Digital Sports Desk

Online Destination for the Best in Boston Sports

Celtics

Celtics Sign Jabari Parker

by

BOSTON – (Source: Official team news release) – The Boston Celtics have signed forward Jabari Parker, the team announced. Selected with the second overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2014 NBA Draft, Parker, 26, has averaged 14.8 points (49.3% FG, 32.3% 3-PT, 74.0% FT), 5.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 28.8 minutes in 288 career games (190 starts) over seven NBA seasons with Milwaukee, Chicago, Atlanta, Washington, and Sacramento.

He has averaged at least 14.0 points in four of his seven NBA seasons, including each of the last two years (2018-19/2019-20).

In a corresponding roster move, the Celtics have waived center Moe Wagner.

Celtics Edge Trail Blazers, 116-115

by

PORTLAND – Boston All-Star forward Jayson Tatum scored 32 points, and added nine rebounds and five assists to lead the Boston Celtics to a 116-115 victory at Portland on Tuesday. The Celtics’ other All-Star, Jaylen Brown, scored 24 points and guard Kemba Walker had one of his better all-around games with 21 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as Boston won for the fourth straight game and sixth time in the past seven.

YouTube player

Portland’s All-Star phenom Damian Lillard had 28 points and 10 assists, and veteran forward Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting for the Trail Blazers. Norman Powell added 20 points and CJ McCollum had 16 points as Portland lost for the fifth time in the past seven games.

Robert Williams added 16 points and seven rebounds and Marcus Smart had 13 points and seven assists for Boston.

Tatum Scores 53; Celtics Win in OT

by

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.

YouTube player

“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.

Celtics Get “Big,” Acquire Two Centers

by

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.

NBA: Celtics Lose in Overtime

by

MEMPHIS – Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant scored 29 points and added nine assists to lead the Grizzlies over the visiting Boston Celtics, 132-126, in overtime Monday. Morant hit three of four free throws in the closing seconds of OT to preserve Memphis’ third win in four games.

YouTube player

Playing without two of their top three players –  Jayson Tatum, who sat out due to an illness, and Kemba Walker, sidelined due to left knee injury management – the Celtics dropped their fifth game of seven since returning to action following the annual NBA All-Star break.

Jaylen Brown scored 20 of his 27 points in the second half and finished with nine rebounds and five assists for Boston while reserve Jeff Teague, who started for Tatum, had 26 points and six assists.

Jonas Valanciunas contributed 16 points and a game-high 19 rebounds as the Grizzlies secured a split of the two-game season series against Boston. Dillon Brooks scored five of his 24 points in overtime to help the Grizzlies outscore Boston 15-9.

Celtics Take a Shot with Bushmills

by

BOSTON – Bushmills Irish Whiskey, from the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery, announced its designation as an official partner of the Boston Celtics, one of America’s original NBA teams. Extending through the 2023 season and just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, the deal celebrates two champion institutions coming together and marks Bushmills’ first partnership with an NBA team

Embed from Getty Images

As both brands honor a unique, rich history, Bushmills and the Celtics unite to bring Boston fans a taste of two iconic originals. “We’re an organization that places a great value on tradition and authenticity, and found Bushmills to be a seamless fit. We are proud to welcome Bushmills Irish Whiskey as an official partner of the Boston Celtics and we look forward to working together to create unique and memorable experiences for our fans,” said Ted Dalton, Senior Vice President, Partnerships & Business Development of the Boston Celtics.

Bushmills is teaming up with one of the most beloved Celtics in team history, 2008 NBA World Champion Paul Pierce. “As a former player on the Boston Celtics, one of the original NBA teams, I recognize another original when I see one. Bushmills is the original Irish whiskey and to celebrate the partnership, they’re buying the city of Boston a drink made for champions. No better way to cheer our team on,” said Pierce.