LEBRON JAMES, 76ERS VISITS KNICKS AS PART OF NBA OPENING SLATE

May 11, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half in game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The New York Knicks will tip off the 2026-27 in style, raising their championship banner on Oct. 20 ahead of their home game against LeBron James and the new-look Philadelphia 76ers.

The star-studded affair that also includes Philadelphia's Jaylen Brown and New York's Jalen Brunson at Madison Square Garden is the middle game of three contests on the opening day of the season. The Boston Celtics will visit the Detroit Pistons at 3 p.m. ET, while Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs will host the Oklahoma City at 9:30 p.m. ET in a rematch of the Western Conference finals.

The NBA also unveiled its Christmas Day schedule with five games on tap, highlighted by James facing his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Spurs and Knicks open the day's slate at noon ET, followed by the Miami Heat at Boston, the 76ers at the Lakers, the Thunder at the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets tangling with the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco.

--Field Level Media

LARGEST CONTRACT VALUES | 2026-27 SEASON | NBA

 

THE 'REAL REASON' LEBRON JAMES JOINED THE PHILADELPHIA 76ERS HAS BEEN REVEALED

 

NBA superstar LeBron ‌James turned down four other teams before opting to join the Philadelphia 76ers for a record-extending 24th career season in the league - and the 'real reason' behind his decision has emerged.

From the moment the news broke on Friday, James made one thing abundantly clear in the fourth move of his NBA career. His switch to the 76ers was not about securing one final lucrative payday.

This was proven when details of his new salary were confirmed, with the 41-year-old set to earn far less than he did last season with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Four Teams LeBron Rejected Before Signing With the 76ers

The 76ers beat out competition from the Miami Heat to land James, with many viewing a return to the franchise where he won his first two championships as a fairytale ending. Potential switches to the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and a third spell with the Cleveland Cavaliers were also firmly on the table.

Despite these four sides emerging as genuine contenders for James' signature, Philadelphia’s new-found championship credentials ultimately proved impossible to ignore for LBJ. The four-time NBA champion is prioritising one thing above all else: placing himself in the strongest possible position to compete for his fifth chip.

According to NBA insider Shams Charania, that mindset ultimately separated the 76ers from a host of rival suitors. Speaking on ESPN’s SportsCenter, Charania explained James' pursuit of another ring and why it came before any financial consideration.

"LeBron James put his money where his mouth is because, from the outset of this process, he felt like he wanted happiness," Charania said.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea via Imagn Images

"So what did happiness justify for him? It meant going out somewhere where he can compete for a championship, be a part of a culture and an environment where he feels like he can stay competitive."

Charania added that after weighing up his options, Philadelphia offered the strongest championship chances.

"He felt out of the Cavs, the Heat, the Warriors, the Sixers had the best roster to win a championship, his potential fit championship," Charania said.

Why the 76ers Won the LeBron James Lottery

LeBron James via REUTERS/Amr Alfiky

"I still want to sacrifice," James said as he broke the news on his X account. "I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship."

Several key moments over the past few weeks ultimately led James to swap the Lakers for the 76ers.

The first came away from the court. 76ers president Mike Gansey played a pivotal role in negotiations. Gansey has known the 41-year-old since his high school days, giving Philadelphia an invaluable connection.

Both Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey also spoke to James during his free agency, playing agent for their side.

And Nick Nurse was the only head coach James held discussions with during his free agency, further underlining Philadelphia as his ideal destination.

"The only coach that LeBron James spoke to during this process over the last three and a half weeks, that's Nick Nurse with the Sixers," Charania said.

Yet despite all these factors, Jaylen Brown's trade to the 76ers proved the most decisive of them all.

His blockbuster move from rivals Boston Celtics, in what has become one of the most controversial trades of the 21st century, has transformed the 76ers from a seventh-seeded side into a genuine NBA Championship contender heading into the 2026/27 season.

James' arrival has only strengthened those credentials, with Philadelphia now boasting one of the most star-studded rosters in the NBA.

"The moment he got traded to the Sixers from Boston, a couple days into free agency, the Sixers came onto LeBron James' radar, came on the map," Charania said.

Brown's arrival in Philadelphia has made the 76ers one of the teams with the strongest cores in the league.

Faced with the choice of returning to Cleveland, reuniting with Miami alongside Giannis, linking up with Stephen Curry in Golden State or joining Anthony Edwards in Minnesota, James' decision may have come from left field, but it could also provide him with the strongest opportunity to end his career on the highest possible note by winning a fifth NBA championship.

- Joseph Ryan

CELTICS' JAYLEN BROWN CALLED OUT FOR MAKING EXCUSES AFTER GAME 7 LOSS

Getty
Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks on during introductions prior to a game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at TD Garden on May 02, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts.

It took Jaylen Brown less than 24 hours to start the blame game after he and the Boston Celtics were eliminated from the NBA playoffs.

The 2024 NBA Finals MVP blamed the referees for having “an agenda” against him and compulsively calling offensive fouls against him. He was called for 10 offensive fouls in the seven-game series versus the Philadelphia 76ers, five more than any other player.

“They clearly had an agenda, maybe because I spoke so critical on them in the regular season, so you know, how they responded,” Brown said of the referees.

“Like, we are going to call every—you are going to lead the playoffs in offensive fouls. That was the response from the officiating crew. You could clearly tell.”

Jaylen Brown Gets Called Out

Brown also took issue with Joel Embiid’s “flopping” and suggested that the Sixers star knowingly manipulated the officials in the series.

“Flopping has ruined our league,” Brown said on his Twitch stream. “Joel Embiid is one of the greatest players that has played basketball, but he flops. He knows it too.”

Former NBA All-Star Michael Redd took serious issue with Brown’s comments, urging the Celtics star to “take ownership” for the Game 7 loss rather than making excuses.

“Jaylen Brown is a great player. A great player. Fans just need slightly more right now,” Redd began in his passionate rant on X.

“I need to rewatch game tape, to know if Brown’s right or not, but what I do know is: fans don’t want to hear this the day after losing a G7 as the higher seed.

“They need accountability and ownership of what happened. They need to know you appreciate the gravity and can and will bounce back.

“Then, and only then, can you start diving into who else is to blame and what outside factors might have played a role.”

Redd concluded his message by making it clear that he hadn’t watched the entire Twitch stream and didn’t want to assume the Celtics star didn’t take accountability.

Celtics Blow 3-1 Series Lead

Brown was a -19 on the floor in Games 5, 6 and 7 as the Celtics blew a 3-1 series lead for the first time in franchise history.

The Celtics were outscored by 57 points with Brown on the floor in the final three losses, when he shot 41.8% from the field and 31.6% from three.

Although he finished with a team-high 33 points, including 20 in the second half, in the Game 7 loss, Brown missed four consecutive shots in the final five minutes of the game when the Celtics trailed 97-96. His cold stretch in the end allowed the Sixers to outscore the Celtics, 12-6, in the clutch to come away with a 109-100 win.

- Sai Mohan

JAYLEN BROWN HITS 5 STRAIGHT THREES UNCUT | NOVEMBER 24

 

JOE MAZZULLA SAYS CELTICS UNDER 'ZERO PRESSURE'TO REPEAT

BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics aren't feeling the pressure ahead of the start of their title defense Tuesday night.

With the Celtics set to raise their 18th banner before kicking off the regular season against the New York Knicks, head coach Joe Mazzulla said there's "zero pressure" on Boston to repeat as champions.

"We're all going to be dead soon, and it really doesn't matter anymore. So there's zero pressure," he told reporters Monday. "You have an opportunity to carry the organization forward, to double down on the tradition and history of what this organization has. And what else would you expect than someone expecting you to win all the time?"

The Celtics cruised through the NBA regular season last year -- finishing with the best record in the Eastern Conference by 14 games -- and then went 16-3 in the playoffs. Led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, they are bringing back their entire starting lineup and most of their bench, and are the favorites to win it all again.

"It's not pressure," Mazzulla said. "There's nothing anyone in this circle can do to me that's going to impact my identity and who I am as a person or a coach. We're either going to win or we're not, and 40 years from now, none of you are invited to my funeral and that's it."

The Celtics won 16 NBA titles from 1957 to 1986, with Bill Russell claiming 11 in 13 years. The 1970s teams of Dave Cowens and John Havlicek won a pair, and the Big Three of Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale won three more in the 1980s.

When Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen won it all in 2008, they ended the franchise's longest title drought. They made it back to the NBA Finals two years later, but lost to the Lakers. (The period from 2008 to 2024 was the second-longest drought.)

Celtics guard Payton Pritchard said that to be considered among the Celtics greats, they will need to win another.

"A lot of people can do it once," Pritchard said. "I know a championship's hard, but there's a lot of people who have won one. But winning it multiple times, creating almost like a dynasty, that's hard to do. So that's greatness, and that's something we're trying to achieve."

The quest begins against the Knicks, who have positioned themselves as Boston's top competition in the East after acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges over the summer.

Mazzulla said he thinks his team will be ready.

"I trust who they are. I think they have an understanding of both 'this is what we accomplished' and 'this is what we're trying to do,'" the coach said. "All the intangibles that go into winning should carry over from one season to another season.

"You have to appreciate it. But you've got to know what got you there and if you forget what got you there, you'll never get back."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

- Associated Press 

LOWE: HERE'S THE CODE THE BOSTON CELTICS FINALLY CRACKED TO RAISE BANNER NO. 18

 THE GOOD NEWS for those who don't quite know how to contextualize these Boston Celtics after a dominant-by-any-measure championship season: they will return more or less intact to make another run at it next season, with a chance to cement their place as one of the great teams of the modern era.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are 26 and 27, respectively. Tatum has made first-team All-NBA three straight seasons. Brown made third-team last season and barely missed this season. His steely postseason, crowned with Finals MVP, indicates he might have another level to hit. Boston might not have a traditional MVP centerpiece -- Tatum finished sixth this season and has never finished above fourth in voting -- but if Brown's ascent continues, they could boast two of the top-10 or 12 players over the next few seasons. Tatum might not have hit his ceiling either.

The core players around them, the threads connecting the Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens regimes, are all under contract for next season and in some cases beyond. Only Al Horford, the stalwart whose reacquisition marked the first salvo of the Stevens era, is old in NBA terms. There are what should be smooth extension talks coming for Tatum and Derrick White, and perhaps trickier ones surrounding Sam Hauser and Kristaps Porzingis (later in Porzingis' case). The team will get ultra-expensive. The second apron hems you in. But you live to get a team like this. You pay for it, and figure out the rest later.

The NBA has not had a repeat champion since the Warriors in 2018. Even the Denver Nuggets, with the world's best player, seemed to publicly downplay the importance of repeating -- focusing instead on winning multiple titles over the next decade in San Antonio Spurs-esque fashion.

Boston should take the opposite approach. Chase the repeat. State it as your goal. Break the no-repeat stretch, and your historical standing becomes beyond dispute. If the Celtics stay healthy, they will have everything they need. They should enter next season as favorites.

JAYLEN BROWN TALKS CELTICS GOING UP 2-0 VS. MAVS

 

CELTICS BEAT MAVERICKS 105-98, TAKE 2-0 LEAD IN NBA FINALS AS SERIES HEADS TO DALLAS

AP

 BOSTON (AP) — Jrue Holiday led the scoring. Derrick White added a chase-down block. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown pitched in, too — with their passing and defense.

The Mavericks can stop worrying about who Boston's best player is. Everyone is contributing to the Celtics' quest for an unprecedented 18th NBA championship.

Holiday had 26 points and 11 rebounds, and White sprinted down the court to swat away the Mavericks' last chance on Sunday night as Boston beat Dallas 105-98 to take a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals.

Tatum made up for a rough shooting night with 12 assists and nine rebounds to go with his 18 points. Brown scored 21 with three steals, White had 18 points and three steals, and Payton Pritchard’s only basket of the game was a banked half-courter to beat the third quarter buzzer and give Boston an 83-74 lead.

“That’s why they are the No. 1 team in the NBA with the No. 1 record,” said Mavericks star Luka Doncic, who scored 32 with 11 rebounds and 11 assists — the first NBA Finals triple-double in Dallas franchise history. “They have a lot of great players. Basically, anybody can get off.”

Doncic, who was listed as questionable to play less than two hours before the opening tipoff, had his 10th career playoff triple-double. But he scored only three points in the fourth, converting a three-point play with 1:15 left as Dallas scored nine in a row to cut a 14-point deficit to 103-98.

After Derrick Jones Jr. blocked Tatum's dunk attempt, White ran down the court, joining with Brown to block P.J. Washington's potential dunk. Brown made a layup at the other end, and then Doncic missed a one-footed, running floater from 3-point range with 28 seconds left, ending Dallas' last chance at a comeback.

“It’s not all on him. It’s a team,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said of Doncic, who had been battling chest, knee and ankle injuries. “He put us in a position. He was really good tonight. Unfortunately, we just couldn’t get over the hump. We’ve got to find someone to join Luka and (Kyrie Irving) in that scoring category.”

AP

Games 3 and 4 are Wednesday and Friday in Dallas; Boston has not lost on the road this postseason. It was the ninth time the Celtics have won the opening pair in the NBA Finals: They have won the previous eight, and have never been forced to a Game 7 in any of them.

A day after Kidd attempted to sow dissension in the Celtics locker room by calling Brown — not Tatum, an All-NBA first-teamer — the team's best player, Boston showed why it doesn't matter. The two All-Stars combined to make 2 of 12 3-point attempts, but filled up the box score in other ways.

“How they play together is sacred, and something that can’t be broken,” Holiday said. "I don’t prefer one or the other, I prefer both. Because they’re both superstars, and they're showing it on the biggest stage in the world.”

Kristaps Porzingis limped his way to 12 points for top-seeded Boston. Tatum was 6 for 22 shooting and 1 of 7 from 3-point range; the Celtics were 10 for 39 from long distance overall.

“I’m really tired of hearing about one guy or this guy or that guy and everybody trying to make it out to be anything other than Celtic basketball,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “Everybody that stepped on that court today made winning plays on both ends of the floor.”

Unlike their 107-89 victory in Game 1, when Boston went 7 for 15 from 3-point range in the first quarter to sprint to a 17-point lead, the Celtics missed their first eight attempts from long range on Sunday. Dallas led the entire first quarter.

AP

Tatum was scoreless in the first and had only five at halftime, when he was still 0 for 3 from 3-point range. Boston was still just 5 for 30 from long distance when Pritchard banked in a half-courter at the third-quarter buzzer to give Boston an 83-74 lead.

That excited the crowd, which previously had spent most of its time serenading Irving with boos — and semi-vulgar chants. Before the game, the scoreboard showed Irving's postgame quote from Game 1, where he said he thought the crowd would be louder.

The fans roared.

Irving, who scored 16 points, has lost 12 games in a row against the Celtics.

“A little disappointed in myself not being able to convert a lot more of my opportunities in the lane,” he said. “My teammates look for me to convert a lot of shots and lessen the burden not only on Luka but the entire team.”

- JIMMY GOLEN

CELTICS ROUT MAVERICKS 107-89 IN GAME 1 OF NBA FINALS BEHIND BROWN L, FEATURING PORZINGIS

Porzingis. AP Photo 

 BOSTON (AP) — Kristaps Porzingis didn’t want to make predictions about how his body would respond heading into the NBA Finals after he spent more than a month on the sideline with a calf injury.

Just fine, it turned out.

Jaylen Brown scored 22 points, Porzingis made an immediate impact off the bench and added 20 and the Boston Celtics powered past the Dallas Mavericks 107-89 on Thursday night in Game 1.

Derrick White finished with 15 points for Boston, which led by 29 points in the first half and connected on 16 3-pointers in a powerful start to its quest for an 18th NBA title.

Porzingis, a 7-footer who had been sidelined since April 29, added six rebounds and three blocks in 21 minutes.

“Tonight was affirmation to myself that I’m pretty good,” Porzingis said. "I’m not perfect but I can play like this and I can add to this team.”

The last Celtics player to enter the court for pregame warmups, he said he received a jolt of energy from a home crowd, which erupted when he emerged from the tunnel.

“The adrenaline was pumping through my veins," Porzingis said.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla wasn't concerned about the layoff affecting Porzingis' aggressiveness.

“That’s the KP that helped us get to where we are today,” Mazzulla said. “It doesn’t matter how long the guy is off, he’s going to make plays.”

All-Star Jayson Tatum finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Six players scored in double figures for the Celtics, who host Game 2 on Sunday.

“Getting back to this point and being here is really a big deal,” Tatum said. “But two years ago we won the first game and we know the outcome of that series. We still have a lot of work to do.”

Dallas cut the deficit to eight points in the third quarter, but Boston answered with a 14-0 run to quickly pull away again.

“That's when the game started,” Brown said.

Luka Doncic led Dallas with 30 points. P.J. Washington added 14 points and eight rebounds. But Dallas couldn’t find offensive consistency beyond that, totaling just nine assists on its 35 field goals for the game. The Mavericks didn't score 25 points in any quarter.

Doncic said the lopsided loss wouldn't diminish the spirit of a team that lost the opening game in three of four series this postseason.

“Either you lose or you win,” Doncic said. “First to four, we’ve got to focus on the next game.”

Former Celtic Kyrie Irving struggled throughout, finishing with 12 points. He received a loud and extended chorus of boos Thursday when he was introduced before the game. It continued throughout the game whenever he touched the ball.

The treatment came after Irving sparred with Boston fans and was fined for using an obscene gesture during a 2022 playoff visit to TD Garden.

“I thought it was going to be a little louder in here. I’m expecting the same thing (in Game 2). The crowd’s trying to get me out of my element,” Irving said. “It’s not the first time I’ve lost in Boston. I don’t want to make it a habit.”

The Celtics, seeking their first championship since 2008, showed little rust from their 10-day layoff after sweeping the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals.

They flowed with energy throughout, sharing the ball in the halfcourt and getting the ball to shooters for open 3s. They also attacked the interior of the Dallas defense and got to the rim for several dunks.

Meanwhile, apart from Doncic, who shot 12 of 26 from the field, Dallas struggled early to get into its sets and couldn’t find a consistent groove offensively.

The Mavericks led by one midway through the first quarter. The Celtics responded by outscoring them 44-16 to make it 58-29 in the second.

Things changed over the next 12 minutes of game action when Dallas used a 35-14 run, including 15 points by Doncic, to cut Boston’s lead to 72-64. But the Celtics were back up 86-66 entering the fourth.

Dallas had just five assists through the first three quarters, the fewest any NBA team has had through 36 minutes in any game in the last three seasons.

“We’ve got to move the ball,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “The ball got stuck too much.”

Porzingis ended his 10-game hiatus when he came off the bench with 7:17 left in the first quarter in place of starter Al Horford. With the exception of a white compression sleeve on his right leg, it was hard to tell Porzingis was coming off an injury.

He got into the mix quickly, knocking down a pair of free throws after being fouled by Doncic. A possession later, the Latvian connected in his first field goal when he dropped on a short jumper over Doncic.

He wasn’t done.

Minutes later he got loose in the paint for a two-handed dunk over Derrick Lively. On Dallas’ next possession, Porzingis was there to swat away Jaden Hardy’s layup attempt. The Celtics pushed the ball up the court and got the ball back to their big man, who calmly buried a 16-footer.

It was part of a 17-5 surge by Boston over the final 5:24 of the quarter that saw Porzingis go 4 for 5 from the field, score 11 points, block two shots and grab three rebounds. Boston carried a 37-20 lead into the second quarter.

Porzingis finished the half with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting.

- KYLE HIGHTOWER

CELTICS HANDLE PACERS, TAKE 2-0 EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS LEAD

 BOSTON -- In each of the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Celtics comfortably won Game 1 before dropping Game 2 at home, first against the Miami Heat and then against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

They flipped the script against the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals.

After needing a minor miracle to escape with a Game 1 win at home, when a last-second 3-pointer by Jaylen Brown forced overtime, Brown again ensured this series would be different in Game 2 on Thursday night, finishing with 40 points to power Boston to a 126-110 victory and a 2-0 lead in this best-of-seven affair.

Afterward, Brown, who learned Wednesday that he was edged out by Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton for an All-NBA selection, kept his focus on the main prize when asked about missing out on the honor.

"We're two games from the Finals," he said. "So, honestly, I don't have the time to give a f---."

The Celtics' 2-0 advantage feels more significant in the wake of not only their great escape in Game 1, but with Haliburton exiting Game 2 with a sore left hamstring -- the same hamstring he injured in a home game against the Celtics in January.

Two more victories by the Celtics in this series and they advance to the NBA Finals for the second time in three years. They will have a chance to close the series in Indianapolis after holding home court through two games for the first time since the beginning of last year's first round against the Atlanta Hawks.

And they've done it largely thanks to the play of Brown, who led the charge for a Celtics offense that shot over 50%, went 15-for-37 from 3-point range and finished with a 54-34 edge in points in the paint.

Add in Indiana's 16 turnovers and it became a comfortable victory for Boston. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle played his bench players for most of the fourth quarter as the partisan fans at TD Garden were relieved.

"Just continue to lock in," said Jrue Holiday, who had 15 points and 10 assists with just one turnover in 37 minutes. "We know that these guys coming off the bench, second and third string, this is their chance to make anything happen. ... We know on the big stage anything can happen and guys can make plays, so we really wanted to set the tone and control the game toward the end of the game."

Before Haliburton's injury in the third quarter, it appeared a Celtics injury would be the most significant. Luke Kornet, who has served as Boston's primary backup center with Kristaps Porzingis sidelined, left in the first quarter with a left wrist sprain. That forced Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla to go with small lineups whenever Al Horford was off the court.

For a brief stretch at the end of the first half and another in the fourth, those groups featured Jayson Tatum at center. Most of the time, however, it was reserve forward Oshae Brissett -- who had five appearances with five or fewer minutes through the first 11 games of the playoffs -- operating at center.

That lineup, in particular, helped open the game up in the third quarter, when the Celtics outscored the Pacers by six over the final five minutes after Brissett put together what became a plus-18 performance in 12 minutes.

"I'm happy to see that," Holiday said of Brissett, who spent the past three years with Indiana before signing with Boston in the offseason. "He stays ready. He hasn't seen many minutes this postseason, probably didn't play as much as he wanted to in the regular season, but that's part of sacrificing and staying ready."

Tatum added: "It was great. Just the energy he came in with at both ends, just find a way to impact the game. We see the 'stay ready' group guys work and show up for us every single day, so I love when they're able to get their number called and help us win the game."

As the series shifts to Indiana, the Celtics are hoping their success on the road -- the one trend that has carried through the first two rounds of the playoffs, with Boston 4-0 away from TD Garden -- will continue at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. If it does, the Celtics will get a full 10 days off before the start of the NBA Finals on June 6 in Boston and will likely spend several days watching the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks duke it out in the Western Conference finals.

If there's any team that knows not to take anything for granted in the playoffs, however, it is Boston, which has repeatedly played in one long series after another.

"The only thing we should be thinking about is, they were down 2-0 a series ago and brought it to Game 7," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said, referring to the Pacers' series against the Knicks. "They do a great job protecting their home court. They're undefeated at home. It's gonna take a lot more than confidence to get the job done.

"We have to focus on the details and the execution and the mindset, the things that go into playing against a team like this at home. I know they're gonna respond so it's up to us to do the same."

- Tim Bontemps, ESPN

JAYSON TATUM SCORES 33 POINTS, CELTICS REBOUND FROM LISS TO BEAT CAVS 106-93 FOR 2-1 SERIES LEAD

AP Photo 

 CLEVELAND (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 33 points, Jaylen Brown added 28 and the Boston Celtics looked more like themselves after stumbling at home, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 106-93 on Saturday night in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The top-seeded Celtics didn't mess around after dropping Game 2 on their home parquet floor by 24.

That lackluster performance — Boston was favored by double digits — was reminiscent of the first round, when the Celtics lost Game 2 against Miami before winning three in a row to eliminate the Heat.

“We just wanted to bounce back,” said Tatum, who added 13 rebounds. “Disappointing loss the other night, coming into a hostile environment on the road. It was a good test for us to see how we respond.”

Tatum scored on a three-point play and the Celtics opened the second half with 14 straight points to take a 23-point lead.

That was way too much for the Cavs, who overcame a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter to stun Boston in March.

Donovan Mitchell scored 33 points for Cleveland, but the All-Star guard aggravated a left knee injury in the fourth quarter and was labored. With Boston up 13 and in control, Mitchell left the court with 1:19 left and walked directly to the locker room.

Cleveland got within nine three times in the fourth but the Celtics, who went just 8 of 35 on 3-pointers in Game 2, got back-to-back 3s from Payton Pritchard and Derrick White to stave off the Cavs' comeback.

AP Photo 

Game 4 is Monday night in Cleveland.

Down by 23 and unable to stop Tatum, the Cavs clawed back.

They cut Boston's lead to 15 by the end of the third, and scored the first six points in the fourth, sending their towel-waving crowd at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse looking for another upset into a frenzy.

But whenever the Celtics needed a bucket, they went to either Tatum or Brown, who broke down Cleveland's defense for layups or made tough, contested jumpers.

Evan Mobley added 17 points and Darius Garland and Caris LeVert 15 apiece for the Cavs, who lost for the first time at home in these playoffs.

Cleveland was again without starting center Jarrett Allen, who missed his sixth straight game with a painful rib injury. Allen has been out since Game 4 of the opening-round series against Orlando and there's no telling when — or if — he'll be available.

Mitchell made six 3-pointers and scored 23 in the first half to pace the Cavs, but Cleveland didn't get nearly enough from the rest of its starters or bench as the Celtics opened a 57-48 halftime lead.

After the Celtics were stunned on their home floor in Game 2 despite being heavy favorites, coach Joe Mazzulla said the message to his players heading into Game 3 was simple.

“Do what you do best, and do it better,” he said.

The Celtics started cold again, missing their first two 3-pointers before making 5 of 8 to take a 30-28 lead after one.

Cleveland got a nice early lift as forward Dean Wade made his postseason debut after missing the past two months with a sprained knee. Wade, who scored a career-high 23 against Boston on March 5 when the Cavs overcame a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter, knocked down a 3-pointer on his first touch.

Boston center Kristaps Porzingis missed his fourth straight game with a calf strain.

- TOM WITHERS

JALEN BROWN, 26, MAKES THINGS OFFICIAL WITH GIRLFRIEND BERNICE BURGOS, 42: A CLOSER LOOK AT THEIR RELATIONSHIP

Jaylen Brown, 26, makes things official with his girlfriend Bernice Burgos, 42: A Closer Look at Their Relationship.

 Jaylen Brown is a rising star in professional basketball, noted for his excellent on-court skills as a crucial player for the Boston Celtics. Brown, only 26 years old, has already made a huge impact in the NBA, winning awards and recognition for his talent and passion to the sport. Brown’s personal life has also received notice, particularly his connection with Bernice Burgos, a 42-year-old model and entrepreneur.

The news of Brown’s relationship with Burgos, who is 16 years his senior, broke on social media, piqueing fans’ and followers’ interest and conjecture. While the couple had been photographed together in public on multiple occasions, they had generally kept their relationship under wraps, leaving many people curious about the nature of their relationship.

As rumors circulated, Brown and Burgos decided to make a public appearance together at a high-profile event to officially announce their relationship. The sight of the couple going hand in hand and smiling for the cameras confirmed what many suspected: they were romantically involved.

The news of Brown and Burgos’ romance instantly made headlines, with media outlets and fans both surprised and intrigued by the unusual combination. While some praised the couple’s chemistry and suitability, others questioned their age gap and speculated on their relationship dynamics.

Brown, who has always been quite guarded about his personal life, took a huge step by publicly revealing his connection with Burgos. The basketball player, who is known for his reclusive manner off the court, has rarely discussed his love relationships in the past, preferring to keep his personal life out of the spotlight.

Brown’s decision to reveal his relationship with Burgos to the public, on the other hand, indicates that he is serious about their relationship and is willing to break society conventions and expectations. Despite their age gap, Brown and Burgos look to be happy and pleased in each other’s presence, appreciating the camaraderie they have both on and off the court.

As news of their relationship spreads, fans and followers are anxious to learn more about the couple and the circumstances that brought them together. While Brown and Burgos come from different worlds – he, a professional athlete with a bright future, and she, a seasoned model and entrepreneur – their love for each other transcends age and background, demonstrating that genuine love knows no borders.

In the world of professional athletics, where relationships are frequently scrutinized, Brown and Burgos’ courtship serves as a reminder that love can bloom in the most unexpected places. With their constant support for each other and willingness to embrace their differences, the pair has inspired many, demonstrating that age is only a number when it comes to matters of the heart.

Brown continues to flourish on the basketball court, while Burgos focuses on her many business projects, the couple remains loyal to one another, managing life’s ups and downs with grace and fortitude. Their relationship may have raised questions at first, but as they continue to overcome the odds and prove their doubters wrong, it’s evident that Jaylen Brown and Bernice Burgos are in it for the long haul, prepared to tackle whatever hurdles come their way together

NBA ROUNDUP: THUNDER TOP MAGIC IN BATTLE.OF 2022 DRAFT TALENT

 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points to lead the host Oklahoma City Thunder to a 112-100 win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday night.

The game marked the first regular-season matchup between the Magic's Paolo Banchero and the Thunder's Chet Holmgren, the top two picks in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Banchero finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Holmgren, the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft who missed last season due to a foot injury, had 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

Orlando cut what was a 16-point deficit to six on Cole Anthony's pullup jumper with 2:14 left in the game. Jalen Williams answered with a jumper on the next possession, sparking a 7-0 run for Oklahoma City, which has won four consecutive games and nine of its past 11.

Celtics 145, Rockets 113

Jaylen Brown scored a game-high 32 points and Jayson Tatum finished with 27 to help Boston defeat visiting Houston.

Brown made 11 of his 15 field-goal attempts and was 4-for-6 from 3-point territory. Tatum also had eight rebounds and five assists before he was ejected after his second technical foul with 10:17 to play. The Celtics improved to 19-0 at home.

Cam Whitmore came off the bench to score a team-high 22 points for Houston. Alperen Sengun finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

CELTICS AND BROWN AGREE TO RICHEST DEAL IN NBA HISTORY, REPORTS

 

Reuters 

Jaylen Brown has agreed to a five-year $304 million supermax contract extension with the Boston Celtics that will make the forward the highest paid player in the NBA, according to multiple media reports on Tuesday.

GIANNIS GETS HEATED WITH JAYLEN BROWN

JAYLEN BROW POST GAME 6 INTERVIEW | NBA FINALS 2022

JAYLEN BROWN & JASON TATUM DROPPED COMBINED 47 POINTS FOR CELTICS