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Celtics Dominate LA Lakers

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LOS ANGELES – (Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Jaylen Brown scored 32 points with eight rebounds and seven assists, while his teammate Payton Pritchard added 30 points with eight assists and the visiting Celtics continued their February surge with a 111-89 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

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Boston’s Derrick White scored 12 points with eight assists as the Celtics’ defense held the Lakers to 39.1% from the floor, while improving to 8-1 since Jan. 30. Boston shot 48.2% while opening 2-0 on a four-game road trip against Western Conference teams.

Neemias Queta had 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Celtics

Luka Doncic scored 25 points and LeBron James added 20 for the Lakers, who lost for the third time in their past five games. Austin Reaves had 15 points as the Los Angeles star trio fell to 8-4 when all three were on the court this season.

James, the NBA’s all-time points leader, moved past the 43,000-point mark in his record 23rd season.

The Lakers were held to their second lowest scoring game of the season behind an 88-point effort in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 20.

The Celtics led by as many as 14 points in the third quarter and never allowed the Lakers to make a run in the fourth. Boston pushed the lead to 94-79 after a step-back jumper from Brown with 6:58 left.

Brown capped an 8-0 run on a 3-pointer that gave the Celtics a 102-81 lead with 4:11 remaining. Pritchard sealed the victory on a 3-pointer with 3:24 left for a 105-83 victory that prompted the Lakers to remove their starters the rest of the way.

The Celtics took charge in the second quarter, turning a first-period tie into a 60-50 halftime lead on 52.4% shooting as Brown scored 13 points and Pritchard added 11. Doncic had 18 points in the first half for the Lakers, who shot 41.9% over the first two quarters.

Boston won the season series 2-0 that includes a 126-105 victory at home on Dec. 5. The Celtics are 6-2 against the Lakers since the 2022-23 season.

–Field Level Media

Celtics vs. Porzingis, But No Steph

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SAN FRANCISCO – (Wire Service Report) – Former Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis could make his debut with the Golden State Warriors when they host Boston on Thursday night.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he’s hoping two-time MVP Stephen Curry will also be on the court. Curry, who leads Golden State with 27.2 points per game, has missed the last five games because of a sore knee.

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Porzingis was acquired by the Warriors from Atlanta at the trade deadline but hasn’t played since Jan. 7 due to issues with his left Achilles tendon. He said at the time of the trade that Thursday’s game was his target date for returning to the court.

“I look forward to really having a surprisingly good post All-Star break,” he said.

Porzingis has played in 17 games this season (12 starts). He’s averaging 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots per contest.

Porzingis played for Boston last season, but was limited to 42 games with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. The Celtics traded him to the Hawks in July. He did not play against Boston while with Atlanta.

“He’s an easy fit,” Kerr said. “You don’t have to change a whole lot. The biggest difference I guess that he provides is post-ups. He’s a pretty good post-up player, especially against switches. You throw him the ball at the foul line, the elbows, even the low block, he can score in those spots. That was one of the things we did today, we worked on our spacing.”

Kerr said he wanted to watch Porzingis in a scrimmage Wednesday before deciding whether he will play Thursday night.

“Kristaps has been here the last handful of days and practiced today with the team,” Kerr said. “Looked good. He’s feeling good. We won’t make a determination until after (Wednesday). When we practice (Wednesday) afternoon we’ll get up and down the floor and scrimmage, which we didn’t do (Tuesday). We did more skill work and went over some things.”

The Warriors, who lost four of their last six games before the All-Star break, occupy eighth place in the Western Conference standings. Boston will enter Thursday’s game as the No. 2 team in the Eastern Conference, 5 1/2 games behind Detroit.

Speculation has ramped up regarding the possibility of injured forward Jayson Tatum suiting up for the Celtics in the second half of the season. Tatum, who is recovering from a torn Achilles, began practicing with some of his teammates this week. He had surgery in May.

“He looked like Jayson Tatum, I’ll say that much,” Ron Harper Jr. said. “We’re really excited for the potential of him coming back. We don’t know for sure if he’s going to come back. We’re just really excited to see him progress during his rehab.”

Tatum averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and a career-high 6.0 assists per game in 2024-25. The six-time All-Star has averaged 23.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists during his 585-game NBA career.

Thursday night’s matchup will be the first of two for these teams this season and should feature plenty of perimeter scoring. The Warriors lead the NBA in made 3-point field goals (897), while Boston is third (831).

–Field Level Media

Beverly Hills Slop

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LOS ANGELES – When Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown spoke with reporters after Sunday’s All-Star Game in Inglewood, Calif., the topic quickly went from basketball to an incident between Brown and the Beverly Hills Police Department a night earlier.

And Brown’s account of events stands in stark contrast to those of the Beverly Hills PD.

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On Saturday night, police were called to a home where Brown was hosting what he called a “panel” — an event for his personal brand, 741, and Oakley, of which Brown says he is a brand partner.

But when police showed up, they said the event had to end because a permit for the event was previously denied.

“On Saturday, February 14, the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) responded to an event taking place at a private residence in the Trousdale neighborhood of (Beverly Hills),” the BHPD told The Boston Globe in statement Sunday. “An event permit had been applied for and denied by the City due to previous violations associated with events at the address.

“Despite the fact that the permit was denied, organizers still chose to proceed with inviting hundreds of guests knowing that it was not allowed to occur. BHPD responded and shut down the unpermitted event.”

The claim about the permit was one of the issues that angered Brown.

“That was not true,” Brown told reporters. “We didn’t need a permit because the owner of the house, that was his space. We were family friends. He opened up the festivities to us so we didn’t have to. We never applied for one. … I didn’t have to pay for the house or anything. They just opened it up. I had to pay for the build-out, but it was hundreds of thousands of dollars wasted for an event that was supposed to be positive.”

Saturday night, a video showing Brown speaking with a police officer at the house was posted to social media. In the video, Brown is seen repeatedly asking why the event was being shut down, with the officer said “the City” was shutting down the event.

“(I’m) in LA, we’re just trying to have an event, a panel, talking about culture, talking about future, talking about leadership, and for whatever reason I feel like we’re being targeted,” Brown told the camera.

Back at the All-Star Game, Brown said the house belonged to Jim Jannard, the founder of Oakley, and that he did not have to pay to use the house for the event.

“I’m offended by Beverly Hills, by the statement they put out, like we applied for something and didn’t get it and we did it anyway,” Brown added. “Like we were insubordinate. I know how to follow the rules. … It just seemed like somebody, you know, didn’t want whatever we had going on, to go on. Because out of everyone to be doing something (in the neighborhood), I was the only one that gets shut down.”

During the interview, Brown repeated that several hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent setting up the event, and that the owner of the house is considering filing a lawsuit.

“It just leaves a bad taste in your mouth,” he added. “I don’t think the BPDH made the right call here. The statement they put out was not accurate.”

–Field Level Media

NBA All-Star Game: We Are the World

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INGLEWOOD – Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey scored nine points and Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards added eight as USA Stars came out on top during the All-Star Game on Sunday with an easy 47-21 mini-tournament victory over USA Stripes. The three-team round-robin tournament of short 12-minute games also included Team World, made up of international stars, and was the latest incarnation of the ever-changing All-Star Game format that went with four teams in a tournament-style bracket last year.

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Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder also scored eight points and Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons added six as the younger USA Stars avenged an earlier 42-40 defeat to the veteran USA Stripes in the three-game round robin.

The Philadelphia 76ers’ Maxey went 4 of 8 from the floor in the 12-minute title game and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Edwards went 3 of 5 with a pair of 3-pointers. Edwards scored 32 total points in his teams’ three games and was named MVP.

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell scored six points and the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James added five for USA Stripes.

USA Stars took control early in the title game by grabbing an early 12-1 lead, with Maxey scoring seven of the points. Team Stripes was within 18-9 with 7:03 remaining after consecutive 3-pointers from James and Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks, but USA Stars dominated from there.

A 15-0 run eliminated any potential drama as USA Stars led 33-9 with 4:19 remaining.

The Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard scored just one point in the title game, while going 0 of 4 from the floor. It came after he dominated the final round-robin game with 31 points in 12 minutes of a 48-45 victory over Team World to advance his side to the final.

In the opening game of the three-team round robin, USA Stars defeated Team World 37-35 in extra time on a 3-pointer from the Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes.

–Field Level Media

NBA Says World “Be” Me

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INGLEWOOD – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Inside an arena covered by a shell that could pass for a globe, the NBA will try to entertain on Sunday while also reaching out to the rest of the world.

The NBA All-Star Game’s latest concept involves a team of the league’s top international players competing against two teams composed of domestic talent. The format will be a round-robin, leading to a championship game after one of the three teams is eliminated through a series of head-to-head matchups.

Team World will be without Giannis Antetokounmpo of Greece and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Canada, yet still features the talents of three-time MVP Nikola Jokic of Serbia, Luka Doncic of Slovenia and Victor Wembanyama of France among its nine players.

The USA Stars team skews younger with Devin Booker, Cade Cunningham and Anthony Edwards, while USA Stripes boasts experience with Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard of the host Los Angeles Clippers.

Leonard is eager to showcase what the Clippers’ two-year-old Intuit Dome is all about. He appears less enthusiastic about the All-Star Game format that departs from traditional norms.

“I know it’s three teams and I’m like, ‘Is it a pickup game where we wait until somebody (wins)?” Leonard said. “I’d rather just be East and West and go out there and compete and see what the outcome is.”

At first glance, the setup appears to give players worldwide a chance to represent themselves in basketball’s best league, but even that opportunity feels somewhat empty. At least until the competition kicks off, it does.

“For me, I’m going to play like I played every year,” Jokic said Saturday. “… I’m not sure that it is going to bring (more) fire to me, no, because I play (that way) every game the same.”

The NBA is known for setting trends, but Sunday’s format appears to draw inspiration from the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off last year and the ongoing international showdown that is the Milan Cortina Olympics.

And yet, it doesn’t seem to be generating the same passion as either event. Jokic even has a prediction about how it all will unfold.

“We are going to have (veteran) OGs and maybe they’re going to play the most. They’re going to try to prove they can still be in this league,” Jokic said. “They are really good players. Probably all of them are Hall of Famers.

“I think Europeans are going to probably pass the ball a lot and have fun out there. OGs (are) probably going to win it, and the third team is probably going to dunk the most times.”

For all of the complaints that All-Star Weekend no longer moves the needle, Jokic does point out what is on the line for each squad. Perhaps that is the lens to use come Sunday.

“They need something to complain about (and) I don’t think it’s that big of a deal, to be honest, the All-Star Game, All-Star Weekend,” Durant said about All-Star Game criticism. “Just here to celebrate the game of basketball. People still coming to celebrate the game of basketball. They’re coming to watch.”

–Doug Padilla, Field Level Media

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Feb 15

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people inside stadium watching baseball game

By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – As pitchers and catches reported to Spring Training and Major League Baseball turned towards the 2026 season, three MLB teams took a gut punch, right in the very first inning.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Corbin Carroll, and Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday all suffered the same exact injury – broken hamate bones in their wrists.

There’s nothing as bad as losing a star player on the first day of Spring Training, and, in each case, it was a foundational talent for their respective teams.

The human wrist is an amazing joint, chock full of small bones that allow the wrist to move in every direction. A hamate bone injury is a fracture or stress reaction of the key bone, which is located within the wrist. The injury is often caused by activities that require a strong grip, such as baseball or golf. Symptoms typically include pain and swelling on the palm side of the wrist, particularly near the pinky finger, and recovery can take several weeks. Severe cases can require surgery. The procedure and rehabilitation (often difficult and painful) can take, at least, six weeks.

From first hand experience, and in layman’s terms – “It is never the same again.”

The most noticeable talent of major league baseball players resides in the eyes and wrists of the most successful batters. Yes, power can come from the arms, thighs and legs planted in a proper stance, but seeing the ball and then moving the hands and often turning the wrists to create bat speed is the secret all of the best hitters possess. Great eyes and great wrists can not be taught. It is innate.

Six or maybe eight weeks in a cast (or even a soft cast) will result in atrophy and soreness, no matter how great the rehabilitation process is managed. When hands/wrist/bat speed is lost, even milliseconds, it can take .010 or more off a batting average.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Noting from the NBA’s official news release, – At the 26th NBA All-Star Technology Summit at YouTube Theater in Los Angeles, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg, Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel and the world’s most-followed basketball YouTube creator, Jesser, previewed a new AI-powered technology that allows fans to watch live games from a player’s vantage point in real time. … During a live onstage demo, Jesser activated “POV mode,” enabling viewers to watch the Jan. 29 game between the Mavericks and Hornets from the on-court perspective of Flagg and Knueppel in real time. The presentation showcased the limitless ways that fans will be able to watch live NBA games through immersive angles and personalized customizations. The prototype animations from the demonstration will ultimately be replaced with visualizations of the actual players. It can be viewed HERE.

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: Veteran NBA guard and former president of the NBA Player’s Association Chris Paul announced his retirement during NBA All-Star Weekend in LA. He did it with a short social media post, quickly picked up by fans and some 200 media “influencers” stationed at the festivities. “This is it! After 21 years I’m stepping away from basketball,” Paul wrote on Instagram. … NBA Commissioner Adam Silverissued the following statement to note the contributions made by Paul: – “After 21 remarkable seasons, Chris Paul retires as one of the greatest point guards in NBA history and a true steward of our sport. From the moment he entered the league, Chris distinguished himself with his savvy playmaking skills, elite competitiveness and intense work ethic. He also poured enormous time and energy into his role as President of the Players Association – offering thoughtful and principled perspectives to strengthen our game and our business. His leadership on behalf of the players was essential in negotiating collective bargaining agreements, helping guide the league through a pandemic, addressing important societal issues and so much more. On behalf of the NBA, I congratulate Chris on an extraordinary career and thank him for his friendship, partnership and lasting contributions to our game.”

PREZ: President Barack Obama spoke at the NBA’s Tech Summit in Los Angeles. The seminar is an “off the record” event, but a very simple message from Obama resonated worldwide: “Sports is one of America’s greatest exports,” he said. “Sports can bring the world together. I’m a big believer that joy brings about change.” – That comment is no secret to anyone who has worked in, or competed in sports and should be shouted from the highest mountains, everywhere in the world.

SLAM: There’s often talk of the career Grand Slams in professional golf and tennis, but did you know Anthony Davis, now of the Washington Wizards, is the only male player to win the grand slam-dunk for basketball. Davis has won:

  • NCAA National Championship: 2012 (University of Kentucky)
  • Olympic Gold Medal: 2012 (London) and 2024 (Paris)
  • FIBA World Cup Gold: 2014 (Spain)
  • NBA Championship: 2020 (Los Angeles Lakers)

On the women’s basketball side, the feat has been accomplished far more often. In fact there’s a dozen players. Here is the list of women who have won the “Grand Slam-Dunk”

  • Breanna Stewart
  • Sue Bird
  • Diana Taurasi
  • A’ja Wilson
  • Maya Moore
  • Brittney Griner
  • Tamika Catchings
  • Sheryl Swoopes
  • Cynthia Cooper
  • Swin Cash
  • Asjha Jones
  • Kara Wolters

SPORTS BIZ: Over the NBA All-Star break, the Boston Celtics extended their advertising agreement with Experience Abu Dhabi through the conclusion of the 2027–28 season. This renewal broadens Experience Abu Dhabi’s presence across Celtics platforms and fan-engagement initiatives. “We look forward to continuing our relationship with Experience Abu Dhabi as we look to expand the global reach and engagement of both the Boston Celtics and Experience Abu Dhabi brands,” said Ted Dalton, Boston Celtics Chief Partnership Officer. “Their commitment to creating special fan moments, both in Boston and internationally, aligns closely with our vision, and this renewed agreement will allow us to deliver even more impactful experiences over the coming years.” … Under the renewed agreement, Experience Abu Dhabi will continue as an Official International Marketing Partner of the Boston Celtics. The partnership includes extensive in-arena visibility during Celtics home games, with courtside signage, basket stanchion signage, center-hung scoreboard LED rings, and commercial spots, all of which will extend into the playoffs. Experience Abu Dhabi will also receive banner advertising on Celtics.com. … “We are delighted to extend our relationship with the Boston Celtics through to the 2027-28 season,” said Steve Cox, Acting Strategic Marketing & Communication Sector Executive Director at DCT Abu Dhabi. “Abu Dhabi is a welcoming destination defined by culture, community and memorable experiences, and this agreement reflects that spirit. Sport continues to enrich Abu Dhabi’s appeal as a destination, while allowing us to build meaningful and lasting connections with travelers worldwide.”

The NBA and USA Basketball have played exhibition games in Abu Dhabi, including the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers this past October.

INJURED: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Giannis Antetokounmapo are both injured and out for the World team. Alperen Şengün and De’Aaron Fox will replace the injured players. Fox, the Spurs’ guard joins USA Stripes while Heat swingman Norman Powell (Jamaica) moves from USA Stripes to Team World. Steph Curry of the USA Stripes is also out (right knee) and will be replaced by Brandon Ingram.

COLLEGE SPORTS RANKINGS: While everyone in the Fall is focused on the CFP rankings, and college basketball fans are now watching the NCAA Coaches and Associated Press Top 25s, some might care to see two other polls. The men’s college ice hockey and the NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse poll is worth a look. In each case, I’ll provide the Top 10 with links for the rest.

College Hockey: (via U.S. College Hockey Online) – (link)

  1. Michigan State
  2. Michigan
  3. North Dakota
  4. Western Michigan
  5. Quinnipiac
  6. Penn State
  7. Providence
  8. Denver
  9. Cornell
  10. Minnesota Duluth

Division I Men’s Lacrosse (via Inside Lacrosse poll) – (link)

  1. Maryland
  2. Syracuse
  3. Princeton
  4. Cornell
  5. Georgetown
  6. North Carolina
  7. Notre Dame
  8. Richmond
  9. Duke
  10. Ohio State

SECOND HAND, ERRR, CHANCE NEWS: In a category touching upon “you can’t make it up,” the POTUS pardoned five former NFL football players — one posthumously — for various crimes ranging from perjury to drug trafficking.

The pardons were announced by White House pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson just days after the NFL Super Bowl. Ex-NFL players Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry and the late Billy Cannon were granted the clemency.

“As football reminds us, excellence is built on grit, grace, and the courage to rise again. So is our nation,” Johnson wrote on the social media site X.

Klecko, a former lineman for the New York Jets, pleaded guilty to perjury after lying to a federal grand jury that was investigating insurance fraud. A defensive lineman, Klecko was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023.

Newton, an offensive lineman, pleaded guilty to a federal drug trafficking charge after authorities discovered $10,000 in his pickup truck as well as 175 pounds of marijuana in an accompanying car driven by another man. Newton was a two-time All-Pro player and six-time Pro Bowler.

Lewis, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns, had previously pleaded guilty in a drug case in which he used a cellphone to try to set up a drug deal not long after he was a top pick in the 2000 NFL draft. Lewis, a running back, was named an All-Pro once and was a one-time Pro Bowler. He was named the 2003 AP Offensive Player of the Year.

Henry, who played for the Denver Broncos, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic cocaine for financing a drug ring that moved the drug between Colorado and Montana. He was a running back for three teams and a one-time Pro Bowl star.

Cannon, who played for the Houston Oilers, Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs, admitted to counterfeiting in the mid-1980s after a series of bad investments and debts left him broke. He was a two-time All-Pro player and a two-time Pro Bowler. Cannon also won the 1959 Heisman Trophy while starring for Louisiana State University, where he had one of the most memorable plays in college football history: an 89-yard punt return for a touchdown against Ole Miss. He died in 2018.

MASCOT MANIA: For fans of Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, and the event mascots, Milo and Tina, it’s been nearly impossible to find a plush toy of the stuffed siblings in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. … Many of the official Olympics stores in the host cities are already sold out, less than a week into the Winter Games. … “I think the only way to get them is to actually win a medal,” Julia Peeler joked Tuesday in central Milan, where Tina and Milo characters posed for photos with fans. The 38-year-old Peeler, from South Carolina, is on the hunt for the plushies for her niece. Buona fortuna – or Good luck.

LOOKING FORWARDS & BACKWARDS: This column is usually a forward-thinking document but today it’s important to look back to last week’s Super Bowl and the outstanding defensive performance by the Seattle Seahawks in their 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots. Credit must also be given to Seahawks QB Sam Darnold who threw for 202 yards and a TD to lead his club to the win while his running back Kenneth Walker III took MVP honors with a 27-carry, 135 yard performance which also added two catches for another 26 yards. … My forecast was for a New England victory with the Patriots’ defense making a game-long stand. … Seattle was far too good for the young Boston team, especially QB Drake Maye who was rushed, sacked, beaten and pummeled all day long. Seattle had the superior D and far superior team.

Looking forward, here’s a few dates and sporting events to circle:

  • February 18, 20-21 – Men’s Olympic Ice Hockey
  • February 19 – Women’s Olympic Ice Hockey medal round
  • February 25 – St. John’s at UConn (men’s basketball)
  • March 6-7 – MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference (Boston)
  • March 11-14 – BIG EAST men’s basketball at MSG (New York)
  • March 15 – NCAA men’s Selection Sunday

Celtics Acquire Vučević

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official Team News Release) – In a pre-trade deadline deal this week, the Boston Celtics acquired center Nikola Vučević and a future second-round pick from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for guard Anfernee Simons and a 2026 second-round pick.

In 48 games (all starts) this season, Vučević (6’10”, 260) is averaging 16.9 points (50.5 FG%, 37.6 3FG%, 83.8 FT%), 9.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 30.8 minutes per game. The 35-year-old is the only player in the NBA this season with 400+ rebounds and 80+ 3-pointers and is just one of three centers this season averaging at least 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists (Jokic, Sengun).
In 1,020 career NBA games (956 starts) over 15 seasons with Philadelphia (2011-12), Orlando (2012-2020), and Chicago (2020-2026), the Montenegro native has averaged 17.2 points (49.8 FG%, 35.1 3FG%, 77.3 FT%), 10.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 31.4 minutes per game. Vučević is coming off the most efficient shooting season of his career, shooting a career-best 53.0 percent from the field in 2024-25 while shooting 40.2 percent from three-point distance, the second-highest mark of his career. Vučević has made 16 career playoff appearances (15 starts), averaging 18.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 32.3 minutes per game.
A two-time NBA All-Star (2019, 2021), Vučević is the only active NBA player with 10+ seasons averaging at least 10.0 rebounds per game. He is also the only player in NBA history with at least 2,500 offensive rebounds, 800 3-pointers, 800 steals, and 800 blocks. Recording at least 40 double-doubles in nine consecutive seasons, Vučević ranks second among active players in career double-doubles (578), trailing only LeBron James, and ranks fourth among active players in career rebounds (10,601).
Vučević was originally selected with the 16th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by Philadelphia after playing three seasons collegiately at USC (2008-11).

Celtics Too Much for Rockets

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HOUSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Celtics’ guard Derrick White scored a game-high 28 points and Payton Pritchard added 27 points off the bench as the short-handed Boston throttled the Houston Rockets 114-93 on Wednesday.

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The Celtics earned their fourth consecutive victory and claimed both ends of a road back-to-back, including a win in Dallas on Tuesday. The Celtics did so without Jaylen Brown, the Eastern Conference Player of the Month, who paired 33 points with 11 rebounds against the Mavericks, in the second game by unleashing a flurry of 3-pointers early in the third quarter.

White was the linchpin of the decisive surge. The Celtics opened the second half 5 for 7 from behind the arc with White and Baylor Scheierman (15 points, 10 rebounds) nailing two threes apiece before Ron Harper Jr. extended a seven-point halftime lead to 67-48 at the 7:02 mark. When White converted from deep again roughly two minutes later, the Celtics led 72-50.

With 1.1 seconds left in the third, Rockets coach Ime Udoka was assessed a technical foul. The Celtics closed that frame with four free throws, two each from Pritchard and Neemias Queta, and carried an 85-63 lead into the final frame.

Queta posted a double-double of 10 points and 19 rebounds, while Luka Garza added 19 points for the Celtics. Harper paired 11 points with nine rebounds, including a trio of 3-pointers. Boston finished 19 for 51 from behind the arc, with White and Pritchard finishing 11 for 24 from deep.

Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 15 points but missed 7 of 11 shots. Alperen Sengun, who grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, and Jabari Smith Jr. scored 13 points apiece. Amen Thompson (11 points) and Tari Eason (10) also scored in double figures for the Rockets, who shot 41.5%.

The teams combined to shoot 32.6% and missed 17 of 20 3-pointers in the first quarter. The Celtics emerged from that slog with an 8-2 spurt to open the second quarter, only for Smith to drill back-to-back threes that pulled the Rockets to within 26-25.

However, Boston eventually gained some separation later in the quarter to take a 49-42 halftime lead.

–Field Level Media

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Jan 18

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The Orlando Magic in Berlin

By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – It’s been a little more than 40 years since the NBA China Friendship Tour, a six-week extravaganza when the NBA league office (the great Matt Winick, yours truly) and friends (Red Auerbach, Pete Newell, Ed Badger, Bill Blair) played host, coach, trainers and tour guides to the Chinese National Team as they visited the USA back in September of ‘85 in hopes of improving their game.

Long story short, as we say, the tour bounced from home base (Queens College, NY) to Princeton, NJ, Hempstead, NY, West Lafayette, Indiana, Beloit, Wisconsin, Lower Merion Township (Philly, PA),  Washington DC and Springfield, Massachusetts to take part in training camps underway for each NBA team bouncing basketball in close proximities to those towns. (That included: NJ Nets, NY Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, Washington (then Bullets; now Wizards) and the Cleveland Cavaliers at the annual Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame game in Springfield.

It was at Beloit and the Chicago Bulls training camp where we first saw Michael Jordan in person.

That tour was the beginning of the modern day NBA “going global.” Yes, there were plenty of prior examples, like Auerbach taking teams to train in the former Yugoslavia, or the Bullets playing a pair of exhibition games in China in 1979 as a part of “Ping Pong Diplomacy, but the NBA China Friendship Tour was a true beginning to then-Commissioner David Stern’s “one day at a time” method of moving the NBA closer and closer to worldwide awareness and prominence in the sports world.

The reason this story is the lead item to this week’s missive?

The NBA continued its efforts with a pair of Global Games in Europe with the Memphis Grizzlies playing the Orlando Magic Thursday in Berlin, Germany (118-111, Magic) and then a game Sunday (Noon ET) at 02 in London. The game in Berlin allowed the Magic brotherly tandem of Franz and Moritz Wagner to play in front of their home country fans for the NBA’s first regular season game in Berlin.

What seemed like a mountain to climb in 1985 is now a full-speed global lay-up of regular season, preseason and summertime clinics, not to mention the FIBA and USA Basketball efforts all over the world. Nowadays, a quarter of the NBA rosters are filled by international players, and as you’ve read in this column before, many of those players are the very best in the league.

Come NBA All-Star Weekend, we’ll see a team of international All-Stars compete against a couple of USA-based All-Star squads in what could be the beginning of an improved All-Star Weekend. Come February 13-15, it’ll all be on display in Los Angeles (Intuit Dome).

In August 2027, the FIBA World Cup (32 teams) will be contested in Qatar and in 2028, the Olympic Games will be played in Los Angeles.

David Stern’s vision when he watched the 1985 Chinese National Team warming up at Queens College has been fulfilled ten times over, and in such a relatively short timeframe. It’s a damn shame Stern (passed away in Jan. 2020), and FIBA’s (Executive Directors) Stankovic (passed away March 2020) and Patrick Baumann (died suddenly in 2018, at age 51) aren’t around to see this day come.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: The University of Miami will play Indiana University for the College Football national championship on Monday. As part of the alternate coverage of the event, the ACC Network will deliver extensive on-site studio programming surrounding the Hurricanes bid for the title, which coincidentally will take place at Hardrock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The pre-event coverage will be highlighted by appearances from North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick, who will join the network’s coverage as a special guest analyst.

Belichick will contribute analysis on ACC Network’s signature football studio show ACC Huddle, offering fans his unmatched perspective on championship preparation, in-game strategy and postseason success, complementing ACC Network’s established roster of analysts throughout National Championship weekend.

Sunday – Championship weekend coverage gets underway Sunday with the head coaches news conference, featuring Miami head coach Mario Cristobal and Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti previewing the National Championship matchup.

At 8:00pm ET, ACC Huddle Championship Preview airs on ACC Network with anchormanTaylor Tannebaum being accompanied by analysts Mac Lain, Eddie Royal and Jimbo Fisher to break down every angle of the Hurricanes–Hoosiers showdown. Immediately following, a special edition of the ACC Network Football Podcast debuts at 9:00pm ET, hosted by former Florida State quarterback EJ Manuel and former Georgia Tech captain Roddy Jones.

Monday – On game day, ACC Network will celebrate with more than seven consecutive hours of live programming from Hard Rock Stadium. Coverage begins at 5:00pm with Inside ACCess at the National Championship, hosted by college football reporters and ACC insiders Andrea Adelson and David Hale.

ACC Huddle at the National Championship follows at 6:00pm ET, with over 90 minutes of in-depth pregame coverage. Tannebaum hosts alongside Huddle analysts Mac Lain—who played in the 2016 CFP National Championship with Clemson, Virginia Tech Hall of Famer Royal, 2013 national championship–winning head coach Fisher and eight-time Super Bowl winning coach Bill Belichick. The coverage also features ACCN host Kelsey Riggs Cuff, ACCN college football analyst Tom Luginbill, and College Football Hall of Famer Mark Richt, the legendary former Miami quarterback and head coach.

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: With the Indiana Hoosiers and Fernando Mendoza making an unexpected journey to the CFP national championship game, the most frequent media day question was the typical “how does it feel” and “what about your return to Miami?” After three or four iterations of that subject came up on media day, the topic finally got around to tickets. With Miami playing a home game and Indiana fans traveling as if the game’s outcome depended on it, ticket prices are in the stratosphere – the $6,000 to $16,000 range.

Putting the questions together, Mendoza answered: “I would say it feels great. Tickets are definitely a problem because there’s so many family members that want to come to the game. However, I’ve attempted to not let it sink in so I can stay in the present moment.

I kind of stay in the football mindset that I want to stay in. Although that — there’s so many externalities to this game, playing Miami in Miami, that you can get wrapped up in all the emotion. However, I want to keep it focused on football and really kind of force it to not sink in,” he said.

It can sink in next week or the week after, but I just want to focus on football right now to give my team the best chance, and that’s the same with all my teammates.”

GOTTA HAVE HEART: Golfing legend Sir Nick Faldo is heading home, from Cleveland to England after successful open heart surgery. Said Faldo in a January 16 social media post: “Headed home. After two weeks in Cleveland, Nick Faldo, and his wife, Lindsay, are on their way home following a successful, scheduled preventative open-heart surgery to repair his enlarged aorta, performed by world-renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Lars Svensson at The Cleveland Clinic. We are deeply grateful for Dr. Svensson and his exceptional medical team. Nick is now looking ahead to returning to his golf course design work and to the Masters Week in Augusta, GA, where he will be celebrating “Six back in ‘96.” Home never felt so good.

Sam Coffey (Manchester City file photo)

THIS JUST IN: From The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry to Boston College to Penn State to the professional NWSL’s Portland Thorns to the USA Women’s National Team to – now – Manchester City, Sam Coffey (daughter of former NY Daily News columnist Wayne Coffey) is getting better and better to the point where she’ll be a team leader for both Man City and the USWNT. From Man City’s (Swedish-born) manager Andree Legertz: “There’s something with American players which I really like,” he said. “Their energy. [Sam Coffey] has leadership in her, an intensity in how she’s playing and training. That is something that can help us grow. She’s a great passing player, covering a lot of ground in defending. Aggressive. There’s a lot of things in her that will fit well in our team.”

YOU CAN’T MAKE IT UP: This week, world No.1 pickleball player Anna Leigh Waters announced she was joining Nike, making Swoosh history as the 18-year-old is the brand’s first sponsored pickleball athlete. Get ready for Air Lob Anna Leigh.

PARTING WORDS & MUSIC: Last week, just before post time, the world learned of the passing of Grateful Dead guitarist/vocalist/legend Bob Weir. I placed two of his songs from his final appearance (60 year anniversary at Golden Gate Park) in the main section of last week’s missive.

This week, I’ve had a little time to process Weir’s passing and wanted to put one more music post up in memory of Weir, Jerry Garcia and the Band. This acoustic clip is from 1987. It was a seven song set (all online) and it concluded with Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door the Bob Dylan song that seems so fitting. Joan Baez joined Garcia and Weir on stage and I make note, she just celebrated her 85th birthday on January 9th.

Spurs Top Celtics

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox each scored a team-high 21 points to lead the visiting San Antonio Spurs to a 100-95 victory over the Boston Celtics on Saturday night.

The game was tied with 1:56 to play, but the Spurs finished the game on a 7-2 run.

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Fox also had nine rebounds and six assists. Wembanyama, who played 26 minutes, added six rebounds and three blocked shots. San Antonio also received 12 points and 13 rebounds from Julian Champagnie.

It was the second game in as many nights for the Celtics, who attempted only four free throws in the loss (3 of 4). Derrick White scored 29 points and Jaylen Brown had 27 to lead the Boston offense.

The Spurs won despite shooting 10 of 44 (23%) beyond the 3-point arc. San Antonio entered the game shooting 35% from 3-point territory this season, but made only 27% of their 3-point attempts in the seven games leading up to Saturday’s matchup. The Spurs had a 3-4 record during that stretch.

Boston guard Sam Hauser didn’t play in Saturday’s game because of right hamstring tightness. Hauser, one of the team’s best perimeter shooters, started the previous four games and scored 19 points (five 3-pointers) during Friday’s victory over Toronto.

An early 12-0 run put the Celtics in front 14-7, and Boston led 26-21 after 12 minutes. The Spurs were 2 of 15 from 3-point range in the first quarter. Boston had a 55-50 halftime lead.

A Wembanyama free throw tied the game, 64-64, with 4:36 remaining in the third, but Boston had a 75-73 lead after three quarters.