PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Ed Croswell scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and 24th-ranked Providence earned its 20th victory of the season, holding on for a 85-72 win over Villanova on Saturday. Bryce Hopkins added 19 points and 12 rebounds. Noah Locked finished with 16 points. Croswell connected on two late free throws to […]
Kyle Hightower | AP Sports Writer
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Patriots captain Matt Slater returning for 16th NFL season
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — After the New England Patriots’ season came to an end last month, Matt Slater said he’d given everything he had during his 15 years in the NFL. But for now, retirement can wait. The Patriots announced Friday that the 37-year-old and two-time All-Pro has decided to return for his 16th season […]
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Celtics remove interim tag, name Joe Mazzulla head coach
BOSTON (AP) — Joe Mazzulla has been so steady guiding the Celtics through a franchise-shaking crisis that their turbulent offseason has taken a back seat to their championship aspirations. The team rewarded him by turning a temporary opportunity of a lifetime into a permanent one. Boston named Mazzulla its full-time head coach on Thursday, removing […]
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Tatum’s 38 points help Celtics roll past Pistons 127-109
BOSTON (AP) — The Celtics got back their offensive and defensive spark plugs. Together, they gave Boston the jolt it needed to head into the All-Star break on track to accomplish all its goals this season. Jayson Tatum scored 38 points, including 24 in the third quarter, and the Celtics rolled to a 127-109 victory […]
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Tatum scores 41, White 33 as Celtics beat Hornets 127-116
BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 41 points and Derrick White set new career highs with 33 points and eight 3-pointers to help the Boston Celtics hold off the Charlotte Hornets 127-116 on Friday night. Tatum began the fourth quarter on the bench but was reinserted after Charlotte cut Boston’s lead to 14 points with […]
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AP source: OKC trades Muscala to Boston for Jackson, picks
BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics have agreed to trade forward Justin Jackson and a pair of future second-round draft picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder for big man Mike Muscala, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the deal […]
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Tatum scores 31, Celtics sizzle in 139-96 rout of Nets
BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 31 points and had nine rebounds and the Boston Celtics rolled to a 139-96 win over the short-handed Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night. Jaylen Brown added 26 points as both of Boston’s stars knocked down seven 3-pointers in a game the Celtics never trailed and led by as many […]
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Randle scores 37, Knicks rally to beat Celtics 120-117 in OT
BOSTON (AP) — The Knicks are a young team that’s still learning how to string together victories. They’re hoping to bottle several lessons from their latest outing. Julius Randle had 37 points and nine rebounds, and hit the free throws that gave New York the lead for good in a 120-117 overtime win over the […]
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Patriots announce hiring of Bill O’Brien as new OC
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Bill O’Brien is back with the New England Patriots. The team announced Thursday that O’Brien was hired as its offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. The move comes 12 days after the Patriots said they were searching for a new leader of their offense following a disappointing season that saw second-year quarterback […]
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AP source: Bill O’Brien agrees to return as Patriots OC
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Bill O’Brien has agreed to return to the Patriots as their offensive coordinator, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Tuesday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been finalized. O’Brien spent the past two seasons as offensive coordinator for […]
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Locke’s career-high 29 lifts No. 22 Friars past DePaul 75-64
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Noah Locke had a career-high 29 points, including seven 3-pointers, to help No. 22 Providence fend off DePaul 75-64 on Saturday. Bryce Hopkins added 20 points and 11 rebounds as the Friars (15-5, 7-2 Big East) snapped a two-game losing skid and improved to 11-0 at home. They are 2-2 without […]
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Patriots look to extend Mayo, seeking offensive coordinator
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The Patriots have started discussions for a long-term contract extension with linebackers coach Jerod Mayo and Bill Belichick will also begin interviewing candidates for offensive coordinator next week. The team made the announcements in a statement Thursday. It comes on the heels of Mayo being sought for the second straight offseason […]
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Brown scores season-high 41 points, Celtics beat Pelicans
BOSTON (AP) — The numbers that Celtics stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have been putting up this season point to a duo playing even better than last season when Boston reached the NBA Finals. Brown believes there’s another level they can reach. Their latest performance might have been a peek of that next plateau. […]
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Soul-searching offseason ahead for underachieving Patriots
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Bill Belichick was truculent throughout the preseason whenever questions arose about his decision to put Matt Patricia, an assistant coach with a defensive pedigree, in charge of the Patriots’ offense. A season’s worth of struggles on that side of the ball ended with New England’s 35-23 loss at Buffalo on Sunday. The Patriots […]
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Red Sox sign former Dodgers All-Star Turner to 1-year deal
BOSTON (AP) — The Red Sox signed infielder Justin Turner to a one-year contract on Friday, adding a player they hope can help make up for the loss of All-Star infielder Xander Bogaerts in free agency. Left-hander Darwinzon Hernandez was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. The addition of the 38-year-old […]
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Hopkins scores 27 to help Providence beat No. 4 UConn 73-61
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — When his team lost back-to-back games in late November, Providence coach Ed Cooley anticipated a strong response by a roster topped with multiple veterans. Two months later, his expectations have been exceeded. Bryce Hopkins scored 27 points and Providence dominated the second half and knocked off fourth-ranked UConn 73-61 on Wednesday night for […]
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AP source: Red Sox, Devers agree to 11-year, $331M extension
BOSTON (AP) — Rafael Devers has agreed to an 11-year extension worth $331 million with the Boston Red Sox, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the deal. Locking up Devers, a two-time All-Star third baseman, […]
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Patriots’ uneven season leads to must-win game vs Bills
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — “Control what we can control” is a mantra often regurgitated by New England players soon after they are indoctrinated into Bill Belichick’s conformist culture. The Patriots (8-8) somehow have control of their playoff fate entering the final week of the season — even after a year marred by poor offensive play […]
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Dugger INT return helps lift Pats over fading Dolphins 23-21
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Kyle Dugger intercepted Teddy Bridgewater and returned it 39 yards for a go-ahead touchdown late in the third quarter, and the New England Patriots kept their playoff hopes alive by rallying to beat the Miami Dolphins 23-21 on Sunday. Mac Jones had touchdown passes to Tyquan Thornton and Jakobi Meyers to […]
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Burrow, AFC North-leading Bengals visit struggling Patriots
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — It was 2020, the NFL draft was looming, and the world was on the brink of going into hibernation because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Joe Burrow was in Miami walking out of a steakhouse with then-Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia following a pre-draft dinner. He glanced up and saw someone else […]
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Defense steps up as Patriots get back in playoff position
The Patriots’ 27-13 win over the Cardinals on Monday night will be remembered most for the injury to Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray. If New England (7-6) ultimately secures a playoff spot it will also be recalled as the game that saved its season. The victory moved the Patriots into the seventh playoff position and final wild-card slot […]
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Execution, not creativity the priority for Patriots offense
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — If the Patriots are going to fix their ongoing issues on offense, they will have to start by perfecting the things they’ve been struggling to do consistently over their first 12 games. On Tuesday, coach Bill Belichick doubled down on what he said during an appearance on Boston’s WEEI radio on […]
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Josh Allen throws for 2 TDs, Bills beat Patriots 24-10
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills had done everything this season, except earn a victory in their division. They’re hoping their first will be the one that helps put them back on the path to winning it again. Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes and the Bills beat the New England Patriots 24-10 on […]
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AP source: Celtics extend Horford for 2 years, $20 million
BOSTON (AP) — The Celtics aren’t letting Al Horford go anywhere this time. The team announced Thursday that the 36-year-old veteran big man has signed an extension to remain in Boston. The deal is for two years and $20 million, according to a person with knowledge of the agreement who spoke to The Associated Press […]
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Royal night: Tatum scores 49, Celtics hold off Heat 134-121
BOSTON (AP) — Camera phones throughout Boston’s TD Garden were fixed on the seats adjacent the Celtics’ bench as the Prince and Princess of Wales sat courtside in the city’s hallowed arena on Wednesday. Yet it was the Celtics’ reigning basketball prince who ultimately owned the night. Jayson Tatum had eight 3-pointers and scored a season-high 49 […]