

Bello struck out five and allowed three runs on six hits across six innings.

Boston could not muster a run against McClanahan until the sixth as Turner ripped a solo homer into the Green Monster seats. It was his seventh blast of the season.

The Rays added to their lead as reliever Nick Pivetta issued a bases-loaded walk to Taylor Walls in the seventh. Pivetta also allowed a double to Franco and issued two other walks before Diaz scored the insurance run.

After making two costly errors in Sunday’s loss, the Red Sox defense came to play in the early innings to temporarily keep the game scoreless.

Center fielder Enrique Hernandez robbed Raley of a potential home run by making a catch at the wall near the triangle in center in the second inning. Alex Verdugo’s turn for a web gem in right came when he robbed Mejia of a homer near Pesky’s Pole an inning later.

Boston manager Alex Cora was ejected after the eighth after arguing a called third strike on Devers that led to an inning-ending, strike ‘em out-throw ‘em out double play.

–Field Level Media

 

Pujols Named Special Assistant at MLB

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NEW YORK – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Retired St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols was named a special assistant to Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred.

Pujols will consult with MLB on a range of topics, including player relations and issues regarding his home country, the Dominican Republic. He will also work as an on-air analyst for MLB Network.

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“Beyond his long list of accomplishments on the field, Albert is a highly respected figure who represents the game extraordinarily well. He cares greatly about making a difference in our communities,” Manfred said in a news release. “We are excited for Albert to join other former players who are doing important work for our sport, and we will welcome his perspective across our efforts.”

Pujols, 43, retired after the 2022 season with 3,384 hits and 703 home runs. The three-time MVP and 11-time All-Star played 12 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, 10 with the Los Angeles Angels and one with the Dodgers.

“I couldn’t be more excited for this next chapter of my career,” Pujols said. “Commissioner Manfred and I share the same passion for growing the game in the Dominican Republic and I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together. I’m also grateful for the opportunity to join the MLB Network family. I’ve been a huge fan since the very beginning and can’t wait to get started.”

Pujols made his MLB Network debut on Tuesday morning. He will contribute to the network’s on-site coverage of MLB’s London Series on June 23 between the Cardinals and Chicago Cubs.

Pujols joins a group of former players working in various capacities for MLB that includes Ken Griffey Jr., Cal Ripken Jr., CC Sabathia and Joe Torre.

–Field Level Media

NBA Finals: Heat Love to Compete

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DENVER – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Miami Heat benefited from a late finishing kick against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday to send the NBA Finals back to South Florida all square at one victory apiece.

Miami erased an eight-point deficit entering the fourth quarter and overcame a 41-point, 11-rebound performance from Nikola Jokic to record a 111-108 victory in Game 2 in Denver.

Miami’s Gabe Vincent made 8 of 12 shot attempts from the floor — including 4 of 6 from 3-point range — as the Heat outscored the Nuggets by a 36-25 margin in the fourth quarter.

Vincent was asked on NBA TV’s postgame show if his teammates are upset about a perceived lack of respect in the series against Denver.

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“I speak for my whole team when I say we don’t give a damn. We just want to get four wins,” Vincent said.

Bam Adebayo collected 21 points and nine rebounds and Jimmy Butler added 21 points and nine assists for Miami, which hosts Game 3 of the best-of-seven series on Wednesday.

“Our guys love to compete. They love to put themselves out there in those moments of truth,” said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra.

Denver’s Jamal Murray added 18 points and 10 assists, however, he saw his 3-point attempt with 1.9 seconds remaining hit the iron.

Aaron Gordon scored 12 points and Bruce Brown added 11 off the bench for the Nuggets, who fell to 9-1 at home in the playoffs.

“We didn’t want it to happen of course, but it happened, so we have to live with it,” Jokic said. “We’re going to Miami to play another game.”

While Jokic is looking ahead, Denver coach Michael Malone took issue with what he’s seen in the first two games of this series.

“Let’s talk about effort. I mean, this is the NBA Finals and we’re talking about effort. That’s a huge concern of mine,” Malone said. “… This is not the preseason or the regular season. This is the NBA Finals. And that to me is really, really perplexing, disappointing.”

Denver held an 83-75 lead through three quarters before Miami erupted for a 32-12 run over the first eight-plus minutes of the fourth. Duncan Robinson made a pair of treys and two layups and Butler converted a three-point play and 3-pointer to highlight the surge.

“Our defense has to be a helluva lot better,” Malone said. “That’s two games now where our fourth-quarter defense has been nonexistent.”

Denver led 57-51 at the halftime break.

–Field Level Media

Celtics, Cassell Agree to Coaching Deal

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BOSTON – Former Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Sam Cassell who once played for the Celtics after a journeyman career as an NBA guard has agreed to join the Boston Celtics’ coaching staff under Joe Mazzulla, according to multiple media reports Sunday night.

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Cassell spent the last three seasons with the 76ers after also serving as an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers (2014-15 to 2019-20) and Washington Wizards (2009-10 to 2013-14).

Following the Celtics’ loss to the Miami Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals last Monday, the Boston Globe reported that three assistant coaches on Boston’s staff were expected to head to Houston to work under disgraced coach Ime Udoka.

Udoka served as the Celtics’ head coach for the 2021-22 season and led Boston to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games. He was then suspended by the team during the offseason for “multiple violations of team policies” that centered around an inappropriate relationship with a woman within the organization.

Ben Sullivan, Mike Moser and Garrett Jackson are reportedly the three assistants that plan to join the Rockets, according to USA Today Sports. That report also indicated that Houston, along with a handful of other teams, is also interested in Aaron Miles, another Celtics assistant coach.

Cassell, 53, will be making his return to Boston, where he won a title in his lone season with the Celtics (2007-08). He averaged 7.6 points and 2.1 assists in 17 games (one start) for Boston after appearing in 38 games (33 starts) for the Los Angeles Clippers earlier that season.

Cassell was also a member of the 1994 NBA champion Houston Rockets.

In 15 NBA seasons, Cassell posted career averages of 15.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 993 games (690 starts) with eight teams, including the Milwaukee Bucks (1998-99 to 2002-03). He was an All-Star in 2003-04.

–Field Level Media