We are not making it all up in our heads, thinking well of Kris Dunn because we want to: he has real talents to bring, and a body that for the time being will allow him to use them. 8 spot with a big chunk of games to go. In their first game back since the All-Star break, the Celtics were fully healthy and were able to push past the Pacers with a 142-138 overtime victory. ET). Please enter valid email address to continue. His deep attack has been meh all season (a career-low 35.1 percent), but it's been especially brutal over the last three games. With the Hawks just a game and a half ahead of the Wizards for eighth in the East, those games could decide Washington's postseason fate.-- Youngmisuk, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has missed the Thunder's past three games with what the team is now calling an abdominal strain, and Oklahoma City's record has gone down with him. His comeback could be critical to Dallas' hopes of a playoff run, as Kleber is the Mavs' most essential defender. Jayson Tatum scores 31, including a spinning layup that beats the buzzer, as Boston withstands 39 points from Kyrie Irving to win a thrilling series opener. The problem is the Clippers are in a difficult stretch playing West playoff contenders and head to Golden State and Sacramento next.-- Youngmisuk, Forward/center Maxi Kleber, who has been sidelined since tearing his hamstring in a mid-December practice, returned Tuesday night against the Pacers. With the two teams neck-and-neck in the East standings, their March 30 tilt in Milwaukee could ultimately decide the 1-seed in the conference. Jaylen Brown added 23 points and five assists for the Celtics in the victory, while Kevin Durant tallied 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Nets. The Magic have two big tests against the Milwaukee Bucks over the next week and need to find more consistency down the stretch to push into the play-In conversation.-- Friedell, Tyrese Haliburton collected double-digit assists in each of his first two games out of the All-Star break. Juwan Morgan re-signed to a multi-year contract as a free agent with the Boston Celtics on April 9, 2022. Thanks to the team's depth (mostly Derrick White and Malcolm Brogdon), the Celtics were 2-1 in those contests. The other side of Brooklyn's trade deadline moves could soon cause turbulence in the Western Conference, too, as Durant is expected to make his debut for the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets. Jayson Tatum scores 31 including the game-winning layup to stun Brooklyn and spoil Kyrie Irving's big game (39 points). ET). WebKeys to the Game: Celtics 110, 76ers 107 2/25 Putnam Pregame Interview: Skys The Limit Man in the Mask Rises to the Task: JB Leads Cs Past Pacers in Return 2/23 Putnam Despite some impressive moments from young players, the Nets haven't avoided the expected consequences of trading away Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, having lost seven of their past nine games, and are in danger of falling into the play-in tournament. Duality underpins practically everything about the brief existence of the KD, Harden and Kyrie Nets. Not what you'd expect from a guy who was in the 3-point contest. Jaylen Brown added 22 points, four rebounds and six assists for the Celtics in the victory, while Kevin Durant (27 points, 4-17 FG) and Kyrie Irving (10 points, 4-13 FG) combined for 37 points for the Nets. Barry Chin/Globe Staff. Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during overtime of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022, in Cleveland. The Cs promoted Joe Mazzulla from interim coach to full-time coach right before the All-Star break, which signaled the end of the Udoka era in Boston. But it also makes one wonder how much better they could be if they can figure out that end of the court. Dallas has allowed 108.3 points per 100 possessions with Kleber on the floor this season and 116.2 without him.-- MacMahon, Miami dropped four straight before Jimmy Butler pulled them across the finish line against the Sixers on Monday night. This season, the Celtics currently rank 11th at 3-point defense, with opponents hitting 35.6 percent of their attempts. Odds Shark Staff February 28, 2023. The Boston Celtics tie the series at 1-1 behind an offensive surge in the first half. Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry do exactly what veteran stars need to do in a must-win Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, Celtics edge Heat in dramatic Game 7, make Finals, 5 takeaways from Celtics' Game 7 win in East finals, Butler's masterpiece helps Heat force Game 7, 5 takeaways from Heat's gritty Game 6 victory, Celtics take over late in Game 5 for 3-2 series lead, Brown's 2nd-half takeover (19 points) fuels Game 5 win, Celtics knot up East Finals with dominant Game 4, 5 takeaways from Celtics' series-tying win vs. Heat, Heat overcome loss of Butler, big lead in Game 3, With Butler out, Heat get defensive to win, 5 takeaways from Celtics' impressive Game 2 win, Smart returns, helps Celtics steal home court, 5 takeaways from Heat's Game 1 win vs. Celtics, Disastrous 3rd quarter derails Celtics in Game 1, From doubters to champs: What's next for Warriors, Ultimate Highlight: Best of the 2022 NBA Finals, Ultimate Highlight: Finals MVP Stephen Curry, 6 takeaways from Warriors' championship victory, Warriors cement place among NBA's greatest dynasties, The Finals Stat: Warriors stifle Celtics again, Warriors championship gear available on NBAStore.com, Best clutch moments from 2022 NBA playoffs, Steph drops mic for signature 'Night Night' pose, Draymond goes viral with message to critics, Warriors Parade: Draymond Green + Andrew Wiggins, Warriors Parade: Steph Curry + Klay Thompson, Warriors Parade: Joe Lacob and Peter Guber. Led by Jayson Tatums 39 points (27 in the 2nd half), along with five rebounds, six assists and a Playoff career-high six steals, the No. The Heat lead this best-of-seven series 1-0, with Game two taking place on Thursday, May 19. Jimmy Butler's scoring barrage, Boston's shorthanded crew comes up short and more takeaways from the opener in the 2022 Eastern Conference finals. Previous rankings: Week 1| Week 2 | Week 3| Week 4| Week 5| Week 6| Week 7| Week 8| Week 9| Week 10| Week 11| Week 12| Week 13| Week 14| Week 15| Week 16| Week 17| Week 18, The Bucks have the best record in the NBA thanks to their 15-game winning streak, the fourth longest in franchise history and their longest since winning 18 straight in 2019. On this Lab, we talk improving access to sports with the Beautiful Life Projects Bryce Weiler, training camp deals and more. Kevin Durant will make his debut for Phoenix on Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets, three weeks to the day since Granted, one of the 15 wins came when the Bucks barely squeaked out a home victory against a Celtics team that was playing without Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, and Al Horford, but it was a win nonetheless. Settle in and check out all 6 Chasing History segments from Golden State's run to the championship in the 2022 NBA Finals. Find out the latest on your favorite Showing Editorial results for 2 pick in 2021 and No. WebChasing History: Celtics win Game 7 to reach Finals. The Blazers have lost six of nine and have to find a way to take advantage of the Lakers losing James for an extended period of time. The playoff percentages favor the Nets, but if I was betting on this futures market, Id fade Brooklyn. Jaylen Brown was selected as the #3 pick in the First Round of the 2016 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. But with the way the Bucks are playing right now, it'd be much better to have a deciding game take place in Boston. Confirm that your trade proposal is valid according to the NBA collective bargaining agreement. Barry Chin/Globe Staff. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. They follow it up with another Celtics matchup on March 6. After such a dominant start, a 9-6 record over their last 15 games is slightly worrisome for the Celtics. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Accessibility and Closed Captions | Do Not Sell My Personal InformationCopyright 2023 NBA Media Ventures, LLC.All rights reserved. https://t.co/6pYCCrLZzP, The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) September 27, 2021. Sam Hauser signed a multi-year contract as a free agent with the Boston Celtics on February 11, 2022. Luke Kornet signed a contract as a free agent with the Boston Celtics on February 11, 2022. 2023 Getty Images. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. In the offseason, head coach Ime Udoka was suspended until June 30, 2023 for a violation of the team's code of conduct, after a Four of those games will come against playoff teams in the East (with the Nets and the Knicks coming to Boston, plus home and road tilts against the Cavaliers). Boston's dominant start to the season is a thing of the past, and now, so is their lead atop the Eastern Conference. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. Heat's next steps after narrowly missing Finals? And their 3-2 stretch over the last two weeks is just scratching the surface of those concerns. State of Nets entering offseason, Isiah: Nets' 1st-round flameout an 'epic failure', Nets fall short of Finals expectations this season, How Celtics kept Durant off balance yet again, Tatum: Mental toughness key to Celtics' 3-0 lead, Tatum scores 14 of 39 points in 4th quarter, Smart, Celtics set the tone defensively in Game 3, Full Focus: Brown, Tatum highlight Celtics' comeback, Veterans Horford, Theis give Celtics extra edge, NBABreakdown: Celtics game-winning sequence, Robert Horry uses 'Horry Scale,' rates Tatums shot, Smart receives DPOY award from Gary Payton, 5 takeaways from Celtics' impressive Game 3 win, Celtics take over late for big Game 2 victory, 5 takeaways from Boston's lockdown Game 2 finish, Celtics triumph as Tatum hits epic buzzer-beater, 5 takeaways from wild Celtics-Nets opener, Tatum lays in game-winner to defeat the Nets, From doubters to champs: What's next for Warriors, Ultimate Highlight: Best of the 2022 NBA Finals, Ultimate Highlight: Finals MVP Stephen Curry, 6 takeaways from Warriors' championship victory, Warriors cement place among NBA's greatest dynasties, The Finals Stat: Warriors stifle Celtics again, Curry wins NBA Finals MVP for 1st time in career, Finals MVP Ladder: Curry takes home trophy, Warriors championship gear available on NBAStore.com. Jayson Tatum bounces back from a forgettable Game 3 with a 31-point, 8 rebound performance in Game 4. Bam Adebayo and Jayson Tatum during a Celtics-Heat game in Dec. 2022. Theres way more parity in the Western Conference compared to the East, and as a result, the playoff chances are all skewed. 29-32, 12th in the West, 50% chance to make playoffs. Without further ado, lets take a look at the 2021-22 Boston Celtics roster. Published: Mar. He's had bursts of energy and some bounce on offense, but he's nowhere near the defensive presence he can be for Boston. But Udoka could be back on the NBA sidelines as interested teams come calling for his services. This best-of-seven series is now tied 2-2, with Game five taking place on Wednesday, May 25 (ESPN, 8:30 p.m. When the Nets were looking to replace Steve Nash, they seriously considered hiring Udoka. Boston wins a wild back-and-forth Game 7 against Miami to punch its ticket to the 2022 NBA Finals, where it'll clash with For many of the players, it is the first time in the public eye wearing the Celtics green and white uniforms. What will be keeping Tatum in the MVP conversation is his all-around play. Yet, with a LeBron James injury thats expected to keep their star out for multiple weeks, Im willing to source the largest megaphone I can find and scream FADE! -- Bontemps, The Clippers are playing with better energy, and Kawhi Leonard is back to playing like he was before his ACL injury. The Heat power past the Celtics to take a 2-1 series lead, despite Jimmy Butler exiting early with an injury. Choose the plan that is right for you. I believe the Raptors can still make the postseason (or win out via the play-ins) but Id need good value to bet on it. As always, the race on the fringes is very tight, and there will be plenty of jockeying for a postseason spot or a berth into the play-in tournament. The Nets are still adjusting to life without Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but Mikal Bridges continues to be a bright spot. Turnovers and poor decisions contribute to the 2nd-worst quarter in Celtics playoff history, Boston will need address that ahead of Game 2. Marcus Smart was selected as the #6 pick in the First Round of the 2014 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. The Heat lead this best-of-seven series 2-1, with Game four taking place on Monday, May 23. A big part of this is that Rob Williams hasn't been Rob Williams all season. The site is not associated with nor is it endorsed by any professional or collegiate league, association or team. -- Collier, Charlotte's disappointing season got even sadder Monday night after LaMelo Ball fractured his right ankle during Monday night's win over the Detroit Pistons. Juwan Marcus Smart returns to spark Boston, which uses an efficient and impressive 1st half to put the game out of reach and tie the series, 1-1. 2022 in Boston, MA. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Malik Fitts re-signed to a contract as a free agent with the Boston Celtics on March 5, 2022. After a home game against New Orleans, the Blazers hit the road for a six-game swing.-- Youngmisuk, The Wizards came up with some big defensive stops for a win over Atlanta without Kristaps Porzingis and Monte Morris. The bolded teams are in playoff position. The Celtics werent able to push past the Knicks on Monday night as they hit a shooting slump from beyond the arc. The Celtics are coming off of a loss to the Golden State Warriors in six games in the 2022 NBA Finals the season prior.. In lone season, he led the Cs to a 51-31 record and an NBA Finals berth. "I was having fun out there before I got injured," Durant said. He has 30 games with at least 10 assists, tied for the most such games in the NBA this season. As is the norm, If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Michael Pina. Settle in and check out all 6 Chasing History segments from Golden State's run to the championship in the 2022 NBA Finals. The Thunder have now lost four in a row after losing to Sacramento on Monday and slipped to 13th in the Western Conference playoff standings. After closing out this best-of-seven First Round series 4-0, the Celtics will advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals to face the winner of the Chicago Bulls-Milwaukee Bucks series (Milwaukee currently leads, 3-1). Id recommend a futures bet on Utah to make the postseason. -- McMenamin, Damian Lillard's ridiculous 71-point explosion will be the highlight of the Blazers' season, but Portland followed that up by blowing a 23-point lead in a road loss to Golden State. The Celtics experienced some uncharacteristic shooting in New York Monday night, preventing them from a road-trip sweep. Their defense, on the other hand, has been almost nonexistent. https://celticswire.usatoday.com/lists/nba-boston-celtics-2021-22-media-day-photos/, WATCH: Jaylen Brown playing 3-on-3 ball with Joe Johnson, John Wall, Ben Simmons. Basically, if they play like they did last postseason -- this time with a much deeper and more talented bench -- the sky (or TD Garden rafters) is the limit for this team. Jimmy Butler scores 27 of his 41 points in the 2nd half and Miami puts on a clinic in the 3rd quarter to pull away from Boston 118-107 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Mar 16, 2022. Barring a significant collapse, the Sixers should be more or less locked in to the third seed, setting them up for yet another titanic second-round playoff series with so much at stake. From a potential rebuild on the horizon to a half-baked buy-in at the trade deadline, Toronto hasnt maintained a clear direction in 2022-23. WebComing off their first finals appearance since 2010, the Celtics return for the 2022-2023 season with many of the same characters responsible for their resurgent 2022 run. Please confirm the wagering regulations in your jurisdiction as they vary from state to state, province to province and country to country. Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! With the Bucks picking up their 15th straight win on Tuesday night, Milwaukee now owns a half-game advantage over Boston for the one-seed in the East. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. -- MacMahon, With the Nets in free fall, both Toronto and Atlanta will have opportunities to move into the top eight in the East. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Jaylen Brown catches fire in the 2nd half, scoring 19 of his 25 points in the final 2 periods to help Boston shut down Miami in Game 5. As such, those teams have higher playoff chances. Milwaukee went 10-0 in February, the fourth undefeated month in franchise history, to move past Boston for first place in the Eastern Conference for the first time since Christmas.-- Collier, After spending the final two weeks of February (including the All-Star break) away from home, the Celtics return to Boston for a fun three-game homestand against playoff teams -- Cleveland on Wednesday, Brooklyn on Friday and New York on Sunday; all televised on ESPN -- before heading to Cleveland on Monday. Boston Celtics at New Orleans Pelicans game action photos from Saturday, January 29, 2022. The Warriors took to the streets in San Francisco to celebrate their 2022 NBA championship. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)AP. Led by Jayson Tatums 29 points and five assists, the No. The Celtics can beat the Bucks, and they can do it in Milwaukee, as we saw last postseason. Something is off with Tatum as of late. But Jimmy Butler's competitiveness and confidence is the difference in Miami's Game 6 win. NBA Playoff Picture: A Crowded Race In The West, Video Poker Guide: Play the Best Online Video Poker Games, 2022-23 NBA Underdog Betting Report: Home Dogs Killing It, NBA 1st Quarter & 1st Half Betting Report, NBA Expert Picks: Best Game-Line Value & Prop Bets. Odds Shark Staff February 28, 2023. The Celtics rode a dominant defense to the NBA Finals last season. The Celtics can, obviously, still retake first place, which is where they've been seated for roughly 90 percent of the regular season.