News Celtics Team Notes

[Boston Celtics]

The Celtics keep criticizing officiating — but it’s not what it looks like

MIAMI — If you’ve been following the Celtics, you’ve been hearing a lot of talk about the officiating as of late.

On Monday, the NBA fined Jaylen Brown $35,000 for his public criticism of officials after the Celtics’ loss to the San Antonio Spurs. The Celtics star was livid after his team attempted just 4 free throws in the 100-95 loss — and used his postgame media availability to criticize the officiating crew.

“[Referee] Curtis [Blair], all them dudes was terrible tonight,” Brown said. “I don’t care. They can fine me whatever they want. It’s crazy. Every time we play a good team, it’s the same shit. Somebody please pull up the clips. I’m irate at how they officiated the game today.”

That wasn’t Brown’s first time calling out the referees this season, nor was it the most recent time a high-ranking member of the Celtics has chosen to shine light on an inconsistent whistle.

Two days later, after the Celtics’ 98-96 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Monday night, Joe Mazzulla took the postgame podium in Indianapolis and repeated the phrase “illegal screen” to every question that was asked of him — seemingly referring to a late-game Pascal Siakam screen that the NBA later admitted was illegal, per its Last Two Minutes Report.

Joe Mazzulla answered every single question with “illegal screen” pic.twitter.com/Qx6Sioyre6

— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) January 13, 2026

Mazzulla, who rarely complains about officiating, also explained his desire to repeatedly utter the phrase “illegal screen” rather than answer postgame questions in earnest. He typically picks and chooses his spots carefully, but felt like the missed call on Siakam was too overt to ignore.

“It’s a balance, because at the end of the day, that’s out of your control. There’s really nothing you can do about it,” Mazzulla said. “But from time to time, there’s always moments where — I thought that was an obvious one.”

Brown shared that his frustrating has grown over the years, because he’s studied NBA officiating extensively, meeting with NBA head of officiating Monty McCutchen, studying the rulebook, and more.

“I’ve studied officiating, I’ve took the next step to know where refs are supposed to be, whose call it is supposed to make, who’s at the point of attack, who’s in a high quadrant, or whatever,” Brown said. “I’ve learned the officiating, so I know who to talk to, who missed the call. And on top of that, I study all the top guys will get to the free throw line at a high rate, to do the same things that they do.”

Brown explained that he just wants the Celtics — who rank last in the league in free throw attempts — to get the same kinds of calls he feels other good teams get.

“I just think we just need a little bit more respect,” he said. “We come out and compete – we’re one of the top teams in the league. We come out and compete on both ends of the ball, on defense and offense. It’s hard to beat good teams if you only get to the free throw line four times, when you play these top-tier teams, no matter what the x’s and o’s are.”

While Brown wasn’t upset at his being fined by the NBA, he did say that the lack of calls can have a snowball effect that have negatively impacted his squad.

“When you make physical drives and you get to the basket, and they don’t call it, it makes it look like a bad possession, because then it leads to our defense,” Brown said. “Then it makes me think: should I be aggressive here? Should I pass it here? You start getting indecisive, and it just snowballs.”

Still, Brown shrugged off the NBA’s decision to penalize him.

“Ask and you shall receive,” Brown said with a smile.

Jaylen Brown today on his $35K fine: "Ask and you shall receive … something had to be said."

–@CLNSMedia pic.twitter.com/rnjz4COEOx

— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) January 14, 2026

The officiating discourse isn’t dominating the Celtics interally​

Don’t get it twisted.

Just because Brown and Mazzulla have recently aired out grievances regarding the officiating, it doesn’t mean the team has been consumed by the issue.

Mazzulla stressed that even if that was his chosen postgame message to the media, Siakam’s screen was far from what he harped on when addressing his team after the loss.

“That’s not the message to our team,” he said. “The message to our team was that run that they went on coming out of timeouts, not turning the ball over, making sure we make our 2-on-1 reads, situational rebounding. That’s the real message.”

Joe Mazzulla had the same answer to every postgame question tonight: "Illegal screen."

Here's what unfolded right before Pascal Siakam made his game-winner: pic.twitter.com/Nhf9WBS1wA

— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) January 13, 2026

At film on Wednesday, Mazzulla focused on costly mistakes earlier in the game that put the Celtics in position where one call could determine the final come. Against the Pacers, the Celtics made a series of mistakes to open the second half that ultimately contributed to the loss.

“The message to our team today was: we got to clean up that third quarter run, clean up our end-of-game execution, whether it’s on offense, defense,” Mazzulla said. “Execution is different in so many ways; it could be screening, it could be spacing, could be shotmaking, could be making the 2-on-1 read. It could be defense. It could be situational tendencies on individual players that we’re guarding. So that’s more important, because you can control it over the course of the long run.”

Brown said he plans on continuing to be aggressive, but will be mindful to stay locked in even if he doesn’t get calls.

“If I don’t get it, [I’ll] just have a stoic mentality and just — on to the next play.”

Mazzulla also pointed out that the Celtics haven’t been overly distracted by calls, and rank near the botom of the league in technical fouls.

“We’re not costing points as long as long as we do what we need to do to stick to the process of winning — and we do a great job of not costing ourselves points.”

It’s true; the Celtics have only been called for 14 technicals this season, which tied for fifth-least among NBA teams. (For reference, six NBA teams have been called for at least 30 techs this season, per Fox Sports).

So, though discussions with the media have recently centered around officiating, that’s not a reflection of what’s going on internally.

“For the most part, I don’t think it’s taken away from our execution and our mentality towards the game,” Mazzulla said, “which I think is the most important thing.”

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/articles/129233/celtics-joe-mazzulla-jaylen-brown-nba-officiating

 

[Boston Celtics]

Miami Heat injury report vs Celtics shows team could be without several players

MIAMI — The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat are set to face off for the second time this season on Thursday night. And, both Eastern Conference rivals should be mostly healthy when they meet, though several injuries loom on both sides.

For the Celtics, Jaylen Brown (low back spasms) and Sam Hauser (hamstring tightness) are both off the injury report, while Josh Minott (left ankle sprain) remains out. Jayson Tatum, of course, remains out as well as he continues to rehab an Achilles tendon he ruptured 8 months ago.

The Celtics, who have dropped two straight, will look to avoid their first three-game losing streak since the season’s opening week, when they started 0-3.

The Heat have several key players on the injury report; Tyler Herro is probable with a toe contusion, Nikola Jovic is probable with right knee soreness, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. is questionable with left knee soreness. Davion Mitchell, meanwhile, is doubtful with a left shoulder contusion.

The Celtics currently have the 3rd-best record in the Eastern Conference at 24-15, while the Heat have the conference’s 9th-best record at 21-19. Both teams have won 6 of their last 10 games.

A quick glance at the Miami Heat’s season so far ​

Erik Spoelstra’s squad has largely been a middle-of-the-pack team so far this season; they have the league’s 20th-best offensive rating (113.5), 4th-best defensive rating (112.1), and 14th-best net rating (+1.4).

The offense has been a well-balanced attack led by offseason acqusition Normall Powell, who has averaged 23.9 points per game. Bam Adebayo continues to put up solid numbers — 16.8 points and 9.7 rebounds — but he’s in the midst of the most inefficient season of his career, shooting just 45.6% from the field.

His runningmate, Tyler Herro, has an injury-riddled campaign thus far and has only appeared in 10 games, but he’s been the team’s second-leading scorer (21.9 points per game) when available.

Jaime Jaquez (15.9 points, 4.6 assists)and Andrew Wiggins (15.8 points) have also been key contributors, as has been second-year standout Kel’el Ware (11.9 points, 10.1 rebounds).

Davion Mitchell, who averages 9.1 points and 7.3 assists per game, shoulders significant defensive responsibilities, often being tasked with guarding the opposing team’s top player. His potential absence against the Celtics puts more pressure on Miami’s other defenders.

Celtics-Heat will tip-off at 7:30pm at the Kaseya Center on Thursday.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/articles/129248/miami-heat-injury-report-boston-celtics

 

[Boston Celtics]

Boston Celtics (24-15) at Miami Heat (21-19) Game #40 1/15/25

Boston Celtics (24-15) at Miami Heat (21-19)
Thursday, January 15, 2026
7:30 PM ET
TV: NBCSB, FDSN Sun, NBA-LP
Regular Season Game #40 Road Game #21
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, WQAM 104.3, Sirius XM
Kaseya Center

The Celtics continue their road trip with a stop in Miami to take on the Heat. This is the 2nd of 4 games between these two teams this season. The Celtics won the first game 129-116 in Boston on December 19. They will meet again in Boston on February 6 and a final time in Miami on April 1. The Celtics are 87-54 all time overall against the Heat and they are 42-30 in games played in Miami.

The Heat made several changes since last season. They drafted Kasparas Jakucionis with the 20th pick in the first round. They did a sign and trade of Duncan Robinson to Detroit in return for Simone Fontechhio. They also received Norman Powell in a 3 way trade that sent Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love to Utah. Davion Mitchell, who was traded to Miami in February resigned for another 2 years.

The Celtics are 3rd in the East, 4.5 games behind 1st place Detroit, and half a game behind 2nd place New York. They are half a game ahead of 4th place Toronto, 2 games ahead of 5th place Philadelphia and 2.5 games ahead of 6th place Orlando. The Celtics are 17-9 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 12-8 on the road and 6-4 in their last 10 games. They have lost their last 2 games.

The Heat are 8th in the East, 8 games behind 1st place Detroit, 3.5 games behind 3rd place Boston, 1 game behind 6th place Orlando and 1 game behind 7th place Cleveland. They are 2 games ahead of 9th place Atlanta and 10th place Chicago. The Heat are 12-11 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 14-6 at home and 6-4 in their last 10 games. They are coming off a win in their last game.

The Celtics are playing in the 2nd game of a 4 game road trip. They lost the first game in Indiana and after this game in Miami, they will play at Atlanta and Detroit to complete the trip. They will then play one game at home against Indiana before playing Brooklyn and Chicago on the road. They will then have another 4 game home stand against Portland, Atlanta, Sacramento and Milwaukee. Then, they are on the road at Dallas and Houston before playing Miami, New York, and Chicago at home, taking them into the All Star Break.

The Heat are playing in the 2nd game of a 3 game home stand. They beat Phoenix in the first game and will host Oklahoma City in the final game. They then face a 5 game road trip through Golden State, Sacramento, Portland, Utah, and Phoenix. They return home to play Orlando, Chicago twice, and Atlanta. They then play at Boston and at Washington, at home against Utah and finally at New Orleans before the All Star Break.

Jayson Tatum remains out for the Celtics as he continues to rehab from the Achilles tear he suffered in last year’s playoffs. Josh Minott will miss his fifth straight game due to an ankle sprain. Jaylen Brown missed Monday’s game due to back spasms but is off the injury report for this game. I’m guessing that Sam Hauser will continue to start at power forward with the rest of the starting 5 as usual.

For the Heat, Terry Rosier continues to be out due to the indictment that he is under for betting on games. Davion Mitchell is out due to a left shoulder contusion that he suffered Tuesday against the Suns. Jaime Jaquez, Jr is out with left knee soreness. Nikola Jovic (right knee soreness) and Tyler Herro (toe/ribs) are available for this game. I’m guessing that Dru Smith fills in at the point for Mitchell if he doesn’t play.

Probable Starting Matchups
PG: Derrick White vs Dru Smith

SG: Payton Pritchard vs Tyler Herro

SF: Jaylen Brown vs Pelle Larsson

PF: Sam Hauser vs Andrew Wiggins

C: Neemias Queta vs Bam Adebayo

Boston Celtics Reserves
Anfernee Simons
Josh Minott
Xavier Tillman
Jordan Walsh
Hugo Gonzalez
Baylon Scheierman
Chris Boucher

2-Way Players
Ron Harper, Jr
Max Shulga
Amari Williams

Injuries/Out
Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out
Josh Minott (ankle) out

Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla

Miami Heat Reserves
Simone Fontecchio
Kasparas Jakucionis
Keshad Johnson
Norman Powell
Kel’el Ware
2-Way Players
Myron Gardner
Vladislav Goldin
Jahmir Young

Injuries/Out
Davion Mitchell (shoulder) out
Niola Jovic (knee) available
Tyler Herro (toe/rib) available
Jaime Jaquez, jr (knee) out
Terry Rozier III (not injury related) out

Head Coach
Erik Spoelstra

Key Matchups
Payton Pritchard vs Tyler Herro
Herro is averaging 21.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while shooting 48.8% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. Herro is streaky but can put up points in a hurry. He didn’t play in the first game against the Celtics in Boston. The Celtics need to be ready to defend him both in the interior and on the perimeter.

Neemias Queta vs Bam Adebayo
Adebayo is averaging 16.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.0 steals per game. He is shooting 45.6% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. In the first game against the Celtics, he finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal while shooting 46.2% from the field with no 3’s. The Celtics need to keep him out of the paint and off the boards.

Honorable Mention
Sam Hauser vs Andrew Wiggins
Wiggins is averaging 15.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. He is shooting 46.7% from the field and 39.9% from beyond the arc. He is a good shooter and so the Celtics need to defend him well. He didn’t play in the first game against the Celtics in Boston.

Keys to the Game
Defense – Defense will always be the biggest key to winning every single game. The Celtics are 15th with a defensive rating of 114.3. The Heat are 4th with a defensive rating of 111.4. The Celtics need to defend the perimeter since the Heat attempt 35.3 threes a game and shoot threes better than the Celtics at 36.9%. They also have to defend the paint as the Heat are 3rd with 54.9 points in the paint per game. The Celtics need to work harder than the Heat on defense and make that their priority.

Rebound – Along with defense, rebounding is always a key to winning. As Pat Riley once said “No rebounds, no rings.” The Celtics average 44.5 rebounds per game (14th) while the Heat average 45.6 rebounds per game (7th). The Celtics are 16-5 when they out-rebound opponents and just 6-9 when out-rebounded. It takes effort and hustle to get rebounds and the Celtics need to give more effort than the Heat to grab rebounds if they want to win this game.

Effort and Focus for 48 Minutes– The Celtics have to play with extra effort overall for all 4 quarters. In most of their losses and even in their wins, they have allowed their opponents to play with more energy than them for periods of time during the game. They play well for stretches but leup and allow their opponents to surge ahead, especially down the stretch. They have to stay focused for all 48 minutes and be ready for their opponents to play harder in the second half and they need to match that effort.

To 3 or Not to 3 – The Celtics are 2nd in the league, attempting 42.6 threes a game. When they fall, the Celtics are tough to beat. But, when they aren’t falling, the Celtics struggle. If the Celtics aren’t hitting their 3s, they have to go to Plan B and take the ball to the basket or shoot from midrange. The Celtics shot just 25.7% from three against the Pacers but allowed them to shoot 43.2% from beyond the arc, much better than their average. If the 3s are falling, great!! If not, go to Plan B. The Heat are a good defensive team and will try to chase the Celtics off the 3 point line and they need to be ready for that.

X-Factors
On the Road – The Celtics are on the road for the 2nd game of a 4 game road trip. The Celtics need to stay focused on playing hard and as a team and not be distracted by the hostile crowd or the unfamiliar court or the fatigue that comes from travel. They have lost their last 2 games and need to stay focused to get back in the win column in spite of playing on the road.

Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor in every game. Every crew officiates differently. Some call it tight, others let them play. The Celtics need to adjust to how the refs are calling the game and not allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus from playing the game. The last 2 games should show how much of an x-factor officiating can be. The Celtics have to play so well all game that the officiating, no matter how bad, can’t influence the game.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/boston-...ics-24-15-at-miami-heat-21-19-game-40-1-15-25

 

[Boston Celtics]

Anfernee Simons propels Celtics past the Heat, win 119-114

Following a tough loss to the Pacers on Monday, the Celtics traveled to Florida to face the Miami Heat Thursday night at the Kaseya Center. Jaylen Brown returned to the lineup for Boston and scored 27 points as the Celtics bounced back on the road with a tremendous comeback 119-114. Boston snapped a two-game losing streak thanks to Anfernee Simons with an explosive second half of 39 points.

With JB back in the lineup, Boston started Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Neemias Queta, and Sam Hauser alongside the All-NBA forward. Andrew Wiggins opened the scoring for Miami with a three-pointer. Sam Hauser reeled off 4 consecutive points for Boston, but it was the Heat who started off as the hotter of the two teams with a massive early lead of 4-18 over Boston.

Miami was shooting 55% from the field early in the quarter, including 3 three-pointers, but Boston had 2 early turnovers and started off shooting an ice-cold 25% from the floor. Jordan Walsh and Anfenee Simons got some early minutes as JB eventually broke a three-and-a-half-minute scoring drought for the road team with a three-pointer.

Adebayo was feasting on the interior to start the game, as he singlehandedly had outscored Boston with 9 points in the first 6 minutes of game time. Andrew Wiggins had 8 quick points, Herro had 7 points, and Norman Powell hit the Heat’s fifth three for his 3 points to start the first quarter as the Heat had tripled Boston’s score, 9-27.

Anfernee Simons drained a three-pointer, and Jordan Walsh flashed an excellent pass to the interior to find Garza for a reverse layup, Boston chipping away at the Heat lead. Garza then scored a catch-and-shoot triple to cut it to twelve points as the C’s bench was coming up big for Boston following the disastrous early start to proceedings.

Simons hit a third three of the night, swishing it home with his high jump shot action; he was pacing things for Boston in the first quarter with 11 points. Hugo Gonzalez and Jordan Walsh double-teamed Tyler Herro and rejected his fast break layup attempt, Boston’s bench mob coming up big after one quarter, and Miami’s lead was trimmed to 11 points, 36-25. Boston outscored Miami 16-9 in the final 5 minutes of the first quarter.

Baylor Scheierman saw his first minutes starting the second quarter alongside Walsh, Simon, Brown, and Queta. The Miami Heat are second in the league in transition field goals, and they started the game with 8 fast break points to zero for Boston.

Queta had two big interior scores for Boston as the C’s were back within double digits at 8 points. In a fast-paced second quarter, Tyler Herro’s back-to-back three-pointers gave the Heat a 10-point lead, 36-46. Garza scored inside, and Hauser drained his first triple of the game, but Bam Adebayo was having a big game for Miami, working inside and stroking it from a distance; he had 15 points through two quarters.

DWhite hit a pair of free throws for Boston and on the next play laid off a neat bounce pass to Garza in the dunker spot; the bench big man had 11 points in the first half in a terrific performance for Boston. Jordan Walsh had a drop step back down in the lane over the shorter Powell and banked home the strong move. Sam Hauser ripped the nylon on his second triple to cut it to single digits; Miami was up at the half, 54-64.

Jaylen Brown opened the scoring for Boston in the second half with a step-back jumper. Brown hit a layup, and White chipped in 2 points on his own layup. Boston is down by 8. Payton Pritchard was scoreless in the first half but had 6 assists, and the Oregon native finally scored on a nifty Euro step through pass from Pelle Larson.

After his 35k fine for comments complaining about free throw discrepancy, JB had his first trip to the charity stripe and converted a pair for Boston. Neemias Queta was whistled for a fourth foul at the seven-minute mark of the third and had to sit out the remainder of the quarter.

Miami looked the fresher and faster of the two teams in the third, despite the Celtics having an extra day of rest. Miami kept the lead at around 11 for the bulk of the quarter. Brown was fouled on a three-point shot attempt by Adebayo. Luka Garza also fouled Fontecchio on his triple attempt, for his fourth, leaving Boston with two big men in foul trouble with a quarter to play.

Simons hit a tough runner in the lane and then had a step-back three-pointer right at the end of the third quarter, Miami hanging on to a ten-point lead, 83-93. Boston would need a massive effort to flip the script in the fourth quarter.

Hugo Gonzalez drove on the break and converted a swooping one-handed layup to start the fourth quarter, cutting Miami’s lead to 8. Anfernee Simons also converted on an up-and-under reverse, putting Boston back within 6 points. Simons split a double team and went high off glass to score again, Boston back within 4 points.

Coach Mazzulla stuck with Gonzalez and Simons, who gave the C’s a big spark in the fourth. White missed his third three of the night, Boston shooting just 28% from three for the game. Simons’s 28th point of the night came on a step-back triple; the Celtics were in the game, down by just 3 points. Simons was unstoppable for Boston; he hit a layup and then hit a turnaround jumper with the 24-second shot clock expiring as the score ticked over to 98-100, Miami, by just 2 points.

Joe Mazzulla had the luxury to reinsert Jaylen Brown with the Miami lead cut to just one possession. Simons found Hauser on a drawn-up play out of the timeout, and he swished a deep three for Boston’s first lead of the game, 101-100, with 5 minutes to go. Simons scored his seventh three of the game over rookie Kasparas Jakučionis. White blocked Powell at the summit down the defensive end and calmly sank a pair of free throws down the other end a play later to take a 109-105 lead.

Jakučionis kicked out his leg on Derrick White with 2 minutes to go, and JB scored in the lane to retake a four-point lead. Hauser tipped home a Luka Garza missed corner three as Boston took a six-point lead, 113-107. Boston hung on to take a massive comeback win on the road thanks to the stellar shot-making of Anfernee Simons, who had 39 points and seven made triples off the bench.

Boston will now have a day off and travel to Atlanta to face the Hawks on Saturday, 17th January, at 7:30pm EST.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/celtics...ons-propels-celtics-past-the-heat-win-119-114

 

[Boston Celtics]

Boston Celtics Daily Links 1/16/26

Herald Anfernee Simons erupts to power massive Celtics comeback in win over Heat

Globe Celtics rally after trailing by 19 to stun Heat 119-114

Anfernee Simons turned in his best game as a Celtic, and the Heat paid the price

Celtics Green Comments from the Other Side – Heat 1/15/26

CelticsBlog 10 Takeaways from a Celtics comeback win in Miami

Celtics massive comeback took much more than just Anfernee Simons

Celtics’ Anfernee Simons made an “amazing” no-trade case by scorching the Heat

Anfernee Simons propels Celtics past the Heat, win 119-114

Newest Maine Celtics addition just went off in comeback win

Celtics .com Keys to the Game: Celtics 119, Heat 114

NBC Sports Boston The Anferno: Five stats that highlight Simons’ impact with Celtics

Celtics-Heat recap: Anfernee Simons stars in C’s comeback win

NESN Celtics Reportedly Have Interest In Trading For Grizzlies Star

Former Celtics Guard Identified As ‘Player To Watch’ Before Trade Deadline

Latest Kristaps Porzingis Update Shows Celtics Made Right Call

Multiple Reports Say Ex-Celtics Big Man On Trade Block

Troubled Former Celtics Guard Gets Arrested Again For Alleged Robbery

NBA Insider Pegs Derrick White For Major Award At Season’s Midway Point

Mass Live Boston Celtics rookie exceeding every expectation at midway mark

Erik Spoelstra calls out Heat center after Celtics comeback win

Ex-Patriots QB calls Joe Mazzulla ‘a cool, young version of Belichick’

Celtics guard creating surprising trade deadline dilemma for Brad Stevens

Celtics Mailbag: Could Boston land Al Horford replacement at trade deadline?

Jaylen Brown makes important admission on off-night in Heat win

Boston Celtics guard goes down in unique history in Heat win

Anfernee Simons is the Celtics ‘Name to Know’ Player of the Game in Thursday’s win over Heat

4 takeaways as Celtics rally past Heat after historic night by reserve

Celtics Wire Celtics are in trade rumors, but are there big man targets they can land?

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla wants more attention on Anfernee Simons’ defense

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra on why Heat couldn’t stop Anfernee Simons, Boston Celtics

Derrick White embracing larger leadership role for younger Boston Celtics teammates

Adjusting to the Celtics, Anfernee Simons is finding his role – and it shows

Celtics survive red-hot early scoring by Heat, win 119-115 (PHOTOS)

Celtics jersey history No. 54 – Zaid Abdul-Aziz (1978)

Celtics history: Pagliuca, Henderson, Reed born; Robey trade

The Celtics are on a historic winning streak in Miami Heat territory

The Athletic ‘Special’ Anfernee Simons carries Celtics down the stretch in Miami

Boston Sports Journal Picks ‘n Pops: Simons praise, a little respect, and booing your own fans

BSJ Game Report: Celtics 119, Heat 114 – Simons’ historic heater leads big comeback

Hardwood Houdini Anfernee Simons just gave Celtics something nobody else could

Latest rumor just brought Celtics one step closer to blockbuster trade reality

Paul Pierce just delivered a message Celtics fans can’t ignore

Celtics’ latest signing will put a smile on Amari Williams’ face

Celtics just put NBA on notice in way that nobody can ignore

Celtics are finally getting the Jordan Walsh realization all over again

Celtics fans just saw legacy game that changed everything in an instant

Celtics are finally getting Anfernee Simons update they’ve been waiting for

CLNS Media/YouTube Garden Report: Celtics vs Heat Postgame Show on CLNS Media – Anfernee Simons GOES OFF

Anfernee Simons goes CRAZY against Miami – You Got Boston w/ Noa Dalzell

Sam Hauser on Celtics’ 4th quarter surge vs Heat | Celtics Postgame IntervIew

Jaylen Brown on Being BENCHED vs Heat | Celtics Postgame Interview

Anfernee Simons on his 39-point night vs Miami | Celtics Postgame Interview

Joe Mazzulla on Anfernee Simons’ 39-point performance vs Heat | Celtics Postgame Interview

Heavy Celtics Free-Agent Bust Tabbed ‘Most Likely’ to Be Traded

Celtics Bombshell Trade Idea Adds Multi-Time All-Star

3-Team Trade Proposal Sends $161 Million All-Star to Celtics

Celtics’ Jayson Tatum Drops Major Hint About Injury Return

Blockbuster Trade Pitch Lands Anfernee Simons With Heat

Jaylen Brown Makes Candid Admission About Celtics Guard Following Big Night

Three Major Takeaways from Anfernee Simons 39-Point Night

SI .com Chris Mannix Reveals Brad Stevens’ Trade Deadline Plans For Celtics

Miami Heat blow early lead as Simons, Celtics storm back in fourth quarter

Barstool Sports Bald Wemby Has Arrived In The NBA Which Can Only Mean That Complete And Total Destruction Is On The Horizon

Bleacher Report Latest NBA Rumors on Knicks, Celtics, 76ers, Magic Ahead of 2026 Trade Deadline

Basketnews Celtics rookie tells a funny Joe Mazzulla story, opens up on NBA Draft night

Fadeaway World The Most Realistic Targets For The Boston Celtics Before February Trade Deadline

CBS Sports Celtics’ Anfernee Simons shows why he’s one of the most intriguing players heading into the NBA trade deadline

Basketball Network “This season I focused more on basketball than I ever have” – Jaylen Brown on why the Celtics need him more than ever

NBA/YouTube EXTENDED: CELTICS at HEAT | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | January 15, 2026

Duke Roundtable Duke Legend Jayson Tatum’s Fate Will be Decided by One Major Factor

Locked on Celtics HISTORY: Celtics’ Anfernee Simons RESCUES Boston in Miami—Why Jayson Tatum Needs to Pay Attention

Brock Press The Boston Celtics are doing the unthinkable

ESPN NBA trade deadline 2026: One player to watch on all 30 teams

The Sports Hub Celtics complete 19-point comeback, top Heat 119-114

‘You have to believe in yourself’: Simons continues to excel in his role off bench

Miami Herald Heat blows big lead in home loss to Celtics, reaching midway point at 21-20. Takeaways and details

The Celtics Chronicle Boston Celtics Trade Deadline Primer w/ Keith Smith

Audacy The case for keeping Anfernee Simons at the trade deadline

Celtics Recap Celtics Eye Trade for $9 Million Player Amid Tight Deadline Pressure

Basketball Forever Jaylen Brown Questions NBA Referees & Alleges Preferential Treatment

WTOP News Former NBA player arrested in Fairfax Co., charged with robbery and assault

Celtics Roundtable ‘The Anfernee Simons Game’ Saves the Celtics in Miami, Boston Wins 119-114

Rip City Project Celtics are realizing what Blazers always knew about Anfernee Simons

Essentially Sports Cameras Spot Jayson Tatum Teasing Injury Return With 2-Word Message

NBA .com Player of the Night – Anfernee Simons – Jan. 15

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/boston-celtics-daily-links/129322/boston-celtics-daily-links-1-16-26

 

[Boston Celtics]

Celtics, Hawks injury reports reveal several key players are out

ATLANTA — The Celtics (25-15) could be without Payton Pritchard when they face the Atlanta Hawks (20—23) on Saturday night.

Pritchard is doubtful to play as he deals with left ankle soreness; if he’s sidelined, it will be his first missed game of the season. Josh Minott, meanwhile, will miss his 7th consecutive game with a left ankle sprain, and Jayson Tatum continues to be sidelined as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Celtics Injury Report vs. Atlanta (1/17):

Josh Minott – Left Ankle Sprain – OUT
Payton Pritchard – Left Ankle Soreness – DOUBTFUL
Jayson Tatum – Right Achilles Repair – OUT

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) January 16, 2026

Pritchard scored just 2 points in Thursday’s comeback win over the Miami Heat and sat out for the entire fourth quarter, while his backup, Anfernee Simons, exploded for a season-best 39 points, 18 of which came in the fourth quarter. It’s possible Pritchard’s reduced minutes were related to some ankle soreness, though it’s also likely Joe Mazzulla opted to go with the hot hand.

For the Hawks, former Celtic Kristaps Porzingis is out with left Achilles tendonitis, Zaccharie Risacher is out with a left knee bone contusion, and N’Faly Dante is out with a right knee ACL tear. Dyson Daniels is questionable with a right ankle sprain.

The Hawks are having another mediocre season​

The Atlanta Hawks haven’t quite had the year they were hoping for. By all accounts, Atlanta has been a below-average team; they’ve had the NBA’s 19th-best offensive rating, 16th-best defensive rating, and 18th-best overall net rating. They have a 20-23 record, which is good for the 10th-best record in the conference.

Last week, they parted ways with longtime franchise cornerstone Trae Young, acquiring CJ McCollum and Corey Krispert from the Washington Wizards in exchange. And, they’ve dealt with a myriad of injuries, with Porzingis only appearing in 17 of the Hawks’ 43 games this season, as he’s dealt with POTS and various other injuries.

One bright spot has been the superb play of Jalen Johnson; the likely first-time All-Star has put up monster numbers, averaging 23.1 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game. Offseason addition Nickeil Alexander-Walker is tallying 20.5 points and 3.5 assists. And Porzingis has been effective when he has played, averaging 17.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.

One weird quirk is that the Hawks have been better on the road than at home this season; they’re 7-11 at State Farm Arena, but 13-12 at away games. (The Celtics, meanwhile, are 15-4 at home and 13-6 on the road).

After their win over the Heat, the Celtics now have the second-best net rating in the NBA (+7.1), the second-best offensive rating (121.5), and the 15th-best defensive rating. They hold the second-best record in the Eastern Conference at 25-15.

Celtics-Hawks will tip off on Saturday at 7:30pm ET.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/articles/129415/celtics-injury-report-payton-pritchard-atlanta-hawks

 

[Boston Celtics]

Celtics guard gets surprise start as Payton Pritchard sidelined

ATLANTA — Payton Pritchard, who is dealing with ankle soreness, won’t lace up for the first time this season when the Celtics face the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. So, in his place, Baylor Scheierman will start for the third time this year, alongside Derrick White in the backcourt.

Scheierman is averaging 2.7 points and 1.7 rebounds in 11.7 minutes this season. He’s appeared in 35 of the Celtics’ 40 games, and started two so far. He also started in Monday’s game against the Indiana Pacers, when Sam Hauser was sidelined with hamstring tightness.

Joe Mazzulla has praised Scheierman for always being ready to impact winning when his (sometimes sporadic) opportunities come.

“He works really hard, so he’s always prepared,” Mazzulla said. “His confidence never wavers — whether he plays well or whether he makes a mistake, his confidence in his ability to impact winning is always there, and that helps a lot. And he can make an impact regardless of how many minutes he plays.”

Baylor Scheierman is starting for the second time this season, with Payton Pritchard sidelined.

It will be Baylor, Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Jaylen Brown, and Neemias Queta.

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) January 18, 2026

Fellow backcourt mate Derrick White has echoed that sentiment.

“He’s been amazing,” White said. “He’s always ready. It’s tough; you never know how many minutes or if he’s gonna play, but he’s always ready. And when he comes in, he just does a lot of things for us, and I feel like it’s always a positive segment when he’s out there with us.

The full list of starters when the Celtics face the Hawks​

1. Derrick White
2. Baylor Scheierman
3. Sam Hauser
4. Jaylen Brown
5. Neemias Queta

Mazzulla opted to keep Anfernee Simons on the bench despite his recent hot play; Simons is coming off a 39-point game against the Miami Heat on Friday night. Over his last 8 games, Simons is averaging 18.3 points and 3.6 assists, while shooting 49.1% from the field and 51.6% from three.

It’s not unsurprising that Mazzulla has kept Simons on the bench; it seems he’s in a similar role to what Pritchard was in last year, when he was a perennial bench player even when the team was short-handed.

For the Celtics, Chris Boucher (lower back spasms) and Josh Minott (ankle sprain) are both out as well.

For the Hawks, CJ McCollum, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Vit Krejci, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu will start. Meanwhile, Dyson Daniels, Kristaps Porziņģis, and Zaccharie Risacher are all out.

The Celtics (25-15) face the Hawks (20-23) at 7:30pm.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/article...-surprise-start-as-payton-pritchard-sidelined

 

[Boston Celtics]

Sam Hauser shines as the Celtics smoke the Hawks, 132-106

On a night where Jaylen Brown scored 41 points, it was Sam Hauser who stole the show. He scored 30 points making 10 three pointers, including 8 of his first 9 looks. The Celtics smoked the Hawks 132-106 as the Celtics advance to 26-15 at the midway point of the season.

The Celtics were without Jayson Tatum, Payton Pritchard, Josh Minott and Chris Boucher. They started Derrick White, Baylor Scheierman, Sam Hauser, Jaylen Brown and Neemias Queta. The Hawks were without Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher, Kristaps Porzingis and N’Faly Dante. They started C.J. McCollum, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Vit Krecji, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Onongwu.

This was the Hawks first game back home after a 4 game west coast swing. Those are always tough, if you remember the Celtics were 0-5 in the first game back coming off of long road trips last season.

It was 14-11 at the second timeout. Jaylen Brown took 8 of the first 14 Celtics shots, making 3 of them for 6 points. Joe Mazzulla came out of that timeout with 4 new players surrounding Brown, Anferenee Simons, Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez and Luka Garza.

The Celtics led the Hawks, 30-23 at the end of the first quarter. Jaylen Brown carried the Celtics, scoring 18 points while no else scored more than 3. Brown also had 2 rebounds and 2 assists. He took 13 shots.

jb on pace for 50 shots let’s get it

— vauIt (@VauIIt) January 18, 2026

It was in the 2nd quarter that the Celtics turned up the heat and it happened from three point range. They outscored the Hawks 37-20 in the first 9:23 of the quarter and were 9/12 from threes.

They did not slow down to end the quarter either, scoring 52 points in the period and 82 in the first half, a new season high. They finished the 2nd quarter 19/25 from the field and 11/15 from three.

Boston led Atlanta by 31 points at halftime, 82-51. Jaylen Brown had 29 points while Sam Hauser had 21 points going 7/8 from three point range.

Sam Hauser with his 7th 3 in the first half. Ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/BRBEm72DSd

— Pull up shoot (@NElGHT_) January 18, 2026

The Celtics contained the, as NBC Sports Boston’s Drew Carter said, “vintage Mazzulla Ball barrage” in the third quarter, taking a 40 point lead at the 9:20 mark in the 3rd quarter. They hit the 100 point mark with just over 8 minutes to go in the period.

Jaylen Brown hit the 40 point mark in the first three quarters of the game. He had 41 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists through three quarters (he did not play in the 4th). He was 14/30 from the field and 2/9 from three in 29 minutes.

The Celtics led the Hawks 117-74 at the end of three quarters. Hauser had 24 points while Neemias Queta and Anfernee Simons had 14 points each.

The 4th quarter intrigue was whether or not Sam Hauser would break the single game three point record for the Celtics, which is 11 from Marcus Smart in 2020. He did not, he made 10 threes in the game, only making 2 of his last 12 three point attempts.

The Celtics shot 50% from the field and 42% from three while the Hawks shot 37% from the field and 32% from three. Boston’s next game is Monday night in Detroit against the Pistons at 8 EST.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/celtics...own-derrick-white-neemias-queta-jalen-johnson

 

[Boston Celtics]

Celtics injury report shows key guard could be sidelined vs Pistons

DETROIT — The Boston Celtics could be once again be without Payton Pritchard when they close out a four-game roadtrip against the Detroit Pistons on Monday night. Pritchard missed Saturday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks with left ankle soreness — his first absence of the year — and is questionable with the same injury ahead of Monday’s game.

But the Celtics didn’t miss a beat with their starting point guard; Baylor Scheierman started in Pritchard’s place, and Boston defeated Atlanta 132-106.

Three other Celtics are on the injury report alongside Pritchard; Josh Minott will miss his 8th-straight game with an ankle sprain, while Jayson Tatum continues to rehabilitate a ruptured Achilles tendon. It’s been about 8 months since Tatum first suffered the injury, and his timeline to potentially return this season is uncertain. And, Chris Boucher, who has been out of the rotation since late November, is questionable with low back spasms.

Celtics Injury Report vs. Detroit (1/18):

Chris Boucher – Low Back Spasms – QUESTIONABLE
Josh Minott – Left Ankle Sprain – OUT
Payton Pritchard – Left Ankle Soreness – QUESTIONABLE
Jayson Tatum – Right Achilles Repair – OUT

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) January 18, 2026

The Pistons, meanwhile, have a clean injury slate.

The Pistons have been the best team in the Eastern Conference ​

Monday’s game between the Celtics and the Pistons is a battle between the two best teams in the East. The Celtics (26-15) have the second-best record in the East, while the Pistons lead the way with a 30-10 record.

The Celtics and Pistons have faced off three times this season, and each time, the games have gone down to the wire, with the Pistons winning two of three contests. When the two teams first matched up in October, the Pistons came away with a 6-point win. In November, on the eve of Thanksgiving, the Celtics emerged victorious by 3 points. And, in December, the Pistons won by 7. Saturday will mark the fourth and final regular-season match-up between the two teams.

Both teams come into the Monday night matchup with plenty of momentum, having won two in a row; the Celtics have won 7 of their last 10 games, while the Pistons have won 6 of their last 10.

Celtics-Pistons will tip off at 8pm on Saturday at the Little Caesars Arena.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/article...shows-key-guard-could-be-sidelined-vs-pistons