Digital Sports Desk

Online Destination for the Best in Boston Sports

NBA

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | On MVPs, Tanking & The Home Team Act

by

Bronze Luka – Frozen Out From MVP Voting

By TERRY LYONS, Editor in Chief of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – There’s a four horse race looming for the Most Valuable Player in the National Basketball Association with a fifth horse ruled ineligible for lack of playing time/games. Here are the contenders, listed in alphabetical order:

  • Jalen Brown, Boston Celtics
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder
  • Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
  • Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

The following NBA players are ineligible for postseason awards because of the fact they did not play the minimum number of games to qualify. That number of games, 65, was increased as a deterrent for teams resting the top players too often, a growing trend known as load management.

  • *Luka Dončić, LA Lakers
  • Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
  • *Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
  • Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
  • Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
  • Jimmy Butler, GS Warriors
  • Stephen Curry, GS Warriors
  • Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks / Wash (DC) Wizards
  • Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
  • Paul George, Philadelphia 76ers
  • Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls
  • LeBron James, LA Lakers
  • Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
  • Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
  • Austin Reaves, LA Lakers
  • Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings
  • Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic
  • Jalen Williams, OKC Thunder
  • Trae Young, Hawks / Wizards

Note: The NBA delayed its post season award voting and later ruled that Luka Dončić and Cade Cunningham were now eligible for awards.*

Put simply, team/front office analysts and player agents believe that the fewer games (and minutes) a basketball star plays over an 82 games regular season will translate to extended careers, thus more years on their contract extentions, thus, more money to be earned. Most likely, there’s a significantly better chance for such a player to earn “Super Max” money in a fair number of contracts, starting with the player’s second or third deal and continuing until the player decides to retire or is injured and forced to retire.

Now, for the award in unintended consequences: In negotiations for the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, labor and management decided to tie together the concept of that “Super Max” to the annual postseason awards, thus putting the ability for players to qualify for the big bucks in the hands of the 100+ voters, all media members who cover the league on an 82-games a year basis. The panel is also bolstered by votes from select members of the league’s national broadcast teams, and an international media member or three are tossed in for good reason.

Big mistake.

Paraphrasing from the CBA with the help of the Villanova Law Review: “An NBA player qualifies for a Super Max contract (Designated Veteran Player Extension) by meeting specific performance criteria, primarily being named to an All-NBA team, winning MVP, or earning Defensive Player of the Year. The player must have 7-9 years of experience, be with their original team (or acquired via rookie deal), and have 1-2 years left on their contract.

Performance Criteria (Must meet one):

  • Named to an All-NBA Team (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) in the most recent season or in two of the previous three seasons.
  • Named Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) in the most recent season or in two of the previous three seasons.
  • Named NBA MVP in any of the three previous seasons.

Eligibility & Service Requirements:

  • Experience: Player must have completed seven or eight years of service (YOS).
  • Team Requirement: The player must be on their original team or have been traded before their fifth season.
  • Contract Timing: Eligible with one or two years remaining on their current contract.

Key Rules & Limitations

  • Games Played Threshold: Under the latest NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), players must appear in at least 65 regular-season games to be eligible for the postseason awards (All-NBA, DPOY, MVP) that trigger Super Max eligibility.
  • Roster Limits: Recent CBA changes removed the limit on how many “Designated Veteran” players a team can have on its roster at once.
  • Negotiation: Qualifying only makes a player eligible for the 35% max; the team is not required to offer the full amount and the terms of the deal must be negotiated.
  • Trade Restrictions: A player cannot be traded for one year after signing a Super Max deal.

“Super Max’ Benefits:

  • Allows a team to offer up to 35% of the total salary cap (vs. 30% for standard max).
  • The contract length is for five years.

As sure as actor George Clooney portraying Frank William “Billy” Tyne Jr., captain of doomed Andrea Gail, would attest, this season is The Perfect Storm where all the rules of the CBA, the post season awards and the anti-load management have come home to roost.

What are the biggest problems the system has put forth? Let us count just a few ways.

  • This season, players like Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham deserve consideration for All-NBA, at the least, and MVP at the best.
  • The NBA Players Association (NBPA) is calling for the 65-game rule to be abolished or reformed, arguing that it unfairly disqualifies deserving players from end-of-season honors due to injuries. That comes long after they ratified the deal.
  • Tying the ability for a player to “Max” out to the whims of the media voting can (and will) place unjust pressure on the voters (media). The post season honors were intended to be a publicity/ attention grabber and cause for debate and an eventual photo op – not determine whether a player merits “Super Max” levels of salary.

By 2029 and 2030, the NBA maximum team salary figures will likely reach $200m and $220m, thus projecting the Super Max deals to come in at $80m per season and $400m per player over the life of a five-year deal – all potentially dependent on a vote or two on MVP or All-Defensive team honors.

All this said, the NBA is actively attempting to solve an obvious “Tanking” issue.

On Friday, April 10, the Associated Press reported that 168 NBA players did not play because of injury or illness.

One team, the OKC Thunder, might’ve had good reason, as they clinched the best record in the league and home court advantage for the duration of the playoffs.

“If we didn’t clinch [the No. 1 overall seed] coming into tonight, everybody would be playing,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said to reporters before the game. “We’ve earned the right through 80 games to manage their bodies and stuff like that.”

San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, needing to play 20 minutes to reach the 65-game standard and be eligible for postseason awards, was taken out after hitting exactly that number of minutes. That accomplished, he reported back into the game, evidently having convinced the Spurs’ hierarchy that he needed a bit more work. He finished the Friday night game with 40 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in 26 minutes during a 139-120 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

“If I had 65 [games] before, I, for sure, wouldn’t have played,” Wembanyama said.

While we examine the upper echelon of NBA teams (As of Saturday, OKC is 64-17, and playing .790 ball with an (8-2) record over their prior 10 games and San Antonio is 62-19, and playing at a .765 clip with a (9-1) mark over their prior outings, the opposite side of the playoff qualifying ledger gets pretty ugly.

Before today’s season finale at Toronto, the Brooklyn Nets lost consecutive games by scores of (123-94) and (125-108). Meanwhile, the Washington Wizards have won a grand total of one game since February 22. That’s (1-and-25) for those of you scoring at home.

Five teams sit between the 17-win and 22-win threshold, all battling it out for the slight advantages of the NBA Draft Lottery system which was addressed by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver quite definitively at the recent NBA Board of Governors meeting. A vote of the three proposals Silver presented to his Board will come in May. (See proposals HERE).
Captain Obvious was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: I preface this section by stating it is written in bipartisan fashion, and – in fact – I’ll be ripping some of the “good guys” in U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn) along with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) as the aforementioned group of four have introduced the Home Team Act, and it’s a doozie.

The lawmakers on Thursday introduced a bill that “could counter” professional sports franchises’ plans for relocating. The Home Team Act, if passed, would “require team ownership to provide one year of notice before moving a team to a new location if the team would move across state lines or to a new metropolitan area.” During that year prior to the proposed relocation, the franchise in question would be “available for other (presumably local) prospective owners to purchase ‘at a fair and reasonable price.’” A team of appraisers would determine “what constitutes as ‘fair and reasonable.’”

While it all sounds nice and an effort by local politicians to support their local sports team, while currying favor (a.k.a. ‘sucking up) to the local constituents with hopes of some votes down the road, it is quite a strike against a business owners’ rights to do what he thinks is best for his business and, very possibly, the future health of the franchise.

The case in point is the decision by the Mohegan Tribe to sell the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun to the Tellman Fertitta family who plan to move the Sun to Houston to become the second coming of the Houston Comets – the once mighty dynasty of WNBA years gone by.

Last summer, there was quite a kerfuffle when the Mohegan Tribe had a handshake with former Celtics team owner Stephen Pagliuca to sell the team and slide it up I-95 to play in the Boston Garden. The WNBA put the brakes on that cozy agreement and noted that the relocation of franchises was subject to the bylaws of the WNBA’s Constitution and By Laws. quite simply, the league had canvassed various potential cities for expansion and/or re-location and not a peep was heard from Boston.

The WNBA also noted that Houston was in line for a franchise and locating a team in the Southwest USA might be best. Meanwhile, another bid to move the Sun to Hartford from lovely Uncasville, Connecticut did not gain traction. The WNBA also noted that current NBA Boston Celtics’ team owner Bill Chisholm might have a say in the matter.

The other major factor was the relocation to either Hartford or Boston would place the Sun/Comets in a building they did not own nor operate, thus severely limiting the potential earnings of the franchise. And, keep in mind, the margins for a WNBA franchise to operate and turn a profit are slim and require revenue sources from every possible source (concessions, parking, etc.).

The politicians and the Home Team Act don’t seem to do (nor care about) the calculations to make the team successful. and face, it, the franchise is up for sale and potential relocation for a reason. If it were drowning in revenue, chances are the club would not be up for sale.

EXCUSE ME SIR, MAY I HAVE ANOTHER: On April 3, the day before the NCAA Final Four tipped-off in Indianapolis, the office of the White House dropped an Executive Order on the world of collegiate sports that – quite frankly – seemed quite illegal right from the moment it became public.

“The Urgent National Action to Save College Sports” made quite a splash with the “we want college sports to be the way it used to be” crowd. Of course, that group of American society – the people who ignored the 2015 “O’Bannon vs NCAA” case or the June 6, 2025 settlement between the NCAA and NIL claims.

Those two cases, handed down by the NCAA and the courts, significantly changed the landscape of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rights and college athletics overall. The settlement called for backpay and the ability for athletes to be paid directly by their schools. There was no longer a limit on scholarships per sport/team.

The “Settlement” introduced significant changes to college athletics and NIL, but it did not settle all outstanding issues, such as whether student athletes should be considered employees by their schools and whether student athletes have the right to collectively bargain.

Those issues still needs to be decided, but, of course, a Collective Bargaining Agreement would need to have two definitive sides representing labor and management to begin negotiations. As of now, the NCAA does not represent all of the management team (see College Football Playoff group, Power Four Conferences, basketball conferences, such as the BIG EAST, Olympic sports – both men and women, along with Division II or III athletes, their schools and conferences.

And, the athletes as a group would need to unionize to make it work.

Thus, the Executive Order put forth is like throwing a book of matches on top of a blazing fire of legal uncertainty in collegiate sports. and, clearly, what works for big-time college football doesn’t work for tennis or track and field. What works for the BIG EAST for men’s basketball, might not even work for the BIG EAST in women’s basketball.

While not a fan of piling “What About” on top of problems, how about a giant “What About” if applying all of the proposed laws and provisions of the EO on top of the IVY League schools?

The bottom line, the EO is a complete waste of time and money, as it will quickly be challenged in court and the findings will further divide the parties in an effort to find a legitimate working system for college sports.

What can be agreed upon:

  • The current (lack of) system for collegiate football and basketball is not sustainable.
  • The proposed limits to collegiate athletes is un-Constitutional. Why should they be singled out and limited?
  • There doesn’t;t seem to be an equal restriction plan for college coaches, Athletic Directors and school Presidents. They seem to be able to move around as they please, with no limitations of years served, not the number of times they change jobs.
  • Holding Federal Funding over the heads of the colleges is surely illegal.

One other point to be made, and it’s quite simple: Let’s reverse the Executive Order from collegiate athletes and apply it to elected officials:

We’ll call it, “Urgent National Action to Save Democracy,” and here are a few bullet-points for the EO.

  • Elected officials are limited to a five year period to serve
  • Elected officials may change jobs only once, this if a Congressman wishes to run for Senate after a five-year period of serving as an elected Representative in the House, “go get ‘em.” But that’s it. Only one job change.
  • Same goes for Senators who might want to run for President. And, you get one crack at it, one election – win or go home. NO changes to City council or Mayor or any other elected office. “You’re done.”
  • Presidents? One five-year term. Good-bye or go run for Dog Catcher back home.

We Have Spoken.

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: Boston Celtics point guard Payton Pritchard was named as the recipient of the 2026 Red Auerbach Award. The annual award, which was presented to Pritchard at mid-court by Celtics Team President Rich Gotham and Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens, prior to Boston’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night, is traditionally given to the Celtics player or coach who best exemplifies the spirit of what it means to be a Celtic through exceptional performance on and off the court.

“Payton’s growth and consistency speak to everything the Red Auerbach Award stands for – toughness, selflessness, and a commitment to the greater good of the team,” said Gotham. “He approaches his role with professionalism, purpose, and an amazing work ethic, earning the admiration and trust of his teammates and coaches alike.”

In 78 games (50 starts) this season, Pritchard is averaging career highs of 17.0 points (46.3 FG%, 37.4 3FG%, 88.8 FT%), 4.0 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in 32.4 minutes per game. The 2024 NBA champion and 2025 Sixth Man of the Year is one of only two Celtics players in history with multiple career 35-point games off the bench (Larry Bird).

Created in 2006, the award is named in honor of legendary Celtics coach, general manager and president, Arnold “Red” Auerbach.

SOX STRUGGLING, ALL BUT ABREU: The Boston Red Sox are struggling coming out of the gate this spring. They opened up on the road and won their season opener at Cincinnati. From there, they went (0-5) before they won another game when they returned to Fenway Park to face the san Diego Padres. After that win, it was three more losses before they put two wins together against the Milwaukee Brew Crew. With everyone on the club struggling, there’s been only one consistent source of production and that is from right fielder Wilyer Abreu who started in right in each of the Red Sox’ 13 games through Saturday, and is batting .392 (20-for-51) with a 1.101 OPS, eight runs, four doubles, one triple, three home runs and nine RBI. Going into the weekend, Abreu led the American League in total bases (35), hits (20) and batting aveerage (.392), while ranking third n SLG (.686), OPS (1.101), and extra base hits (eight, tied), 8th in OBP (.415) and doubles (four, tied), and T-11th in HR (3) and RBI (9).

MARATHON MAN: The Fenway Park Marathon will return to America’s Most Beloved Ballpark on Saturday, May 30, 2026. The race will offer runners a rare opportunity to complete a marathon distance entirely on the warning track inside Fenway Park while raising funds for two impactful nonprofits. Runners interested in securing one of the limited spots can register HERE

Originally run back in 2017, the Fenway Park Marathon is one of the most unique endurance events in the country, allowing participants to circle the historic ballpark’s warning track for 26.2 miles while surrounded by the sights and sounds of Fenway. The money raised via the race benefits the Red Sox Foundation and the Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation. Registration is now open for the 2026 race, with participation limited to only 100 individuals. Due to strong interest in the event’s return, organizers have also added two new participation options for 2026: a half marathon distance and a relay team division of two, three, four or five runners on a team. All individual participants and teams are required to raise a minimum of $5,000 in support of the Red Sox Foundation and the Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation. “Running a marathon inside Fenway Park is an experience unlike anything else in the sport,” said McGillivray. “Participants will spend the entire race on the warning track of one of the most beloved ballparks in the world, surrounded by family, friends, and fellow runners. It’s a celebration of endurance, community, and the power of giving back.” For Dave McGillivray,the Boston Marathon’s Senior Race Advisor, the event offers runners a chance to experience Fenway Park in an unforgettable way while supporting important community causes. … McGillivray will be a very busy man come April 20th when the 130th running of the Boston Marathon dissects the streets of Boston and the MetroWest ‘burbs.

ONE OF THE COOLEST EVENTS: The National Baseball Poetry Festival will return to Polar Park in nearby Worcester, on May 7-10. The event continues a growing New England tradition, celebrating the home plate that is baseball and storytelling. Ready to enjoy its fourth year, the festival continues to grow. In 2026 alone, adult poetry submissions have come from 42 states and 12 different countries and territories, reflecting the growing interest in baseball themed writing from students, poetry lovers, and baseball fans. Event organizers describe it as the first festival designed specifically to unite sports and the fine arts. Note that the festival’s youth poetry contest remains open for submissions through April 17, coinciding with National Poetry Month. The festival weekend itself brings together baseball fans, writers, educators, and community members for readings, workshops, pick-up and organized ballgames, and other events at beautiful Polar Park, home of the Worcester Red Sox.

Baseball Poetry in Motion

After earning his way to first base, a runner can make a mark,

He can take a lead-off the base, draw a pick-off attempt or two,

Maybe, he can distract the pitcher and extend his teammate’s at bat,

But careful he must be, as the catcher has a glove and a rocket,

He’ll fake to the mound, but throw a bullet right into your back pocket.”

PARTING WORDS & MUSIC: How about some music for the final round of The Masters Tournament?

While We’re Young (Ideas) is a weekly (every weekend) collection of Sports Notes and News written by Terry Lyons. The posting of each notebook harkens back to the days when you’d walk over to the city news stand on Saturday night around 10:00pm to pick-up a copy of the Sunday papers. Inside, just waiting, was a compilation of interesting sports notes, quotes and quips in a column that always sold a few newspapers. Wire Service reports are utilized within the column.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes – Brought to you by Digital Sports Desk.

Celtics Iron-Out Rotation

by

BOSTON – Although this is the final week of the NBA regular season, the Boston Celtics still have at least one significant thing to iron out entering Tuesday’s game against the visiting Charlotte Hornets: making sure Nikola Vucevic fits comfortably into the rotation before the playoffs begin.

Vucevic returned to the court for Sunday’s 115-101 victory over Toronto after missing four weeks with a broken finger. The injury occurred in a March 6 game against Dallas, the same night Jayson Tatum returned from his Achilles injury.

Embed from Getty Images

Vucevic collected four points and four rebounds in 13 minutes against Toronto, but he also picked up four fouls.

“He was good,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “I mean, it was only 13 minutes. I thought offensively he made the right reads, missed a couple. Second half, we kind of went to — it was almost, we were looking at some different matchup stuff, so we didn’t get him in as much as we wanted to in the second half. But he was fine, I thought. He’s just going to continue to get acclimated.”

Vucevic said regaining chemistry is the hardest part about returning after missing significant time with an injury.

“That just has to come from us playing and practicing together, which is good I get at least these five games in before the playoffs then we’ll have that week between that will help,” he said. “But I think as far as plays, coverages, kind of knowing what to do out there in different situations, that was pretty good for me. I did a lot of it throughout my rehab. A lot of my workouts were fully left-handed, but I was still learning plays like that.

“Just continue to play alongside all of the guys,” he continued. “Obviously me and JT didn’t get a lot of time together, but I think we’re both high-level players, both smart players, and I think we’ll be able to figure it out pretty quick. Just even being around the guys, the time I did play, I think it’s helped a lot. Obviously, it would have been great to have that full month that I missed, but it is what it is. We know we’ll try to make the best out of it in the next couple games. And then also I think that week leading up to the playoffs is going to help. We’ll probably have a couple practices which will help as well.”

The Celtics (53-25) will be looking to extend their winning streak to four games.

Charlotte (43-36) has won four in a row since it dropped a 114-99 decision to Boston at home on March 29. The Hornets are 9-2 in their last 11 games, and are trying to avoid the play-in tournament by finishing sixth or higher in the Eastern Conference.

Charlotte will participate in the postseason for the first time since 2015-16, when the Hornets lost to Miami in the first round.

The Hornets beat the Celtics 118-89 when the teams met in Boston on March 4. Charlotte’s Miles Bridges said dealing with Boston’s physicality will be paramount Tuesday night.

“We came into their place and beat them,” he said. “Then they came into our place and beat us, so we want to return the favor and start getting ready for the playoffs.”

–Field Level Media

Celtics Looking for Big Start vs Raptors

by

BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Preview) – Strong starts have propelled the Boston Celtics to victory in each of their last two games, and they will look to continue that trend against the visiting Toronto Raptors on Sunday afternoon.

The Celtics (52-25) made 11 shots from 3-point range and set a franchise record by scoring 53 points in the first quarter of their 147-129 win at Miami on Wednesday. The 53-point quarter is tied for the second-highest scoring first quarter in NBA regular-season history, trailing only Golden State’s 55-point quarter in 2023.

Boston followed that effort by scoring 43 points during the first 12 minutes of Friday’s 133-101 win at Milwaukee. The 96 combined points set an NBA record for points scored in consecutive opening quarters.

Center Neemias Queta set the tone for Boston on Friday by collecting 13 points, five rebounds and three blocked shots in the first quarter, when the Celtics built a 21-point lead. Queta finished the game with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting and 10 rebounds with four blocks.

“It’s unbelievable,” the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum said when asked about Queta’s improved play this season. “I couldn’t be more proud and happier for Neemy. The way he’s seeing the game (and) the leap he’s made as a screener, as a passer.

“Somebody we can trust when we throw the ball in the seams, finishing, protecting the rim. He is an NBA starting big man, that’s who he is now, and he’s only gonna continue to get better.”

Boston had six players score in double figures against the Bucks, which was the team’s 10th victory by at least 25 points this season. Queta has scored in double digits in four of his last five games.

“Neemy did a great job in his screen reads, and then I thought our guys did a good job finding him, and then he finished or he kicked out for open shots,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said via NBC Sports Boston. “So, he started that, got Sam (Hauser) some open looks, Jayson and Jaylen (Brown) were distributing, and we got a lot of catch-and-shoot shots.”

Toronto rookie Collin Murray-Boyles has been contributing more at the offensive end of the court of late. Murray-Boyles is averaging 8.4 points per game this season, but scored 14 against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday, a career-high 20 points against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday and tossed in 19 points when the Raptors (43-34) ended a two-game losing streak by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 128-96 on Friday.

“Just working on my game,” Murray-Boyles said. “I feel like that’s what’s translating into me putting up numbers and stuff like that. Me being effective. … Obviously I like to be involved in the offense.”

Boston is second in the Eastern Conference standings and will enter Sunday’s game with a 2 1/2-game lead over the third-place New York Knicks. After Sunday, the Celtics and Knicks will each have four regular season games to play.

Friday’s victory over Memphis moved Toronto into a tie for sixth place with the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference but the Raptors were officially seventh via a tiebreaker. The top six teams will avoid the play-in tournament.

“We have somewhere we’re trying to get to,” Murray-Boyles said following Friday’s win. “Trying to get in the playoffs and make a good run, and this is the start of it.”

–Field Level Media

High Scoring Celtics Win at Miami

by

MIAMI – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s high-scoring forward tandem of Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum ran up the score as Brown tossed in a game-high 43 points and Tatum had an impressive triple-double of 25 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists as the visiting Celtics beat the Miami Heat 147-129 on Wednesday night.

It marked the seventh time Brown has scored at least 40 points this season. Sam Hauser made 5 of 7 3-point attempts and added 23 points for Boston (51-25), which made 21 of 44 3-point attempts (47.7%) and shot 58.3% from the floor.

YouTube player

Bam Adebayo led Miami (40-37) with 29 points and 10 rebounds. The Heat, who shot 46.3% from the floor and 51.1% from 3-point range, received 21 points from Davion Mitchell, who made 5-of-10 shots from beyond the arc.

Miami has lost eight of its last 10 and given up at least 121 points in each of the eight losses.

Norman Powell, Miami’s leading scorer (22.1 ppg), missed his third straight  game with an upper respiratory illness.

The game remained tight in the first until Boston used a 13-0 run to take a 42-30 lead with 2:10 left in the quarter. The Celtics shot 20 of 28 from the field (71.4%) in the first 12 minutes and led 53-33 entering the second.

Hauser made each of his five 3-point attempts in the opening quarter, when Boston shot 11 of 15 from 3-point territory. Boston’s 53 points set a franchise record for most points scored in a first quarter.

The Celtics, who have won eight of their last 10, extended their lead to 25 in the second and had an 80-57 halftime lead. Brown led all scorers in the first half with 24 points. Tatum had 13 points and 12 rebounds.

An 8-0 Miami run cut Boston’s lead to 95-77 with 6:56 remaining in the third, but Boston eclipsed the 100-point mark when a Brown jumper put the Celtics up 101-77 with 4:55 left in the quarter. The Heat scored the final 12 points in the third, which left Boston with a 112-102 advantage entering the fourth.

Miami cut its deficit to 114-105 early in the fourth, but Boston scored the next seven points to take a 16-point lead.

–Field Level Media

BAM! – Adebayo Scores 83

by

MIAMI – Miami’s Bam Adebayo produced the second-highest single-game scoring total in NBA history, putting up 83 points as his Heat beat the Washington Wizards 150-129 on Tuesday night. The 28-year-old center scored 31 points in the first quarter en route to passing Kobe Bryant (81 points in 2006) for second place on the single-game list. Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point outing has stood as the record since 1962.

YouTube player

“Man, I wish I could relive it twice,” Adebayo said on the postgame broadcast. “I credit my family, my teammates, this crowd. … And they kept feeding me the ball. … I couldn’t do it (without my teammates). I appreciate coach (Erik Spoelstra) for drawing up plays for me, and I got it going tonight.

“To be able to do it at home makes it even more sweeter.”

Adebayo set Heat records for the highest-scoring game and the highest-scoring quarter. The old club mark for a game was 61 points, set in 2014 by LeBron James. Adebayo’s previous career best was 41 on Jan. 23, 2021, against the Brooklyn Nets.

In 42 minutes on Tuesday, Adebayo shot 20-for-43 from the floor, 7-for-22 from 3-point range and 36-for-43 at the free-throw line. He also grabbed nine rebounds.

Spoelstra said, “Once he got to 50, then we’re thinking, ‘All right, maybe he can get to 60.’ And when he got to 60, it just kept on going. We might as well go for 70 and then I didn’t dare even think about taking him out at that point. It just kept on going.

“I wanted him to have a moment. I didn’t know when that would be. It just kept on going. Otherwise I was going to foul him and allow the crowd to really enjoy the moment with him and allow him to enjoy this historic night in front of all the home fans. … I didn’t stop until once he got Kobe’s.”

Abebayo set NBA single-game records for most free throws made and most free-throw attempts. Chamberlain and Adrian Dantley were the prior record-holders for made foul shots with 28 each. Dwight Howard had the old mark for free-throw attempts of 39, which he reached twice.

The Heat earned their sixth straight win, matching their longest streak of the season. They improved to 22-11 at home.

Adebayo’s heroics were needed because Miami was without three of its top four scorers due to injuries: Tyler Herro (quadriceps), Norman Powell (groin) and Andrew Wiggins (toe). The Heat also were without Kel’el Ware (shoulder) and Nikola Jovic (back).

Washington has lost nine straight games, five short of its longest skid of the season. Alex Sarr led the Wizards with 28 points.

Wizards star Trae Young sat out due to injury management pertaining to his right knee.

Adebayo, in his blistering-hot first quarter, shot 10-for-16 on field-goal attempts, 5-for-8 on 3-point tries and 6-of-7 on free-throw attempts.

Miami, which led 40-29 after the first quarter, stretched its advantage to 19 points in the second. However, the Wizards closed relatively well, going into halftime trailing 76-62.

Adebayo had 43 points in the first half, another Heat record. His first half came on 13-of-24 shooting overall, 5-of-11 success from beyond the arc and 12-of-14 accuracy at the free-throw line.

His shooting overshadowed Sarr, who had 23 points at halftime.

Adebayo scored 19 points in the third, giving Miami a 113-97 lead by the end of the quarter. He dunked with 22.2 seconds left in the third, giving him 62 points and breaking James’ record.

In the fourth quarter, with the victory assured, Miami kept Adebayo in the game, passing the ball to him on every possession as he hunted for records. His last two points came from the foul line with 1:16 to go as he surpassed Bryant.

“It’s Wilt, me, then Kobe, which sounds crazy,” Adebayo said.

Spoelstra added, “This was an absolutely surreal night.”

–Field Level Media

Celtics Face Spurs in Big Match-Up

by

SAN ANTONIO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama and his surging Spurs play host to Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics tonight in a possible NBA Finals preview.

The Celtics head to the Alamo City on a two-game winning streak, the latest a 109-98 decision at Cleveland on Sunday in which Brown racked up 23 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Tatum also contributed 20 points in just his second game back after tearing his right Achilles in May.

Embed from Getty Images

After Sunday’s game, Tatum said the toughest part of his comeback is that he’s on a minutes restriction.

“That s— sucks, quite frankly,” he said. “(Sunday’s game) felt a little more normal from a preparation standpoint and mentally. I’m getting back in the flow of things.”

Boston also got 18 points off the bench from Payton Pritchard and 16 points and 10 rebounds from fellow reserve Baylor Scheierman. Sam Hauser hit for 15 points on five 3-pointers for the Celtics in Sunday’s victory.

“I think everybody just kind of does what they need to do,” Boston guard Derrick White told Forbes magazine Sunday. “Obviously, JB (Jaylen Brown) has been special in the entire year, and kind of carrying us through moments throughout the season. Every game it’s just us competing at a high level, playing hard, guarding and going out there and playing Celtics basketball.”

Boston has held opponents to 100 points or fewer 19 times this season, which leads the league, and has allowed 100 points or fewer in six of its past seven wins and 11 times since Jan. 30. Over that 11-game stretch, the Celtics have won nine times.

Boston also leads the NBA in points allowed at 106.9 per game. After San Antonio, the Celtics will head to Oklahoma City on Thursday as they try to jump from second place in the Eastern Conference and surpass No. 1 Detroit.

However, Boston will be without center Nikola Vucevic, who had surgery to repair a fractured right ring finger Saturday. He won’t be re-evaluated until early April.

While the Celtics have been the talk of the league because of Tatum’s return to an already loaded and streaking team, there has been equal attention — rightly so — on the Spurs and their charge up the West standings as they chase Oklahoma City for the best record in the NBA.

San Antonio has captured four straight games and 14 of its past 15 outings, with the latest statement a 145-120 home win over Houston on Sunday. Four Spurs players scored 20 or more points, led by Victor Wembanyama’s 29, as San Antonio produced its most points in a game this season.

“We played a really, really sharp game defensively and on the boards,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “The scoring starts with the defense and the rebounding. When you do that with the speed that we can play with and the talent and the dynamic variety that we have with the basketball, it’s really hard to guard.”

Stephon Castle added 23 points for San Antonio, while De’Aaron Fox finished with 20 points and 10 assists. Keldon Johnson also scored 20 points, while Dylan Harper had 19 and Julian Champagnie tallied 11. The Spurs shot 58% from the floor and made 21 of 40 3-point attempts, and they have taken the first three games of a six-game homestand.

San Antonio beat the Celtics 100-95 on Jan. 10 in Boston in the first meeting of the year between the teams.

–Field Level Media

 

Celtics Blitz the Bucks

by

MILWAUKEE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the court after missing 15 games with a strained right calf, but his Milwaukee Bucks fell 108-81 to the visiting Boston Celtics on Monday night. Boston’s Payton Pritchard had a team-high 25 points and nine assists for the Celtics, who received 18 points and 16 rebounds, both career highs, from rookie Hugo Gonzalez.

YouTube player

Derrick White added 18 points and nine assists for Boston, which made 20 of 50 3-point attempts. The Celtics played without leading scorer Jaylen Brown (illness) and starting center Neemias Queta (rest). Brown is averaging 29.0 points per game, and Queta had 27 points and 17 rebounds in the Celtics’ Sunday win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Antetokounmpo, who played for the first time since Jan. 23, produced team-high totals of 19 points and 11 rebounds. He entered the game averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists this season.

Milwaukee failed to score more than 23 points in any quarter and was outscored 25-16 in the fourth. The Bucks, who shot 27 of 74 (36.5%) from the field, received 13 points from Ousmane Dieng and 12 from Bobby Portis. Kyle Kuzma was a healthy scratch.

Milwaukee scored the game’s first seven points but trailed 30-20 after one quarter. Boston built a 22-point lead in the second quarter on a White 3-pointer and had a 57-43 advantage at halftime.

The Bucks cut the deficit to nine points early in the third quarter, but a 15-0 run gave Boston a 74-50 lead with 6:22 remaining in the quarter after a fastbreak layup by Gonzalez. Milwaukee scored the next 10 points, but the Bucks trailed 83-65 after three quarters.

Boston had its largest lead, 102-71, following a Pritchard 3-pointer with 4:06 to play.

The game was the third meeting between Boston and Milwaukee this season. The Bucks earned a 116-101 home victory on Dec. 11, and the Celtics prevailed 107-79 at home on Feb. 1.

–Field Level Media

Vucevic Leads Celtics’ BIG 2nd Half

by

BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Nikola Vucevic had 28 points and 11 rebounds in 25 minutes as the Boston Celtics pulled away in the second half for a 148-111 victory over the visiting Brooklyn Nets on Friday night. Boston, which had a six-point lead midway through the third quarter, outscored Brooklyn 82-54 in the second half.

YouTube player

The Celtics received 28 points, seven rebounds and nine assists from Jaylen Brown. Payton Pritchard came off the bench to score 22 points, and Derrick White added 12 points and seven assists. Boston made 52 of 78 field-goal attempts (66.7%). The Celtics were 22 of 34 from 3-point range (64.7%). White, Brown and Pritchard each made four 3-pointers. The Celtics, who scored at least 31 points in each quarter, are 10-2 in their last 12 games.

Michael Porter Jr. led lowly Brooklyn with 18 points. Danny Wolf scored 16 and Nic Claxton finished with 12 as the outcome extended Brooklyn’s losing streak to seven games.

A 10-0 run handed Boston a 26-15 advantage with 4:47 remaining in the opening quarter. The Celtics made each of their six 3-point attempts in the quarter and had a 35-32 lead after 12 minutes.

The Nets were within three points, 57-54, with 2:42 to play in the first half, but Boston held a 66-57 halftime lead.

The Celtics took control in the third, when they outscored the Nets 43-26. A 12-0 run put Boston up 94-76, and the Celtics had their first lead of at least 20 points when two Vucevic free throws made it 98-78 with 3:07 left in the quarter.

The Celtics led 109-83 at the end of the third, and pushed the lead to 34 by scoring the first eight points in the fourth. Boston’s lead peaked at 41 points.

It was Boston’s third victory in four games against Brooklyn this season.

–Field Level Media

 

 

White Leads Celtics Over Suns

by

PHOENIX – (Wire Service Report) – Derrick White scored 22 points, Neemias Queta had 14 points and 13 rebounds, and the visiting Boston Celtics rolled over the short-handed Phoenix Suns 97-81 to extend their winning streak to four. Sam Hauser scored 16 points and Bailey Scheierman had 11 points and 11 rebounds in his third career double-double for the Celtics, who have won nine of 10 and are a season-high 19 games over .500. White and Hauser had four 3-pointers apiece for Boston.

YouTube player

The Celtics trailed 41-30 at 6:41 of the second quarter before going on an extended 50-11 run to take control with an 80-52 lead on Nikola Vukevic’s basket with 1:39 left in the third quarter.

Collin Gillespie scored 15 points, Grayson Allen scored 14 and Jalen Green added 13 points for the Suns, who played without leading scorers Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks for the second straight game.

The Suns have lost seven of 10.

Boston has won five in a row in the series and the last four in Phoenix.

The Suns went on a 14-0 run over the late third and early fourth quarters to close to 80-66 with 9:24 remaining, but Scheierman’s corner 3-pointer pushed the Celtics’ lead back 90-68 with 5:51 to play.

The Celtics played without Jaylen Brown (knee contusion), who was held out in the first game of a back-to-back, and got only eight points from Payton Pritchard, who was 2 of 13 from the field.

Boston outscored the Suns 30-11 in the third quarter and led 80-57 entering the fourth. Hauser had 13 points and three 3-pointers in the third quarter, when Phoenix was 4 of 22 from the field.

The Suns shot 36.7% from the field and were 12 of 36 from distance.

Boston had a 61-34 rebounding advantage and turned 22 offensive rebounds into 15 points.

The Suns, coming off a season scoring low in a 92-77 loss to Portland on Sunday, led 26-21 after the first quarter, when Green and Ryan Dunn had seven points apiece. The Celtics were 3 of 15 from distance in the quarter.

Royce O’Neale’s third 3-pointer put the Suns ahead 41-30 lead midway through the second quarter before the Celtics began their extended run with a 14-0 spurt capped by Queta’s two free throws for a 44-41 edge.

–Field Level Media

Jaylen Brown is Hearing MVP Talk

by

PHOENIX – (Wire Service Report) – While the Phoenix Suns search for offense, the Boston Celtics are thriving behind Jaylen Brown, who belongs in the MVP conversation, according to one four-time MVP.

Embed from Getty Images

“This whole MVP thing, I don’t understand why his name is not getting talked about some as well,” LeBron James said after Brown stuffed the stat sheet in the Celtics’ 111-89 victory at the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

“They’re playing great basketball, and it’s because of him and the rest of those guys. He’s taken that next step.”

Brown had 32 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals against the Lakers, and he brings averages of 29.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists — all career highs — into a back-to-back against the host Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, the third game of the Celtics’ four-game road trip.

The Suns, who have struggled to find offense in large part because of injuries to top scorers Devin Booker (24.7) and Dillon Brooks (20.9), have lost six of nine and enter after a 92-77 home loss to Portland on Sunday, their lowest point total since 2017 which was also a loss to the Blazers.

“We can’t get to the free throw line, can’t get to the rim,” Ott said. “Got to shoot jump shots. The way you shoot jump shots is to set screens. But we’re going to continue to find ways we want to play in transition. We want to get more shots up.”

Boston has won eight of nine and is a season-high 18 games above .500 in a season that was thought to be compromised by the loss of Jayson Tatum to a torn Achilles.

Brown, who is fourth in the league in scoring, made his case in support of James’ praise.

“I feel like I’m the best two-way player in the world,” Brown said. “I play both ends on the court. Night to night, I’m available, which is hard to do.

“I’m a leader. I help lead my team, empower my team to come out and play confidently, stuff that doesn’t always show up on the analytics. And I’m a winner. I come out and try to win every single night. So I’m grateful.”

The Celtics have compensated for the loss of Tatum and 2024 title team members Al Horford, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis with a career year from reigning Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard and veteran Derrick White.

Pritchard scored 30 points against the Lakers and is 15 of 28 from distance in the last three games, all wins. He is averaging a career-high 17.6 points with increased playing time. White’s 17.0 scoring average is also a career high.

“The story’s not done,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzula said. “We haven’t done anything. All we’ve done is stick to the process of winning on both ends of the floor.”

–Field Level Media