News Celtics Team Notes

[Boston Celtics]

Jaylen Brown will miss multiple games due to knee injury

Jaylen Brown looks on during a game against the Nets. | John Jones-Imagn Images

He’ll be reevaluated Monday.

Celtics forward Jaylen Brown will miss the next two games due to a right knee injury, the team announced Friday night.

Brown has been diagnosed with a bone bruise with posterior impingement. He’ll be re-evaluated Monday.

Injury Report update:

Jaylen Brown has been diagnosed with a bone bruise with posterior impingement in his right knee. He’ll miss the next two games and will be reevaluated on Monday. https://t.co/twYXO8qSp8

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 22, 2025​

The Celtics (50-19) face the Jazz on Friday and the Trail Blazers on Sunday.

Brown has played in 56 of the Celtics’ 69 games this season. He’s averaging 22.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and a career-high 4.7 assists per game.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/3/...iss-multiple-games-knee-injury-boston-celtics

 

[Boston Celtics]

Jayson Tatum fuels Boston to big win, beat Trail Blazers 129-116

Photo by Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images

Balanced scoring attack sees the Celtics win a second consecutive game on the road.

The Boston Celtics returned to action Sunday against the Trail Blazers at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. Boston posted yet another win 129-116 in their second game of a 5-game west coast road trip. Jayson Tatum was exceptional once more for the short-handed Celtics.

Former Oregon Duck Payton Pritchard started his first game of the season in place of veteran Jrue Holiday; Al Horford and Sam Hauser also were given the starting nod. It was Pritchard who would score the first points of the game on a Jayson Tatum-assisted triple. Tatum then dribble-drove for a massive one-handed dunk, and then Pritchard converted on a shifty drive for his second score of the game.

Photo by Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images

The young Trail Blazers kept pace early, scoring at will on the interior, as Boston lacked any real shot-blocking threats with Kristaps Porzingis out. Pritchard was whistled for his third foul of the game at the seven-minute mark and was immediately brought out of the contest, with rookie Baylor Scheierman getting an early look.

Scheierman showed patience to assist Derrick White for his first three-pointer of the game, and Sam Hauser converted his second triple of the contest as Boston took an early lead, 18-15. J.D. Davison would also see early minutes alongside Torrey Craig as Joe Mazzulla looked to the deep bench with 3 starters absent. Davison and Scheierman would both connect on their first triples of the game as the Celtics would end the first quarter up 34-24, with 8 Boston players scoring.

The second quarter opened up with more of the same hot Boston shooting as both Derrick White and Sam Hauser hit on three-pointers. The Trail Blazers got a balanced spread of scoring to start the second quarter as they roared back into the game to cut Boston’s lead to 2 points, 40-38. Former C, Dalano Banton, would score a fast break layup to tie the game up at 40 apiece.

Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

38-year old big man Al Horford would then connect on consecutive three-pointers for Boston, midway throught he second quarter. Derrick White’s second steal of the game, saw the wing break away for an uncontested dunk and his eighth point of the night. Sam Hauser’s fourth straight three-pointer of the night saw the C’s lead go back to 7 points.

Luke Kornet had a decent impact to end the quarter, scoring first on a mini-hook shot and then an outstretched rebound tip-in to convert on his third bucket of the game. Luke then rebounded and assisted Sam Hauser for his fifth triple and his second assist. Boston were rolling into the half with everything clicking, up by a commanding 13 points, 64-51.

Jayson Tatum would score Boston’s first points of the second half, tipping in an Al Horford miss and then assisting Sam Hauser for his eighteenth point of the night. Hauser would then blow a wide-open backdoor layup, but Jayson Tatum connected on his next jump shot to hand Boston a nineteen-point lead.

Donavon Clingan was caught in a switch out near the Boston three-point line and would foul Tatum, who would connect on the four-point play. Deni Advija would also struggle to contain Jayson Tatum as the Boston superstar nailed the turnaround jumper at the elbow. He then went to work on Advija and attacked the paint to score his eighteenth point of the night as he was stamping his name all over the third quarter.

Derrick White found Sam Hauser in the corner with a stellar behind-the-back pass, as Sam hit on his seventh three-pointer of the night, Boston shooting a blistering 47 percent from beyond the arc with 23 assists midway through the third. The Blazers wouldn’t go away, though, as they pulled back into the game, cutting the Celtics lead to just ten points with 4 minutes to go in the quarter.

Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Torrey Craig was the recipient of Jayson Tatum’s seventh assist, as he hit his first make, a corner three-pointer, becoming Boston’s tenth scorer of the night. Despite foul-trouble and having a relatively quiet night up until the third, Payton Pritchard exploded to hit his second, third and fourth triples of the game as Boston went on a 8-0 run and took the lead back to 12 points at the end of the third, with a 102-90 lead. Tatum had 18 points in the third quarter, as he did everything required for the short-handed Celtics.

All five starters for Boston would score in double figure points on the night, as the fourth quarter saw the Celtics lead see-saw around 15 points throughout the opening few minutes. The Celtics bench would be spearheaded by Luke Kornet who was too strong for the Blazers second unit, Luke would score at will in the fourth with 7 points in just five minutes of action. Despite Portland's ability to hang around late, Boston were just clicking on all cylinders in this game and answered every Portland run.

Boston would end the contest converting on 23-50 from three, with 31 assists as the game ended 129-116. Jayson Tatum led Boston with 30 points and once again flirted with a triple double with 9 rebounds and 9 assists. Sam Hauser ended the game 24 points with eight three pointers and Luke Kornet was huge with 13 points from the Celtics bench.

Boston next travel to Sacramento tomorrow night to take on the Kings at 10pm Eastern, as they continue their west coast road trip.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/3/...o-big-win-beat-portland-trail-blazers-129-116

 

[Boston Celtics]

10 takeaways from Boston’s composed dismantling of the Blazers

Photo by Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images

Jayson Tatum was in control from start to finish, with support coming from all angles; Hauser’s shooting, Kornet’s verticality, and Scheierman’s spark off the bench.

#1 - Jayson Tatum unstoppable scoring​

With Jaylen Brown out for a few games, the Celtics’ opponents can focus their defense on Jayson Tatum—and the Portland Trail Blazers did just that. Yet, Tatum once again showed he can get himself going in any situation. On the first ball screen with Al Horford, Tatum snakes the pick-and-roll and puts Toumani Camara on his back. Then, he waits until the last second to change direction on his drive, losing Donovan Clingan and opening a path to the rim.

His great shot-making was also on display last night with this beautiful fadeaway following a split action with Luke Kornet and JD Davison. It was a great reminder of his elite shooting touch from the mid-range, where he hit eight field goals.

The Celtics targeted various mismatches, and in the second half, the goal was to make Clingan switch onto Jayson Tatum. First, they ran a flare screen off the ball—this looks like a play that OKC often runs for Chet Holmgren as a trailer. Here, the Celtics are playing in from a made basket, but it works too.

On the next play, the Celtics use Horford again as a ball handler on a handoff. This two-man game forced Clingan to switch once more onto Tatum, and the All-NBA forward punished it with a four-point play.

From mid-range, at the rim, or from three, Jayson Tatum kept killing the Portland Trail Blazers’ defense — but what about his playmaking?

#2 - And his versatile playmaking​

The synergy with Luke Kornet was very obvious again. With or without the ball, Kornet’s screening ability and Jayson Tatum’s offensive feel generated high-quality looks. Here, Tatum uses the flare screen away from the ball to free himself and finds Kornet for the alley-oop.

On the very next play, another great pick-and-roll navigation from Tatum, who finds his way between two defenders following a Kornet screen. The defensive shell cracks as he finds Davison in the corner, who swings it to Baylor Scheierman, who fakes and pulls up from three. This won’t count as an assist for JT, but once again, he’s the initiator and playmaker.

Jayson Tatum pick-and-roll navigation, Baylor Scheierman shooting confidence, me like. pic.twitter.com/O6Zu3HmgGr

— Azad (@azmatlanba) March 24, 2025​

At the end, Jayson Tatum once again comes close to a triple double with nine assists and nine rebounds alongside 30 points.

#3 - Scheierman early minutes​

With Payton Pritchard’s early foul trouble, the rookie was called into duty pretty early in the game. He quickly made an impact with a smart drive-and-kick from the corner. He gets the ball and is patient enough to trick his matchup into thinking he might shoot, then drives into the paint as the defense collapses, and finds Derrick White open for three.

Once again, he also showed great instincts on defense by being well-positioned and showing a lot of energy. On the same play, he tried to draw a charge, then got back up, fought for the rebound, and secured the ball.

Lately, he has been the first player called outside the usual rotation, and it’s easy to understand why.

#4 - Punishing Clingan drop coverage​

Mount Clingan is hard to climb, but thankfully, the Celtics can do a lot of damage from deep. They looked for ways to either make the big man leave the paint or punish his deep positioning with open shots. The most basic action is a simple pick-and-roll to generate an open pull-up three.

The Celtics also put the ball in Horford’s hands to drag Clingan away from the rim. In the play below, they first tried a stagger twirl action—a couple of off-ball screens with a cut in the middle—but this didn’t open anything. So, Baylor Scheierman got into a two-man action with Horford to attack Clingan’s lack of mobility. The two drives and kicks led by the rookie collapsed the defense and opened another clean look.

With Horford on the court, the Celtics also ran a lot of pick-and-pop with him. This play is known to be a drop coverage killer.

The last example — and my favorite — came late in the second quarter with a sideline action. The Celtics used Kornet as a connector on a handoff to drag Clingan away from the rim and force a help from the corner.

OH MY KORNECTOR!

From a sideline inbound, the Celtics are running an Zoom Action (Pindown into Handoff).

Kornet rolls immediately, catchs the ball mid hair and sends it to the Hauser in the corner; all in one motion.

Find out more on Kornet connecting game on the @celticsblog:… pic.twitter.com/vf2e2M6siM

— Azad (@azmatlanba) March 24, 2025​

#5 - Great shooting night from Sam Hauser​

The electric Celtics shooter hit eight triples—a strong mark that highlights how good he has been lately. Over the last 20 games, he’s shooting over 42% from three, a great sign heading into the postseason.

Sam Hauser's last 20 games. Over 42% from 3 and 64.1% TS. pic.twitter.com/2SkeiWP0w0

— Wayne Spooney (@WSpooney) March 24, 2025​

One play stood out to me and showcased what a great offensive reader he is. In the second half, he executed a Danny Green cut perfectly. The Blazers were mixing individual and zone defenses. To trick them, Hauser moved their backs from one corner to the other, used the ball’s gravity to be forgotten, and punished them for leaving him open.

#6 - Kornet offensive impact​

In less than 20 minutes, the Celtics’ reserve big man scored 13 points without a miss, grabbed three offensive rebounds, and delivered three assists. While Horford was useful for spacing the floor, Kornet’s ability to connect plays and dominate the glass helped a lot. His verticality also offers a form of spacing, vertical spacing, we could call it.

Luke Kornet playing above everyone is a great reminder that court geometry is cubic, not flat. If a player can’t space the floor horizontally, he can still be a vertical threat.

#7 - Payton Pritchard special night​

For the first time this season, the Celtics’ sixth man was in the starting five—ready to pull the trigger close to the Oregon college where he made his name in the NCAA. Last time he faced Portland, Pritchard scored his career high, and he’s usually at his best against this team.

Payton Pritchard career vs. Portland:

16.3 points per game
56.9% from the field
51.1% from three

All his highest against any opponent pic.twitter.com/bERVunRpzl

— Sam LaFrance (@SamLaFranceNBA) March 23, 2025​

However, the game didn’t start as expected. Due to foul trouble, he was quickly replaced by Baylor Scheierman. The rookie also started in his place in the second half, while Pritchard returned to the bench. But coming off the bench in the second half put him in his more natural role, and he bounced back with a great performance.

Surely, his parents were happy about it.

In a game where Oregon native Payton Pritchard made his first start this season, doing so in his home state, @tvabby spoke with Pritchard’s parents.

His father, Terry Pritchard: “It’s been pretty incredible…We’re just so proud of him, and we’re really blessed that he’s in… pic.twitter.com/LfxtejvAH2

— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) March 23, 2025​

#8 - Al Horford is getting ready for the Playoffs​

Slowly but surely, Al Horford is playing closer to the rim late in the season. As the Playoffs approach, the Celtics want to ensure all their scoring options are ready. This game felt like most recent ones where Horford was asked to target mismatches and contribute inside.

I was under the impression that the Celtics were asking Al Horford to play closer to the rim lately, running a lot of empty side pick-and-roll to get him post-up position.

In March, he scored 38% of this point in the paint, his highest mark of the season.

Playoffs Al is ready. pic.twitter.com/jt4E6fEIH4

— Azad (@azmatlanba) March 24, 2025​

The visual impression that Horford is playing closer to the rim is backed by the numbers. With 38% of his scoring now coming in the paint, it seems he has adjusted his shot distribution to be closer to the bucket, diversifying the Celtics’ offense.

#9 - Jayson Tatum and the referees​

Despite a high usage rate and many paint attempts, Jayson Tatum shot only seven free throws—and it was clear he was frustrated with the referees.

Tatum was nooot happy with the refs. Game is over and he still had words for them pic.twitter.com/FwkZNiEvKE

— Pull up shoot  (@NElGHT_) March 24, 2025​

Should Tatum get more calls? With only 11% of his possessions ending in shooting fouls this season, that’s close to a career low. But at the same time, his rim frequency is also close to a career low. Hard to get calls on jump shots.

#10 - Ready for Sacramento​

No rest for the Celtics. Tonight, they’re playing the Sacramento Kings—an offense-minded team that dominated Boston earlier this season. Yet, things have changed since then, and the Celtics are now the best road team in the league. Should be a fun one!

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/3/...m-bostons-composed-dismantling-of-the-blazers

 

[Boston Celtics]

Celtics extend win streak to six games, beat Kings 113-95

Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

The Celtics knocked down 19 3-pointers and kept the hosting Kings at bay to win both sides of their West Coast back-to-back.

In a late-night battle in Sacramento, the Celtics entered Golden1 Center with a five-game win streak on Monday night, which they extended to six thanks to a 113-95 win.

Boston (53-19) was led in scoring by Jayson Tatum with 25 points (8/15 FG, 8 assists, 7 rebounds) while the Kings (35-36) got 20 points from DeMar DeRozan (9/24 FG).

The matchup saw the return of Jaylen Brown into the lineup, who missed four of the past five games with a knee impingement. It meant the first time since Feb. 23 that the starting five of Brown, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis were together.

The Celtics entered the game without Sam Hauser (low back stiffness), Al Horford (left big toe sprain) and Xavier Tillman (left knee joint sprain) while the Kings were without Devin Carter (illness), Malik Monk (illness) and Doug McDermott (right elbow).

It was a sluggish start out of the gate for the Celtics, who trailed 19-11 entering the first media break at 6:55. Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis lifted the Kings early, with Murray connecting on two threes out of the gate and Sabonis scoring six points in the opening quarter.

The Celtics recovered thanks to an active quarter closeout from Tatum, who was involved in the final 16 points scored. Tatum scored nine of those points, including a runner from beyond the arc, while assisting on the other seven, the last of which came on a kickout pass to Payton Pritchard for a buzzer-beating triple that gave the Celtics a 30-29 lead entering the second quarter.

Did he just?

How? pic.twitter.com/B3YNjcO56T

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 25, 2025​

With Tatum off the floor to start the second quarter, the lead changed hands six times in the first six minutes, while White and Porzingis both picked up three fouls to send them to the bench. Behind a lineup of Tatum, Holiday, Pritchard, Baylor Scheierman and Luke Kornet, the Celtics won the final six minutes 14-11 to take a 56-51 lead into halftime.

Tatum led that lineup with two more 3-pointers to add to his team-high 17 first half points, but arguably the biggest highlight of the quarter came from Scheierman, who jumped a pass for a steal and served up a behind-the-back dime to Pritchard for an easy layup.

Incredible instincts from Baylor Scheierman on this behind the back pass to Pritchard pic.twitter.com/Nvg4tJGO3y

— Ian Inangelo (@iinangelo) March 25, 2025​

The Celtics opened the third quarter shooting 1/7 — the lone make being White’s first points of the night on a 3-pointer — but Boston eventually combined stops with makes and pushed the lead to 10 after a Brown mid-range jumper and a quick Tatum layup with eight minutes to go.

Boston and Sacramento traded 3-pointers soon after, with Brown, White and Tatum all connecting from deep, though Tatum’s second 3-point bucket of the quarter ended in a worrisome sequence as he fell down in pain after a Sabonis closeout interfered with his landing space and resulted in a Flagrant foul. Tatum stayed in the game to shoot his free throws, hitting one of two before heading to the locker room.

Maintaining possession after the foul, Porzingis got in on the perimeter action with his own 3-point make, giving Boston seven points in a 19-second sequence. Boston kept control of the lead despite Tatum’s absence, holding an 88-78 advantage going into the fourth quarter.

KP said N PE pic.twitter.com/ngfYuITM9A

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 25, 2025​

The Celtics fired on all cylinders to open the fourth, starting with a Scheierman three and a White layup off the glass for a 93-79 lead.

After the Kings got it back down to 10, Scheierman’s hustle on the glass kept a Celtics possession alive that ended with him wide open in the corner to hit his third 3-pointer of the game. A quick sequence then saw Pritchard bury his fifth 3-pointer while Kornet scored on a basket interference for a 105-87 lead with 6:13 left to play.

Playing with purpose ‍ pic.twitter.com/ElFcjL7crZ

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 25, 2025​

A 12-0 Celtics run then pushed the lead to 22, and Joe Mazzulla sent in the rest of the Stay Ready group with 1:12 to play.

Next up for the Celtics is a nationally-televised matchup at PHX Arena to take on the Suns on Wednesday, March 26 at 10 p.m.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/3/...o-kings-113-95-jayson-tatum-baylor-scheierman

 

[Boston Celtics]

Staring history in the face, Celtics should be extra cautious coming down the stretch

Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Boston should be more focused on rest over reps as postseason looms.

The Boston Celtics have everything you need to win a championship — but we know that already.

We also know that there are probably only two teams in the entire league with a legitimate shot at stopping Boston’s repeat attempt. But as Celtics fans should know all too well, there is a third factor that could very well rob this team of a second title: injuries.

While Boston has avoided major, season-ending losses up to this point (knock on wood), there have been enough nagging injuries piling up that should cause concern. Whether it is Jrue Holiday’s mallet finger, Jaylen Brown’s knee and most recently, Jayson Tatum’s ankle sprain, all of these injuries can build up and stop Boston from playing its best basketball when it needs to.

And as the postseason sits 25 days away and the Celtics firmly planted in the two seed, the only thing they should be worried about is making sure their top eight guys are as close to 100% as possible. At this point, with what this team is capable of, the only thing that should matter is playing basketball in June.

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

With just ten games remaining in the regular season, Boston should be more focused on rest then making sure the starting five is getting reps together. It should instead be letting guys like Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh get some serious run before they take their seats on the bench for the playoffs — though with how Scheierman has been playing the last week, it’s possible head coach Joe Mazzulla puts him on the floor in the postseason.

However, it’s also understandable that the 65-game requirement for postseason awards is meaningful to players like Brown, who is at 57 games played as of today. That means he would have to play eight of the last 10 in order to qualify for those awards. And after playing just 26 minutes and scoring nine points against Sacramento, after missing four of the last five games, the conversation should be had whether Brown makes the push for the 65 game mark.

Personally, it makes the most sense to have Brown miss out on the 65-game mark, and play four or five of the final 10. Brown has said it himself, countless times, that the only thing that matters is winning. To put himself and the team, in the best position to do that, it probably means sacrificing any possible postseason accolades.

In regards to Tatum — who sprained his left ankle during Monday’s win over the Kings — the Celtics should shut him down until that ankle is as healthy as possible. It seemed like he was in good spirits in the locker room postgame, sporting neither a boot or crutches, according to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe.

Still, depending on the severity of the sprain, the injury could have a nagging effect, and if not rested properly, still linger into the playoffs. At this point with an eight-game lead over the Knicks for the two seed, there is really no excuse for Tatum to be pushing to play. He’s already hit the 65 game mark, so the Boston staff shouldn’t let him touch the court for at least a week. No matter how much he wants to fight them on it.

“A lot of head butting,” Tatum said on March 14. “I understand the balance of being fresh for hopefully the long playoff run … I try to stay ready and play as much as I can.”

There is also always the injury concern with Kristaps Porzingis, but in regards to physical injuries, he has stayed mostly healthy since his Christmas Day injury. He obviously has had the issue with the mystery illness that kept him out eight games, but he has bounced back nicely since returning on March 15. That said, the Celtics should still be cautious with the big man. There is no reason for him to suffer a significant injury in a meaningless regular season game.

Holiday also seems to be bouncing back well from his mallet finger injury. His shooting still has ebbs and flows, but as seen last year, Boston will need him more for his defensive playmaking anyways.

The only thing that should change the outlook regarding rest is with Cleveland and the No. 1 seed. The Cavaliers dropped four-straight games and are now only 4.5 games ahead of Boston. It’s still not very likely, but unless things go really south in Cleveland, the C’s shouldn’t be exerting more energy than needed for seeding.

In the end, Boston should be taking every step necessary to make sure it is healthy, and rested, as possible before April 19 rolls around. Looking at a potential first round matchup with Atlanta, it should give some room for the Celtics to get back into a groove before the later rounds.

“Playing on this team, it’s really about winning,” Holiday said. “It’s not about the stats.”

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/3/...d-be-extra-cautious-jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown

 

[Boston Celtics]

Boston Celtics Daily Links 3/25/25

Jayson Tatum vs Kings 3/24/25 | Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

All the Celtics news you need in one convenient place.

Herald Jayson Tatum exits Celtics-Kings with ankle injury after Domantas Sabonis flagrant foul​

Globe Tatum leaves Celtics game with ankle sprain after flagrant foul ​

Jayson Tatum injury: Kings star apologizes, feels horrible about foul​

Warriors star Jimmy Butler prepares for his first game back in Miami​

Jayson Tatum suffers ankle injury as Celtics beat Kings​

Jayson Tatum injury: Damontas Sabonis offers apology​

Court Sense: The Celtics enter silly season​

Bill Chisholm felt ‘incredible’ watching the Celtics Monday night​

Celtics Green Comments from the Other Side - Kings 3/24/25​

CelticsBlog 10 takeaways from a disciplined Celtics effort against the Kings​

Next Boston Celtics owner, William Chisholm, attends Celtics/Kings game​

Celtics should be extra cautious coming down the stretch ​

CLNS Media Jayson Tatum Injury Comes at Bad Time for Celtics Hitting Stride ​

Celtics .com Keys to the Game: Celtics 113, Kings 95​

Celtics Win in Sacramento, But Lose Tatum to Ankle Sprain ​

CBS Boston New Celtics owner Bill Chisholm met with team in Sacramento, shared his message with Boston fans ​

NBC Sports Boston ‘Celtics City’ beyond the episode: Larry Bird ushers in new era ​

Celtics-Kings takeaways: Tatum stars in 113-95 win despite ankle injury ​

Jrue Holiday makes strong case for Payton Pritchard to win Sixth Man award ​

Jayson Tatum injury: Latest updates on Celtics star’s ankle​

NESN Three Studs, Three Duds As Celtics Overcome Jayson Tatum Injury Scare​

Celtics’ Jayson Tatum Shares Update After Exiting Game With Injury​

How Kings Big Man Explained Play That Injured Jayson Tatum​

Celtics Insider Shares Crucial Update On Jayson Tatum’s Status​

Mass Live 4 takeaways as Boston Celtics beat Kings after Jayson Tatum injury​

Celtics coach gives Jayson Tatum injury update after dangerous foul ​

4 takeaways from Celtics City Episode 4 ‘Great Hope, Period’ ​

New Celtics owner Bill Chisholm reveals message he gave team amid Kings win ​

Current Boston Celtics co-owner praises Bill Chisholm after record sale ​

‘I feel horrible.’ Kings star apologizes for foul that injured Jayson Tatum​

Bronny James drops career-high points in G League ​

The Athletic How will new Celtics owner Bill Chisholm handle spotlight? And more questions​

NBA Power Rankings: Thunder claim top spot; Warriors join contenders; Pacers rise ​

Hardwood Houdini It only took one half for Luke Kornet to prove insane reality nobody expected​

This Jayson Tatum ankle injury update should be music to Celtics fans’ ears​

Domantas Sabonis just spoke about injuring Jayson Tatum in Celtics vs. Kings​

Celtics Wire How the Celtics’ new owner may navigate the 2nd apron with Yossi Gozlan​

Celtics wallop Kings 113-95 despite Tatum ankle injury in the third​

What is the one thing that could prevent a Celtics title in 2025?​

Could Jrue Holiday be the Celtics biggest concern in the NBA Playoffs?​

Celtics history: Career highs from Rozier, Bradley; Wynder signed​

What we know about Jayson Tatum ankle sprain in Celtics win vs. Kings​

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla gives update on Jayson Tatum’s ankle​

Boston Sports Journal BSJ Game Report: Celtics 113, Kings 95 - Tatum hurt as C’s pull away from Sacramento​

Video breakdown: How Luke Kornet is owning the offensive glass​

CLNS Media/YouTube Joe Mazzulla: Jayson Tatum Ankle Injury Update | Celtics vs Kings ​

Domantas Sabonis Apologizes to Jayson Tatum for Injury | Celtics vs Kings ​

Essentially Sports Broadcasters Detail Bench’s Immediate Reaction to Jayson Tatum Injury as Refs’ Failure to Protect Celtics Star Scrutinized ​

The Spun Jaylen Brown Explains Why LeBron James Hasn’t Surpassed Michael Jordan ​

Bleacher Report Jayson Tatum ‘Sore’ After Ankle Sprain, Says Celtics Will Be ‘Cautious’ With Injury​

2025 NBA Free Agency: Predicting Every Team’s Most Likely Flight Risk​

SI .com Jayson Tatum Suffers Injury Scare in Celtics-Kings Game​

Joe Mazzulla on the Celtics Stay Ready Crew: ‘It’s a Testament to Them and the Coaching Staff’ ​

Multiple Former Players Call Out Brandon Jennings Over Ridiculous NBA Claims​

Kings Three-Point Struggles Continue in Blowout Loss to Celtics​

Chowder and Champions Injury-Prone Celtics Star Will be Boston’s Playoff X-Factor​

Fadeaway World Boston Celtics May Trade Two Stars To Avoid Paying Massive Luxury Tax​

Motorcycle Sports Bill Chisholm claims the historic Celtics franchise as his wife reveals private conversation about Joe Mazzulla and bold pledge to Boston​

Barstool Sports The Only Thing That Matters Now For The Rest Of The Celtics Season Is The Health Of Jayson Tatum’s Ankle ​

Heavy Tatum Fans Hold Their Breath​

ESPN Celtics’ Jayson Tatum says sprained left ankle ‘just sore’​

NBA Analysis Joe Mazzulla change on the Boston Celtics laid bare, they are showing up the rest of the NBA​

Lakers Daily Former NBA players agree that Payton Pritchard is better than Austin Reaves ​

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/3/25/24393916/boston-celtics-daily-links-3-25-25

 

[Boston Celtics]

Boston Celtics Daily Links 3/26/25

Baylor Sheierman vs Kings 3/24/25 | Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

All the Celtics news you need in one convenient place.

Herald Celtics sale reportedly could face hurdle for NBA approval​

Globe Boston is getting a BIG3 franchise. Here’s what Ice Cube said.​

Celtics-Suns 3/26/2025 preview: Jayson Tatum injury update​

Boston one of eight new location-based Big3 franchises​

CelticsBlog Miles Norris shooting well for Maine Celtics after signing with Boston ​

Baylor Scheierman’s development is crucial during the Boston Celtics’ final stretch ​

Report: Celtics sale could hit snag due to NBA private equity rules​

Winning road games is the Celtics’ superpower tie NBA record​

The Celtics’ secret to success ties back to players you’ve never heard of (yet) ​

Celtics .com 3/26 Game Preview: Celtics at Suns ​

NESN Why ‘Crazy’ Joe Mazzulla Wanted To ‘Fight’ Celtics’ Jayson Tatum​

Mass Live NBA legend, ex-Celtics guard to coach Boston’s new BIG3 team​

Boston Celtics injury report: Jayson Tatum status upgraded for Suns game ​

Celtics Wire Should the Celtics shut down Jaylen Brown until the playoffs?​

Celtics jersey history No. 13 - Vander Blue (2014)​

What would the Celtics choose to eat in a food-eating contest?​

On Hall of Fame Celtics player, coach, and broadcaster Tommy Heinsohn​

Celtics history: Havlicek drafted, career high assists for Rondo​

Is there a potential snag in the Celtics sale looming?​

Hardwood Houdini Bill Chisholm may have broken NBA rules with Celtics sale, and that’s a problem​

CLNS Media/YouTube Is a Jaylen Brown for Kevin Durant Trade Still Possible? | Garden Report​

How Celtics Might Navigate 2nd Apron Under New Ownership w/ Yossi Gozlan | Celtics Lab ​

Good news on Jayson Tatum? New Celtics Ownership & BIZZARE KD to Boston Rumor | Still Poddable ​

Clutch Points Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla urged Jayson Tatum to shove him like Travis Kelce shoved Andy Reid​

How Jayson Tatum’s injury motivated breakout Celtics rookie vs. Kings​

Celtics’ Jayson Tatum hit with harsh never winning MVP reality check from Jeff Teague​

Sportskeeda Finals MVP Jaylen Brown keeps it 100% real about embracing the challenge of fasting during Ramadan​

SI .com NBA Fans Comment On Boston Celtics Jayson Tatum Announcement​

Celtics Big Man Seen as Top Candidate for Offseason Move​

Jayson Tatum Shared Funny Reason Joe Mazzulla Wants Him to Be More Like Travis Kelce​

Celtics Could Trade Kristaps Porzingis This Summer Following Sale​

Celtics News: NBA Insider Isn’t Celebrating Record Sale Just Yet​

Celtics’ Jrue Holiday Calls Out ‘Rigged’ Sixth Man Voting​

Celtics Provide Major Update on Jayson Tatum’s Ankle Injury​

Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Shades LeBron James in NBA GOAT Debate​

Essentially Sports Jayson Tatum & Celtics Get Massive $50M Respite as NBA’s Latest Announcement Brings Hope for Kristaps Porzingis & 2 Others​

Heavy Boston Celtics’ Playoff Path Has ‘More Trouble Out There’​

Celtics Predicted as Potential Landing Spot for $194 Million Superstar​

The Ringer Can Cooper Flagg Win an MVP? Plus, Khaman Maluach’s Defensive Potential, Al Horford’s Hips, and the Draft Guide Process.​

777 Score Celtics’ Title Defense Rests on Porzingis’ Health for Playoffs​

Bleacher Report Celtics’ Jayson Tatum Gives Ankle Injury Update, Says He’s ‘Feeling Good’ After Sprain​

How Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics Could Swing Blockbuster NBA Offseason Trade​

Axios Scoop: Boston Celtics sale may test NBA’s private equity rules​

NBA Analysis New Celtics owner set the record straight about how he will handle Boston, Mavs fans would be envious​

The Analyst How Two Bench Players are Breaking the NBA ​

Basketball Network Jaylen Brown says MJ is only player to capitalize on his image ​

Andscape Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown welcomes ‘mental fortitude’ needed during Ramadan​

Fansided Grade the source: Nick Wright floats wild Kevin Durant-Celtics trade buzz​

Sir Charles in Charge The Boston Celtics are coming for the No. 1 seed in the East​

The Score NBA Power Rankings: Each team’s most improved player ​

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/3/26/24394686/boston-celtics-daily-links-3-26-25

 

[Boston Celtics]

Boston Celtics, sans Jayson Tatum, demolish Phoenix Suns, 132-102

Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images

Tatum wasn’t able to suit up for the Celtics tonight, but his services weren’t necessary against a one-dimensional Suns team

Jayson Tatum may not have been able to take the court, but on Wednesday night against the Phoenix Suns, the Boston Celtics proved themselves more than capable of taking care of business without their superstar forward. Despite a strong performance from Kevin Durant (30 points, 11-of-16 shooting), the Celtics had no problem dispatching their Western Conference foes on the road tonight, picking up a 132-102 win.

Surprisingly questionable to play in tonight’s matchup despite a bad-looking ankle roll suffered against the Sacramento Kings, Tatum was ultimately ruled out of tonight’s contest with a sprain. In his absence, Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis took care of business. Brown provided a spark as Boston’s top offensive option, scoring 24 points, while Porzingis led the team with 30 points on a hyper-efficient 10-of-15 shooting. Devin Booker was Phoenix’s second-leading scorer with 14 points (4-of-13 shooting).

Defense, to put it kindly, was optional in the first quarter of this game. The Celtics scorched the nets from the opening moments, connecting on a whopping 10 threes in the first 12 minutes. But somehow, despite their offensive cohesion, they struggled to build a significant advantage over the Suns. No small factor in that was Durant, who went nuclear in the opening quarter. He scored 16 points, putting on a vintage display in shot-making, and even with a 42-point start to the game, the Celtics entered the second quarter leading by just four, 42-38.

My goodness pic.twitter.com/0J6lHB4Duv

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 27, 2025​

The Celtics continued to cook offensively in the second quarter, but Phoenix did not prove up to the task of keeping pace. The second quarter yielded “only” four Boston triples, but the reduced output in long-range shooting was easily counterbalanced by a reduced impact from Durant. After scoring 16 points in the first quarter, the Suns’ star forward recorded just four in the second, with his first points of the frame not coming until there were less than two minutes to play in the half. Phoenix managed just 16 points in total in the second quarter, and the Celtics entered the halftime break having broken the game open, leading 73-54.

WHY NOT LET IT FLY pic.twitter.com/lTSpf3vM1P

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 27, 2025​

With Tatum sidelined, it was Brown who stepped into the spotlight this evening. He was confident and assertive from the opening minutes and paced the Celtics in scoring throughout, and that trend continued as the second half began. Tasked with preventing the Suns from getting back into the game, Brown threw down a highlight-reel dunk and cashed in on a three (his fourth of the night) to keep the Celtics a step ahead.

Three-pointers helped tell the tale of tonight’s shellacking. The Celtics’ lead eclipsed the 30-point mark in the third quarter, and they did it behind a combination of efficient shooting (18-of-42 from deep through three) and Phoenix’s inability to hit a shot. Even after connecting on a few triples late in the third quarter, the Suns recorded an abysmal 9-of-32 mark on their three-point attempts. The disparity guided the Celtics to a commanding 108-81 lead entering the final quarter.

Move out JB's way pic.twitter.com/MLxXGqVOkk

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 27, 2025​

There was no drama to be found in the fourth quarter tonight. Derrick White, Jrue Holiday and Al Horford were the only Boston starters to take the court in the frame, and their stints were short-lived — plus, perhaps more tellingly, Durant did not see a single minute. The Celtics recorded their 30th road win of the season, while the Suns suffered yet another loss.

Next up, the Celtics’ will proceed onto their fifth of six consecutive road games, traveling to San Antonio for a matchup with the Spurs at 8 PM on NBA TV.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/3/...hoenix-suns-132-102-jaylen-brown-kevin-durant

 

[Boston Celtics]

Boston Celtics Daily Links 3/27/25

Kristaps Porzingis vs Suns 3/26/25 | Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images

All the Celtics news you need in one convenient place.

Herald As Jayson Tatum sits, Celtics throttle Suns for seventh straight win​

‘Celtics City’ turns spotlight on legends​

Globe What Brad Stevens said about Celtics’ sale, future of roster​

Kristaps Porzingis drops 30 as Celtics dominate Suns​

Baylor Scheierman credited former Celtic Rajon Rondo​

Celtics rout Suns with Jayson Tatum on the bench​

Answering questions regarding sale of Celtics​

Brad Stevens on first visit with new Celtics owner Bill Chisholm​

CelticsBlog Boston Celtics, sans Jayson Tatum, demolish Phoenix Suns, 132-102 ​

Wyc Grousbeck confirms changes are coming to Celtics ​

Trading for Kevin Durant would be historically short-sighted​

Celtics-Suns Notebook: Kristaps Porzingis dominates, Jaylen Brown talks extended absence, Jayson Tatum injury update​

10 takeaways from a statement night in the desert against the Suns ​

Celtics Green Comments from the Other Side - Suns 3/26/25 ​

CLNS Media Celtics Balanced Attack Leads to Seventh Straight Win ​

Jaylen Brown and Celtics Pushing Through Pain as Playoffs Loom​

Celtics .com Keys to the Game: Celtics 132, Suns 102​

Celtics Blaze Past Suns with 30-Point Win ​

NBC Sports Boston Celtics-Suns takeaways: Kristaps Porzingis leads 132-102 rout without Jayson Tatum ​

NBA playoff race: Three teams in mix for Celtics’ first-round opponnt ​

How Celtics can make history as one of NBA’s best road teams ever ​

CBS Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown reveals he’s on a minutes restriction due to lingering knee injury ​

NESN What Brad Stevens Wants From Bill Chisholm, Wyc Grousbeck Amid Change​

NBA Rumors: Celtics Might Have Issue To Address Before Sale Approval​

Three Studs, Three Duds From Celtics Dismantling Suns To Extend Streak​

Hardwood Houdini Celtics offense doesn’t need Jayson Tatum - he simply perfected it​

Mass Live 4 takeaways as Boston Celtics crush Suns despite missing Jayson Tatum ​

Boston Celtics star praises Jayson Tatum for being ‘outlier’ in current age ​

Jaylen Brown injury: Boston Celtics star reveals challenge of knee issue ​

Kevin Durant questions Suns strategy against Boston Celtics after ugly rout​

The Athletic Brad Stevens expecting ‘business as usual’ amid Celtics’ ownership transition ​

Celtics rookie Baylor Scheierman stayed confident and now is ‘coming into his own’ ​

NBA All-Surprise Team: Norm Powell, Evan Mobley and other bright spots ​

Boston Sports Journal Completed Q&A: Karalis on Celtics/NBA, Wednesday 03.26.25​

BSJ Game Report: Celtics 132, Suns 102 - Brown, Porzingis dominate as C’s win seventh straight​

Celtics Wire After their skid, are the Cavaliers still a threat to the Celtics?​

Celtics history: Ed Pinckney, Danny Fortson born​

Why Jayson Tatum missing a Celtics game vs. Suns as questionable is good​

Kristaps Porzingis scores 30 as the Celtics defeat Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns 132-102​

Celtics jersey history No. 13 - James Young (2014-17)​

CLNS Media/YouTube Joe Mazzulla: We Have ‘RESPONSIBILITY’ to Celtics Fan Base | Postgame Interview 3-26​

Jaylen Brown: “My body doesn’t feel 100%” | Celtics vs Suns Postgame Interview​

Kristaps Porzingis on Health: “Working My Way Back ... Overall Better.” | Celtics Postgame ​

Jayson Tatum & Jaylen Brown INJURY UPDATE + Notes From Celtics win vs Suns | You Got Boston​

ESPN MVP, Sixth Man and DPOY: Answering the biggest NBA Awards questions ​

Too many 3-pointers? Why the NBA doesn’t think it’s an issue ​

Athlon Sports Kevin Durant Sends Clear Celtics Message After Trade Report ​

Jayson Tatum Doesn’t Hold Back Opinion on Cooper Flagg ​

Celtics Send Clear Message to Jason Kelce, Travis Kelce After Interviewing Jayson Tatum​

Basketball Network Tatum praises Al Horford’s leadership and professionalism ​

YouTube Celtics Weekly: Road Dogs rise, three-point record in reach | March 26, 2025 ​

Daily Campus Tyler’s Take: Breaking down the odds of the Boston Celtics becoming back-to-back champions ​

Audacy Takeaways: Celtics blow out Suns, tie season-long win streak​

Fansided Bill Simmons galaxy-brain plan would pair Cooper Flagg and Jayson Tatum in Boston during their primes​

NBA Power Rankings: Which East teams need a deep playoff run most?​

Barstool Sports The Celtics Had One Of Their Most Impressive Belt To A** Showings Of The Season And Have Suddenly Won 7 In A Row ​

Essentially Sports Jaylen Brown Confirms Mental Battle Before Playoffs as He Issues Public Plea to Kristaps Porzingis​

Bright Side of the Sun Game Recap: Celtics’ barrage of threes proves too much for Suns to handle in 132-102 loss ​

Last Word on Sports Crucial Stat Highlights Kristaps Porziņģis’ Defensive Impact ​

SI .com Celtics GM Brad Stevens Breaks Silence on New Ownership​

Phoenix Suns HC Reacts to Boston Celtics Blowout​

Boston Celtics Demolish Phoenix Suns to End Winning Streak​

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/3/27/24395391/boston-celtics-daily-links-3-27-25

 

[Boston Celtics]

16 potential Celtics targets to watch in the Sweet 16

If you like 6-foot-9-inch point guards who can create for both themselves and others, keep an eye on Egor Demin. | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

With the NBA Draft approaching, here are some names to know.

If you’re a basketball fan, there’s a pretty good chance you know about Cooper Flagg.

You also know it’s highly unlikely Flagg will join the Celtics next year, barring a truly stunning twist or a blockbuster trade.

However, there are plenty of other stars playing in the Sweet 16 of March Madness that could be ideal fits in Boston. Here’s a closer look at some of those names, in viewing order from Thursday to Friday, with an eye toward the NBA Draft.

Egor Demin, BYU — Demin seems like a Celtic to me. A 6-foot-9-inch combo guard who is probably best at the point, he has an elite feel for the game and makes his teammates better. Shooting is a legitimate concern (28.1 percent from 3), but he’s averaging 5.4 assists and is good for a couple magical dimes a game.

Egor Demin was vs. the Badgers pic.twitter.com/lOWVlkRiGW

— Ben Criddle (@CriddleBenjamin) March 24, 2025​

Labaron Philon, Alabama — He’s electric with the ball in his hands and has a little bit of Tyrese Maxey in him. On a veteran Crimson Tide team, the freshman Philon has earned a starting role and emerged as a catalyst. He’s averaging 3.7 assists per game, is a pest defensively and pairs well with star guard Mark Sears.

Mark Sears, Alabama — There’s some debate about whether Sears has what it takes to play in the NBA, but anyone who averages 18.6 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds, has that kind of basketball IQ and finishes with the best of them can play for my team. Jalen Brunson is the obvious comparison. Sears’ ceiling may not be as high, but he’s a winner who plays with an edge.

Derik Queen, Maryland – Queen, an overpowering, 6-foot-10-inch, 240-pound freshman center, immediately cemented his spot in March Madness lore with a buzzer-beater against Colorado State. He’s averaging 16.2 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 52.9 percent from the floor. Queen has elite footwork in the paint and plenty of finesse to match his undeniable power. The Celtics would likely have to trade up to get him, but he could fill a need.

Derik Queen had an excellent weekend at the NCAA tournament, showing off his diverse skill set and aggressive mentality. He made a pair of 3s, was a significant target in pick-and-roll, and created his own shot and finished skillfully around the basket with impressive touch. pic.twitter.com/jbgdwhEdZ6

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) March 25, 2025​

Alex Condon, Florida — Condon is 6’11, but he plays like he’s 7’2. He has some Donovan Clingan in him, though he isn’t quite as dominant or menacing. He has a bit of an unconventional style, but he’s effective both inside and out and is averaging 1.4 blocks per game. At a minimum, he could provide depth long term; his ceiling, however, is quite high.

Walter Clayton Jr., Florida — Much like many players on this list, Clayton started his career at a small school (Iona) and has since broken out on a big stage. He’s averaging 17.9 points, 4.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds and is someone you want to have the ball in the game’s defining moments. There are some questions about how his game will translate, but he could provide a lift as a physical and savvy backup guard.

Kon Knueppel, Duke — Flagg is without question Duke’s best player, but he has plenty of help on a star-studded roster. It starts with Knueppel, a sharpshooting freshman who’s both taller (6’7) and tougher than he looks. He’s another player the Celtics would likely need to trade up to get, so it’s unlikely it would happen. Even so, he’s worth keeping an eye on as someone who should have a long and fruitful NBA career.

#Duke freshman Kon Knueppel a name that is trending up for me after catching up on film #NBADraft

+ Stays active with relocating to create good looks
+ Even if initial attempt isn't there, stays alert to balance the floor
+ Understands importance of spacing & creating windows… pic.twitter.com/IqAQASzKIs

— Tyler Rucker (@tyler_rucker) March 26, 2025​

Khaman Maluach, Duke — Maluach, a 7-foot-2-inch, 250-pound center is projected to go early in the first round, but we can’t eliminate the Celtics as a possibility entirely when Brad Stevens is involved. Maluach is a force at the rim, averaging 1.2 blocks per game, but he also shoots 77.6 percent from the free-throw line – an impressive mark for someone his size. He has high floor and a high ceiling.

Isaiah Evans, Duke — Out of all the options on Duke, Evans may be the most realistic and ultimately the best fit. The Celtics could use another wing, and Evans is a knockdown shooter with a great feel for the game. He’s shooting 41.8 percent from 3-point range and is capable of going off at any moment.

Carter Bryant, Arizona — Bryant’s stats (6.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1 assist) aren’t eye-popping, but he has a great NBA build at 6’8, 220, and is still a freshman. He’s shooting 47.6 percent from the floor and 37.4 percent from 3 in 19.1 minutes per game. He projects as a 3-and-D guy who could complement Sam Hauser well long term.

Boogie Fland, Arkansas — Don’t let name fool you; Boogie would be a good pick (sorry, I had to). Arkansas isn’t exactly your typical Cinderella, but as the only double-digit seed left, the Razorbacks are technically the dark horse of this tournament. Fland, who missed part of the season with a thumb injury, is back and quickly finding his groove. A 6-foot-2-inch freshman guard with a great burst, he creates off the dribble and has a knack for drawing doubles and finding open teammates.

"People have gotten WAY too low on him."@KevinOConnorNBA and @ChrisVernonShow on Arkansas' Boogie Fland's draft prospects

(via The Kevin O'Connor Show) pic.twitter.com/SCxZF2freH

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 26, 2025​

Adou Thiero, Arkansas — He followed John Calipari from Kentucky to Arkansas and has shot 54.8 percent in a productive season. Thiero is 6’8 and is capable of bodying centers and sticking with guards as needed. Shooting is an area to monitor, but he gets to the rim with relative ease. The Celtics could use another elite on-ball defender, and Theiro may be a nice fit.

Jase Richardson, Michigan State — His stock is rising daily, but there’s always a chance he could slip to late in the first round and become a steal for a team like the Celtics. Richardson, a 6-foot-3 guard (yes, the son of Jason Richardson), is gaining confidence by the game with the Spartans. He’s shifty, has a great motor and can really shoot it.

Chaz Lanier, Tennessee — The Celtics love shooters who play with a chip on their shoulder and never stop competing. Hello, Chaz Lanier. After four productive years at North Florida, Lanier has become a household name this year. He has one of the most pure jump shots in the country and is also a tenacious on-ball defender. I think he’ll be a good pro for a long time and is someone I could really see playing in Boston.

"He's so talented. He hurts you in transition, he hurts you on the offensive glass."@CoachMarkPope on slowing down Tennessee star Chaz Lanier. pic.twitter.com/peXkk1fb5b

— Jim Rome (@jimrome) March 26, 2025​

Johni Broome, Auburn — Broome is one of the best stories in college basketball. He started his career at Morehead State, transferred to Auburn and has since blossomed into one of the best players in the country. His best asset, in my opinion, is his footwork. He’s one of those players where you know he’s almost always going back to the left, but you still can’t stop it. The next step for him is developing his 3-point shot, but he’s money from inside the arc and a bull in the paint.

Danny Wolf, Michigan — Wolf is one of the more intriguing players here. You can’t teach 7 feet and legit shooting ability. Think Kelly Olynyk meets Tyler Zeller, but with perhaps a bit less craftiness than Kelly (Kelly’s pretty good!). Out of anyone on this list, Wolf may be one of the best fits from a style and personnel standpoint.

Other names to know — Darrion Williams (Texas Tech), Koby Brea (Kentucky), Miles Kelly (Auburn), Milos Uzan (Houston), Trey Kaufman-Renn (Purdue)

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/celtics...aft-march-madness-duke-arizona-michigan-state

 

[Boston Celtics]

Celtvestigation: Which HBO show did Joe Mazzulla try and put Eddie House onto?

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla | Photo by Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images

“Joe rewatched The Sopranos for the 30th time and is recommending it to everyone who says three words to him.” - CelticsBlog’s Daniel Poarch

Throughout this current 14-day Boston Celtics road trip, those of us watching games on NBC Sports Boston have been treated to Eddie House in the color commentary seat. The 2008 NBA champion has been a lot of fun to listen to alongside Drew Carter for the past week or so.

His style differs quite a bit from Brian Scalabrine, Carter’s regular broadcast teammate. House is a man of few words, but when he’s got something to say, it’ll either make you laugh or give a fresh perspective on the game.

So far, we’ve gotten some gems from Eddie, like his rant in garbage time of Monday’s blowout win over the Sacramento Kings. He was explaining to Drew how excited he gets to go to his favorite pizza spot when he’s out in California, but this time, they let him down. He ranted for at least a minute about how poorly the pizza was made on his recent visit, and it was fantastic content at 12:30 a.m.

House had yet another banger during Wednesday’s Celtics win over the Phoenix Suns. Late in the second quarter, he detailed the difference in Joe Mazzulla’s intensity when he’s on and off the court. According to House, Mazzulla is extremely friendly away from the game — so much so that he even recommended that Eddie check out a series on HBO.

Which one, you might ask?

Well, I’m sure Carter was wondering the same thing while the two sat through a pregnant pause on the broadcast, which ended with House taking the “no free plugs” route — and left us all wondering what show Joe Mazzulla has been raving about.

I need to know what HBO series Joe Mazzulla told Eddie House to watch

— Sam LaFrance (@SamLaFranceNBA) March 27, 2025​

It’s time for another Celtvestigation.

HBO has been producing great shows consistently since 1997 (they made some before this, but this was where the genesis seems to be). There are plenty of programs that Joe could’ve suggested to House, but I’ll only touch on a few here.

The Big Boys​

When I pitched this idea to the Celticsblog Slack, I was met with this fantastic take from Daniel Poarch.

“Joe rewatched The Sopranos for the 30th time and is recommending it to everyone who says three words to him.”

Mazzulla being obsessed with “The Sopranos” to this degree would be so on-brand for the Celtics coach. He’s someone who seems as if it’s impossible for him to do anything just halfway — he’s always all in.

Just think back to him saying that he watches “The Town” four times per week.

“How can you go to Fenway and not think about robbing it”-Joe Mazzulla describing his love for the town pic.twitter.com/RDtKUl96QI

— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) April 19, 2024​

It’s not remotely difficult to fathom him being fascinated with the life of Tony Soprano and his multiple “families.”

Plus, he’s half-Italian, after all.

The problem with this being the recommendation he’d give House is that The Sopranos isn’t the sort of show you have to tell someone they should watch. I feel like people are well aware of it and will check it out if they’re interested. They’ve had the better part of 20 years to do so at this point, anyway.

With Mazzulla being someone who has said he’s always thinking of “how to win every single situation or environment,” he could very well be a big fan of “Succession.”

He’d probably revel in watching the Roy children consistently battle to see who would take over Waystar|Royco once Logan Roy steps down from the company.

Just a group of insane people who are always looking to get a leg up on the rest?

Yeah, that has Mazzulla written all over it.

The problem here is that, much like The Sopranos, this was a mega hit. It essentially stopped the world in 2023 when the series came to an end. It was all anyone could talk about.

If Eddie House somehow missed either of these, he’s got to be living under a rock.

The Funny Bones​

Whether he’s intentional about it or not, there’s no doubt that Joe Mazzulla has a sense of humor. He’s delivered laughs at the podium plenty of times. Whether it’s his use of Spider-Man to describe how the Celtics work as a team, his explanation that he was simply wishing an official a “Merry Christmas” during a heated exchange, or his silly dynamic with Scal in pregame interviews, the man is hilarious.

There’s no doubt that he could appreciate a good comedy once in a while.

Could Mazzulla be a fan of “Barry?”

I could picture him being fascinated with the hitman who falls in love with acting. The series has a healthy mix of comedy and drama; it could keep him on his toes as he enjoys a nice laugh.

The show wasn’t as prominent as the big players above, but it still had a decent following. It would be believable, in my opinion, if this was the one that he’d suggested to House.

What if he tried putting Eddie onto “Curb Your Enthusiasm?”

Personally, this is one of my favorite scenarios, mainly because it’s one of my favorite shows.

Having seen the entire series, I feel like there are so many scenarios where Mazzulla could step in for Larry David.

Mind you, Joe is clearly someone with much stronger morals than Larry, but it fits.

Picture this. It’s January 4th, and you’ve just wished Joe a Happy New Year.

He just looks you dead in the eyes and says, “No thanks. You’re too late. After three days, I’m over the whole New Year’s thing.”

If I hadn’t seen Curb, and you told me this happened at a press conference, I’d totally believe you.

Much like The Sopranos and Succession, Curb would be pretty tough to miss. However, there’s a possibility that someone could’ve missed a few of the newer seasons, as they were released years apart.

Realistically, Mazzulla could’ve been telling House about “The White Lotus,” which is in the midst of its third season.

I personally have never seen it, but I know people online have been enjoying the weekly catch-ups with the various guests at the White Lotus resort.

There are plenty of others it could be. Game of Thrones, The Penguin, or perhaps Winning Time. The possibilities are truly endless with the decades of shows that HBO has put out.

What’s your pick for Joe Mazzulla’s HBO rec to Eddie House?

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/3/...x-suns-joe-mazzulla-eddie-house-hbo-max-shows

 

[Boston Celtics]

Sam Hauser’s mom shares how a core childhood lesson molded his Celtics success

Photo by China Wong/NBAE via Getty Images

The undrafted sharpshooter is once again converting above 41% from three-point range. His mother, Stephanie Hauser, isn’t surprised.

From a young age, Sam Hauser was taught by his parents to never, ever worry about his stats.

All that mattered in the Hauser family was the victory.

That’s what his mother, Stephanie Hauser, relayed to CelticsBlog in a conversation earlier this month, in which she reflected on her son’s ascension from an undrafted University of Virginia standout to the major contributor on an NBA championship team.

Both Stephanie and her husband, Dave, played basketball in college. Their kids, Sam, Joey, and Nicole, were all athletes growing up, with Joey currently playing in the G League and Nicole having played college volleyball. And, it was ingrained in the Hauser children from a young age that regardless of the sport, all that mattered was the win.

“As long as there’s a hash mark of a win versus a loss, then as long as you are contributing in a way — doesn’t matter what way, even if you’re just setting screens — that’s ultimately what’s important,” Stephanie explained, recounting the message she hammered home to her children.

Accepting that individual stats don’t matter is easier said than done, but Stephanie recalled how she saw Sam buying into that mindset in real time. In a major high school playoff game, Sam scored just two points while racking up a bunch of blocks and rebounds.

She checked in on her son after the game — and was pleased to see where his head was at despite a poor shooting performance.”

“I did what I could control,” he stated simply, and maintained a good mood after the game.

It’s that mindset that has made Sam Hauser so successful on the Celtics ​

Sam Hauser has been the Celtics’ best three-point shooter throughout his tenure. This season, despite a slow start to the year, he’s once again shooting 41.8% from beyond the arc on the season, recently exploding for 24 points on 8-10 from three against the Trail Blazers on Sunday.

In his entire career — high school, college, G League, and NBA — he has never shot below 40% from three.

Hauser’s role has fluctuated a ton, especially on the Celtics. Some nights, like when he went off for a career-high 33 points on 23 shot attempts against Utah on March 10th, he’s been a focal point of the offense.

Other nights, he’s played more limited minutes and been far less involved; Hauser has attempted 5 shots or fewer in 26 games this season.

You won’t catch him worrying about his shot attempts or point totals, though.

“I know it sounds cliche, but he really doesn’t care which role he needs to play,” Stephanie said. “They’re vying for that championship. It’s really important to him.”

An early love for basketball turned into a massive payday​

This past summer, Hauser’s on-court selflessness and innate shotmaking ability were rewarded with a 4-year, $45 million contract.

Shortly after, he chatted with CelticsBlog about what the contract meant.

“I just played for the love of the game, and this is sometimes just the benefit of that,” he said. “Pretty special that they gave me an opportunity early on when nobody else did, and I just tried to run with it. They believed in me, and I’m just glad I could be here and be with this team and have another chance to win it all.”

Stephanie recalled just how early Sam’s love for the game became evident — and how his first words foreshadowed a lifetime of basketball to come.

“The story I love to tell was when he was about two years old, the first two-word sentence he ever said was ‘Me shooty,’” she said. “He had a little Nerf hoop, and he literally just loved shooting on that little Nerf hoop all day. And that was the first two-word sentence he ever put together.”

“That was the first moment we knew that this was kind of something he just loved to do. He would do it all day long if he would have let him, honestly.”

It clicked for Stephanie that her son might have a future playing basketball years later. In his junior year of high school, Hauser exploded for 16 first-quarter points in a high-stakes game against the three-time defending state champions.

The score entering the second quarter was 16-15, and he had scored all of Stevens Point High School’s points.

Toward the end of his high school career, he began receiving Division I basketball offers and ultimately chose to play at Marquette University. He returned home after preseason training, overwhelmed at the talent gap between the players he competed against in high school, and what awaited him in college.

“He came back, and I remember him saying to us, ‘I don’t know if I can do this. These guys are so good and so fast,’” Stephanie recalled.

How Tony Bennett and a year at Virginia changed everything for Hauser ​

Hauser had a great three-year career at Marquette, averaging 14.9 points per game in his junior season and establishing himself as one of the country’s premier sharpshooters.

He opted to transfer to the University of Virginia for his final season, a decision that his mother attributes a lot of his success to. There, Hauser had the best season of his college career, averaging 16 points per game on 50.3% shooting.

Stephanie believes that the year at Virginia made Sam truly believe in himself and his capabilities. Under head coach Tony Bennett, he played with more confidence than ever before.

“Tony Bennett was, hands down, the difference-maker for Sam,” Stephanie said. “Tony Bennett instilled a belief in Sam that he had a special gift — his ability to shoot the basketball.”

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Sam Hauser celebrates a basketball in an ACC Basketball Tournament game between Virginia and Syracuse in 2021.

At Virginia, the prospect of Hauser continuing his basketball career after college became real. Bennett told the senior that he truly believed he had a chance to play in the pros.

“It’s one thing to have someone say it, but to really feel that they believe it,” Stephanie trailed off. “Tony Bennett believed it. And he instilled that belief in Sam. I think that was the first time, maybe, that Sam really started believing it.”

Hauser went undrafted after college and immediately signed a two-way contract with the Celtics. After a stint in Maine, he began earning bench minutes in Boston and saw his shooting gift carry over to the NBA.

The Celtics’ championship run ​

Hauser’s basketball journey culminated in a championship in June. He was not just a member of the 2023-24 roster; he was one of the team’s key contributors. Hauser shot a team-best 47.8% from three-point range in the NBA Finals and held his own defensively when switched onto then-Mavericks star Luka Doncic on an island.

Stephanie wasn’t surprised to see her son excel defensively, despite the prevailing notion that he was a weak defender.

“This might sound a little bit like mother’s bias, but I never agreed with that assessment. Sam has never been a poor defender.”

She said her son got a chip on his shoulder upon hearing people say that he wouldn’t be able to defend at the next level, and that he’s always maximized his defensive potential: “He might not jump the highest. But he’s extremely smart — very smart. He knows what his drawbacks are, and he uses his brain to make up for them.”

Throughout the journey, Stephanie and Dave stressed to never take any of the success for granted. Last summer, when the discussions about the Celtics potentially going back-to-back began, Stephanie urged her son to just relish the moment.

A few months later, when Hauser suddenly began dealing with back issues, his mother recalled how relevant the family’s live-in-the-moment mindset became.

“You never know what’s ahead,” she said. “Fortunately, with great training staff — and Sam takes such good care of himself — he’s dealing with it and working through it.”

His mother told him not to get discouraged at the uncharacteristic shooting slump.

“I just said to him, just keep shooting, because you know in the end, it will all suddenly end up at around 40%, because your whole life, that’s exactly what’s happened.”

She was right.

In March, Hauser is shooting 45.7% from three to once again bring his season average above 40% — to 41.4%, good for second-best on the Celtics this season.

And, after he set a new NBA career high in scoring earlier this month, his mother immediately called him, his phone ringing during his postgame media availability.

Sam Hauser’s mom called him after his career game during his media availability, and Jrue Holiday informed him

“You can answer it,” Sam told Jrue. “Say hi!” pic.twitter.com/ZPUNmFuVMw

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) March 11, 2025​

Stephanie describes the whole journey as surreal — and she ultimately attributes a lot of her son’s success in Boston to his selfless mindset.

“Sam is the epitome of a team player. He will do whatever role Coach Joe needs him to do on a nightly basis.”

She adds, perhaps most pridefully: “He’s never cared about stats. He just doesn’t care about stats.”

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/3/...ree-point-shooter-virgina-marquette-wisconsin

 

[Boston Celtics]

Boston Celtics (54-19) at San Antonio Spurs (31-41) Game #74 3/29/25

Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images

The Celtics look to win their 8th straight game as they take on the Spurs in San Antonio.

The Celtics continue their season long 6 game road trip with a stop in San Antonio to take on the Spurs. This is the second, and final game between these two teams this season. The Celtics won the first meeting 116-103 in Boston on February 12. The Celtics won the series 2-0 last season.

They are 46-58 overall against the Spurs all time and 22-30 in games played in San Antonio. The Spurs are playing on the first night of back to back games. They are 5-8 in the first of back to back games and they are 2-3 when the first game is at home. The Spurs have a 3 game home win streak going while the Celtics are on a 6 game road win streak.

The Celtics remain 2nd in the East. They are 4.5 games behind 1st place Cleveland, who lost to the Pistons on Friday. They are 8.5 games ahead of 3rd place New York and 11 games ahead of 4th place Indiana. They are 30-7 on the road and 9-1 in their last 10 games. They are 19-8 against Western Conference opponents and they have won their last 7 games.

The Spurs are 13th in the West, 29.5 games behind first place Oklahoma City. They are 4 games behind 10th place Dallas and tied with 12th place Portland. They are 16 games ahead of 15th place Utah. They are 19-16 at home and 5-5 in their last 10 games. They are 11-15 against Eastern Conference teams and have lost their last 2 games.

The Celtics are playing in the 5th game of a 6 game Western road trip. They won the first game in Utah 121-99 on Friday and the second game 129-116 in Portland on Sunday. They then won the 3rd game 113-95 in Sacramento on Monday and the 4th game 132-102 in Phoenix on Wednesday. The trip will finish up in Memphis. After this trip, the Celtics will play 2 at home against Miami and Phoenix. Then it’s back on the road for games at New York and at Orlando. They will finish the season with 2 games against the Charlotte Hornets at home.

The Spurs are playing in the first game of a 3 game home stand. They will play Golden State on Sunday in back to back games and will complete the home stand against Orlando. They play one game at Denver before playing the Cavaliers at home. They then go on a 4 game road trip through Portland, the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State and Phoenix. They finish the season at home against Toronto.

Jayson Tatum sprained his ankle against the Kings on Monday and missed Wednesday’s game at Phoenix. He is expected to be back in the starting lineup for this game. Payton Pritchard has been added to the injury report with left hip flexor tightness and is out for this game. Xavier Tillman (knee) has been upgraded to available for this game. Al Horford was a late addition to the injury with the toe injury and is out for this game.

For the Spurs, Victor Wembanyama is out for the season after undergoing surgery on the deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. Trade deadline addition De’Aaron Fox is also out for the season after undergoing surgery to repair tendon damage to his left pinkie finger. Charles Bassey is out with a knee injury and 2-way player Riley Minix is out with a shoulder injury.

Probable Celtics Starters

PG: Jrue Holiday
SG: Derrick White
SF: Jaylen Brown
PF: Jayson Tatum
C: Kristaps Porzingis

Celtics Reserves
Neemias Queta
Baylor Scheierman
Jordan Walsh
Luke Kornet
Torrey Craig
Sam Hauser

2 Way Players
JD Davison
Drew Peterson
Miles Norris

Injuries/Out
Xavier Tillman (knee) available
Payton Pritchard (hip) out
Al Horford (toe) out
Jayson Tatum (ankle) available

Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla

Probable Spurs Starters

PG: Chris Paul
SG: Stephon Castle
SF: Devin Vassell
PF: Harrison Barnes
C: Bismack Biyombo

Spurs Reserves
Malaki Branham
Julian Champagnie
Keldon Johnson
Sandro Mamukelashvili
Jordan McLaughlin
Jeremy Sochan
Blake Wesley

2-Way Players
David Duke, Jr
Harrison Ingram
Riley Minix

Injuries/Out
Charles Bassey (knee) out
Riley Minix (shoulder) out
De’Aaron Fox (finger) out
Victor Wembanyama (shoulder) out

Head Coach
Gregg Popovich
Mitch Johnson (interim head coach)

Key Matchups

Jaylen Brown vs Devin Vassell
Vassell is averaging 16.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He is shooting 44.3% from the field and 36.3% from beyond the arc. In the first game against the Celtics he finished with 8 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists while shooting 33.3% from the field with no 3 pointers.

Derrick White vs Stephon Castle
Castle is averaging 14.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1 steal per game. He is shooting 45.7% from the field and 36.2% from beyond the arc. In the first game against the Celtics, he finished with 20 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals while shooting 43.8% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc.

Honorable Mention
Jayson Tatum vs Harrison Barnes
Barnes is averaging 11.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. He is shooting 50% from the field and 41.8% from beyond the arc. In the first game against the Celtics, he finished with 14 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists while shooting 38.5% from the field and 25% from beyond the arc.

Keys to the Game
Defense - Defense is the most important key to winning games. The Celtics are 5th with a defensive rating of 110.2 while the Spurs are 25th with a defensive rating of 116.0. The Celtics have to defend in the paint since the Spurs average 48.3 points in the paint per game. They also need to defend the perimeter since the Spurs are 6th in the league, attempting 39.6 threes a game. The Celtics need to make defense a priority and play tough team defense in from start to finish and not let up.

Rebound - The Celtics can’t score if they don’t have the ball, and they will struggle if they give up second chance points to the Spurs. The Celtics are averaging 44.8 rebounds per game while the Spurs are averaging 44.0 rebounds per game. Rebounding takes effort and when the Celtics put out the extra effort on the boards, that tends to spread to other areas of the game as well.

Be Aggressive - The Celtics need to play hard and be the more aggressive team. They have to go after rebounds, loose balls, and 50/50 balls. They have to be aggressive on defense and in getting to the basket. They have to be the team that works harder and wants it more. The Celtics can’t let up on effort because the Spurs are a lottery team. Even the last team in the standings can beat the #1 team if they play harder and are more aggressive.

Move the Ball - The Celtics need to move the ball in order to find the best shot on each possession. When the ball sticks and players try to do too much, the Celtics struggle. They are at their best when they pass the ball and keep it moving. The Celtics are 39-2 when they have more assists than their opponent but just 13-16 when they have fewer assists than their opponent. The Spurs average 29 assists per game while the Celtics average 25.9 assists per game. They need to make an effort to keep the ball moving in this game.

X-Factors
Road Fatigue - The Celtics are playing in the 5th game of a 6 game road trip. After playing 4th games in 6 nights, they have had 2 days off before this game. They have had a lot of travel over several time zones and had to sleep in hotels and play in hostile arenas. They may be gettng somewhat road weary. They need to dig deep and continue to be road dogs in this one.

Officiating - Officiating is always an X-Factor. Every crew officiates differently and teams need to adjust to the way the game is called. Will they call the game evenly or favor the home team? Will they call it tight or let them play? Hopefully we get fair officiating and they let them play and the Celtics focus on playing and not on the officiating.

And make sure to check out CelticsBlog’s Playback stream for a live conversation about the game. To participate, just create a free account, connect your LP sub if you have it, and join our community.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/3/...19-at-san-antonio-spurs-31-41-game-74-3-29-25

 

[Boston Celtics]

Luke Kornet’s dominant game leads Celtics to 121-111 win over Spurs

Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images

Luke Kornet had a career night and dominated San Antonio in the paint.

After destroying the Phoenix Suns in their last matchup, the Celtics continued their west coast road trip against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. Boston continued their impressive play on the road this season, defeating the Spurs 121-111 for their eighth win a row.

Jayson Tatum led the way for the Celtics in this game with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists on 10-22 shooting but this game was dominated by Luke Kornet. Kornet had a double-double tonight with 15 points and a career high 16 rebounds as with the Spurs lack of a center, he was able to dominate the game. Boston as a whole crushed the rounding battle as they out rebounded San Antonio 54-35 which was a big reason for their success.

Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images

Kristaps Porzingis began the game with a three for the Celtics as he got off to one of his patented hot starts. With the Spurs not having Victor Wembanyama, they lacked a true center to stop Boston from getting to the paint at will. The Celtics opened up a 10-1 run halfway through the first quarter but the Spurs were able to keep pace with Boston early on.

Out of a Spurs timeout, the Celtics would open up a quick 12-4 run. Jrue Holiday was key to Boston’s offense success hitting 3 shots from beyond the arc but it was Keldon Johnson that kept San Antonio in the game. After Sam Hauser hit a three on his first shot of the game, the Celtics would end the first quarter with a 36-27 lead.

Boston had a great shooting first quarter going 48% from the field and 47% from three while also dominating the boards with 16 rebounds and picking apart the Spurs defense with 10 assists.

Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images

The second quarter started with a big to big alley oop from Kristaps Porzingis to Luke Kornet while a Sam Hauser midrange pull up forced the Spurs to call a timeout just a minute into the quarter.

Big Big pic.twitter.com/YcrbDF3x59

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 30, 2025​

An interesting note to start the quarter was that both Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum started on the bench. The lineup of White-Hauser-Scheierman-Kornet-Porzingis found success and kept the Celtics lead at double digits. When the starters came back in however, Boston started to look a little a sloppy with a lot of careless turnovers. In response, Jeremy Sochan led the Spurs on a 14-2 to cut the Celtics lead 4 points with four minutes to go in the first half.

Jrue Holiday responded to the run with his fourth three of the half to steady the ship as the Celtics found their groove again on offense and took a 64-52 lead into halftime. Holiday had a big half and was the Celtics leading scorer at the half with 16 points on 6-9 shooting from the field and 4-5 from three.

Smooth finish for Jrue Holiday pic.twitter.com/6A9fjo8Doi

— Danielle Hobeika (@DanielleHobeika) March 30, 2025​

Jayson Tatum had a big half as well with 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists while Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 13 points. The Celtics three point shooting dipped a little bit in the second quarter but they still shot well overall going 52% from the field. Boston continued to dominate the glass as they grabbed 32 rebounds compared to the Spurs 18.

Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images

It took the Celtics a little over three minutes to score their first basket of the second half on a Luke Kornet ally-oop dunk from a Jayson Tatum assist but the Spurs couldn’t take advantage of Boston’s cold shooting. Once they saw a shot go in, the Celtics found their offense led by Kornet continuing to punish the Spurs inside with a put back layup and another ally-oop dunk.

"It's Korn on the lob!" Derrick White throws up the alley oop for Luke Kornet pic.twitter.com/gI270moK6A

— Danielle Hobeika (@DanielleHobeika) March 30, 2025​

After another Spurs timeout, Jrue Holiday picked up where he left off in the first half, hitting his fifth three and completed an alley-oop layup from Derrick White. A 10-3 run by the Celtics opened up a 17 point lead as San Antonio started to get bogged down by Boston’s defense.

After a slow start, Jayson Tatum started to cook towards the end of the end of the third quarter as he got to the free throw line and hit a nasty euro step around the Spurs Blake Wesley with Spurs legend Manu Ginobili in attendence. This Tatum takeover gave the Celtics a 94-81 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Jellyyyyyyyy pic.twitter.com/32svwUjNsn

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 30, 2025​

The fourth quarter began with Jaylen Brown hitting back to back tough twos including a bank shot but the Spurs had a response on the other end for each. A lack of transition defense on the second Spurs basket cut the Celtics lead to 10 and made Joe Mazzulla call a timeout very early in to the quarter.

The bank is open on Saturday night for Jaylen Brown pic.twitter.com/gyxGehfNhU

— Danielle Hobeika (@DanielleHobeika) March 30, 2025​

After a cold stretch for the Celtics, Luke Kornet grabbed his career high 14th rebound to and hit a layup that reignited the offense again. The Spurs started to make a rally midway through the quarter behind Chris Paul turning back the clock and scoring 8 straight points for San Antonio to cut Boston’s lead to 8 points with under five minutes to go.

Although the Spurs started to hit shots, they couldn’t cut Boston’s lead any further as the Celtics matched them basket for basket. With 1:07 to go in the game anf the Celtics up by 10, Kristaps Porzingis missed a three that led to a tough Jayson Tatum rebound and putback layup for the dagger that sealed the Celtics victory.

Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images

The Celtics next matchup and the last game of their west coast road trip is on Monday March 31st against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/3/...-win-over-the-spurs-jayson-tatum-jrue-holiday

 

[Boston Celtics]

Boston Celtics Daily Links 3/30/25

Keldon Johnson vs Celtics 3/29/25 | Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images

All the Celtics news you need in one convenient place.

Herald Celtics defeat Spurs to capture eighth straight victory ​

Globe NBA execs monitoring Porzingis, Holiday as potential cap casualties for Celtics​

Celtics extend win streak, road dominance vs. Spurs: 8 takeaways​

Here’s where Celtics’ road dominance ranks among historic NBA seasons​

Some on Celtics not surprised at Jenkins’s firing​

Celtics clinch the No. 2 seed in the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs with victory against Spurs​

Celtics Green Comments from the Other Side - Spurs 3/29/25 ​

CelticsBlog Luke Kornet’s career year punctuated in win over Spurs ​

Celtics-Spurs notebook: locker room March Madness, Luke Kornet domination, everyone’s playing through injury, plus some Maine Celtics notes ​

Ten takeaways from a ho-hum win on the River Walk ​

CLNS Media Celtics Win 8th Straight...Kornet has Career Night ​

Luke Kornet Shows Why He Can and Should Play in the Playoffs for Celtics ​

Celtics .com Keys to the Game: Celtics 121, Spurs 111 ​

Celtics Dominate Glass in San Antonio, Move to 5-0 on Trip ​

NBC Sports Boston Celtics-Spurs recap: Jayson Tatum leads C’s to eighth straight win​

NESN Celtics Reportedly Willing To Trade Key Starters To Keep Derrick White​

Three Studs, One Dud As Celtics Best Spurs In Widespread Effort​

Mass Live 4 takeaways as Boston Celtics beat Spurs, get career night from reserve big ​

Jayson Tatum makes candid admission about ankle injury after Spurs win​

Boston Celtics chasing NBA history down stretch of season after Spurs win​

Boston Celtics putting unexpected pressure on rival with Spurs win​

Celtics Wire Celtics continue road success for eighth straight victory​

Who should win 6th Man this year - Payton Pritchard, or Malik Beasley?​

Celtics history: Silas’ 10,000th board; Boston hold Heat to 17 baskets​

Will Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday be on the Celtics next season?​

Nets jersey history No. 13 - Enes Freedom (2021-22)​

Boston Sports Journal BSJ Game Report: Celtics 121, Spurs 111 - Tatum, Kornet shine as C’s hold off Spurs in fourth​

Luke Kornet joins the Celtics career-high club by dominating the glass against San Antonio​

NBA Notebook: Who do you want the Celtics to face in the first round of the playoffs?​

Hardwood Houdini NBA teams are preparing to steal Al Horford from the Celtics (again)​

Luke Kornet is putting the Celtics in an absolutely brutal position​

CLNS Media/YouTube Luke Kornet on Evolution of His Game After CAREER NIGHT in Celtics Win vs Spurs | Postgame 3-29 ​

Jrue Holiday NOT WORRIED About Mallet Finger Injury | Celtics vs Spurs Postgame 2-29 ​

Jayson Tatum Heard ‘Pop’ During Ankle Injury: “It was painful, but kind of like a shock factor.” ​

Should we be worried about Jaylen Brown’s knee injury? | You Got Boston Podcast / Noa Dalzell ​

Essentially Sports What Is Luke Kornet’s Ethnicity? Everything to Know About the Celtics Star’s Family Roots, Nationality, and Religion ​

Joe Mazzulla Adds Key Details to Jaylen Brown Injury Update After Celtics HC Takes Unfamiliar Approach Against Spurs ​

Joe Mazzulla Makes Feelings Clear After Clinching Atlantic Division as Celtics Locker Room Mentality Ahead of Playoffs Revealed ​

Luke Kornet Confirms Mindset Change After Kristaps Porzingis’ Trouble as Celtics Hc Reveals Reason for Sudden Alteration ​

Barstool Sports The Last Two Months Of Celtics Basketball Have Been Nothing Short Of Basketball Nirvana ​

Pounding the Rock Highlights: Spurs hang tough with defending champ Celtics with six players in double figures ​

SI .com Jayson Tatum Breaks Silence on Injury After Celtics-Spurs​

NBA Insider Hints at Possible Trades Involving Two Celtics Stars​

Celtics May Have Found New Version of Rajon Rondo​

NBA Analysis Charles Barkley makes ‘zero chance’ claim on LA Lakers, despite Luka Doncic boost, ‘it drives me crazy’​

Sir Charles in Charge NBA Trade Rumors: 2 Boston Celtics ‘most likely’ to be traded this offseason?​

Audacy 8 revealing stats from Boston Celtics’ 8-game winning streak​

Athlon Sports Jayson Tatum Sends 2-Word Message to Chris Paul After Spurs’ Loss to Celtics ​

King James Gospel Disaster awaits: How Cavaliers could lose the No. 1 seed to the hated Celtics​

Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/3/30/24397316/boston-celtics-daily-links-3-30-25