BOSTON (AP) — Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has a team rule that everybody contests shots, even after the whistle. Players, coaches — everybody. So when Mazzulla sprinted to prevent Phoenix’s Royce O’Neale from dropping in a practice basket heading into a timeout, it didn’t shock Jayson Tatum. “Just Joe being Joe,” the All-Star said. It’s […]
Kyle Hightower | AP Sports Writer
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Patriots open free agency by adding Brissett, Gibson, bringing back Bourne, AP sources say
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The New England Patriots spent most of last season in shambles offensively. They spent first day of free agency trying to address that issue. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett, receiver Kendrick Bourne and running back Antonio Gibson agreed to contracts with the Patriots, three people familiar with the deals told The Associated Press […]
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Celtics overcome Doncic’s triple-double to beat Mavericks 138-110 for 10th straight win
BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum made five 3-pointers and scored 32 points and the Boston Celtics overcame Luka Doncic’s second straight triple-double to beat the Dallas Mavericks 138-110 on Friday night and extend their season-best winning streak to 10 games. Jaylen Brown added 25 points and seven rebounds as the Celtics knocked down 21 3s […]
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Jaylen Brown scores 31, Celtics pull away in fourth to beat 76ers 117-99
BOSTON (AP) — Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla doesn’t mind if his team struggles at times, if it learns and adapts along the way. Boston had to do that against a 76ers team that limited the 3-pointers the Celtics often use to overwhelm opponents. The result was what Mazzulla said afterward was one of its best […]
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Tatum scores 35 points and Celtics ride 3rd-quarter rally to beat Wizards 133-129 for 40th win
BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 35 points and sparked a third-quarter rally to help the NBA-leading Boston Celtics get their 40th win of the season, 133-129 over the Washington Wizards on Friday night. Kristaps Porzingis added 34 points and 11 rebounds, and Jrue Holiday finished with 20 points for the Celtics (40-12), who reached […]
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Josh Oduro scores 32 points, Providence rallies to beat No. 19 Creighton 91-87 in overtime
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Providence coach Kim English didn’t hold back in calling his team’s effort during an 18-point loss at Villanova last week its worst of the season. The Friars responded with perhaps their best one under the first-year coach. Josh Oduro had 32 points and 12 rebounds, Devin Carter added 28 points and […]
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Former Giants coach Ben McAdoo working out deal to join Patriots’ coaching staff, AP source says
Former New York Giants coach Ben McAdoo is working out a deal to join the New England Patriots as a senior offensive assistant, a person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity Tuesday because it had yet to be finalized. The 46-year-old McAdoo […]
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Austin Reaves hits 7 3-pointers, Lakers stun Celtics 114-105 without LeBron James, Anthony Davis
BOSTON (AP) — LeBron James has been pleading for weeks for the Lakers’ supporting cast to provide him and fellow All-Star Anthony Davis some help as they fight to keep pace in a tight Western Conference playoff race. With the two franchise cornerstones watching from the bench, they finally got their wish. Austin Reaves scored […]
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Patriots are hiring Rams assistant Jeremy Springer as special teams coordinator, AP source says
The New England Patriots have an agreement in place with Los Angeles Rams assistant Jeremy Springer to become their special teams coordinator, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the team has yet to announce the hire. NFL Network […]
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Jayson Tatum scores 30, comes up with late blocks as Celtics hold off Pacers 129-124
BOSTON (AP) — The Celtics have won plenty of games this season by overpowering teams with their offense. They reminded the Pacers they are just as elite on the defensive end. Jayson Tatum scored 30 points and had two blocks in the final 30 seconds to help Boston hold off Indiana 129-124 on Tuesday night. […]
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Tatum leads rally in 4th, Celtics snap 2-game home skid with 118-112 win over Pelicans
BOSTON (AP) — The Celtics began the season unbeatable in TD Garden. After back-to-back setbacks at home, they reminded New Orleans why they’ve been so tough to beat in their own building. Jayson Tatum scored 12 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and Boston rallied past the Pelicans 118-112 on Monday night. The […]
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Murray and Jokic help Nuggets hand Celtics their first loss at home this season, 102-100
BOSTON (AP) — The Denver Nuggets felt they let a winnable game slip away in the closing minutes during a narrow loss at Philadelphia earlier this week. They found themselves in a similar situation late against one of the NBA’s top teams and made sure not to let it happen again. Jamal Murray scored 35 […]
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Patriots’ ‘partnership’ with Bill Belichick comes to an end after 24 seasons, 6 Super Bowl titles
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Bill Belichick had a vision of building the kind of sustained championship football team that had rarely been seen before in the NFL when he was hired by the New England Patriots. He walks away feeling like it was a job well done. The six-time NFL champion agreed to part ways […]
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Holding No. 3 draft pick, Patriots enter pivotal offseason as Bill Belichick’s fate remains in limbo
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — After a tumultuous season filled with setbacks and unfulfilled expectations, Bill Belichick still very much wants to do his job for the New England Patriots. Even if the job description could be different going forward. A day after posting a 4-13 finish that was the worst of his 29 seasons as […]
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Bill Belichick under contract, would take lesser role in personnel matters as Kraft meeting looms
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Bill Belichick is open to letting someone else handle personnel duties if he remains with the New England Patriots. The Patriots coach also confirmed Monday during his season-ending news conference that he remains under contract, though he didn’t specify the length of its current terms. New England’s 17-3 loss to the […]
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Jayson Tatum scores 30 as Celtics use 3s, defense to smother Jazz 126-97
BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 30 points and hit five 3-pointers to help the Boston Celtics run past the Utah Jazz 126-97 on Friday night. Boston never trailed, led by as many as 36 points in the first half and made 17 3s for the night. The Eastern Conference leaders earned their seventh victory […]
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Bill Belichick’s last game as Patriots coach could come against Jets, a team he’s forever linked to
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Bill Belichick’s coaching tenure with the New England Patriots could potentially begin and end with links to the New York Jets. When New England hosts New York on Sunday in the season finale for both teams, it will be just over 24 years since Belichick shocked the NFL by resigning as […]
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Jaylen Brown scores 28 points, Celtics hit 19 3s and beat Nets 121-107 in NBA tournament play
BOSTON (AP) — Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla didn’t have any extra discussion with his team about its first In-Season Tournament game. It was just 1 of 82 games as far as he was concerned. His team sure played like it mattered a little more. Jaylen Brown scored 28 points, making five of his team’s 19 […]
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All eyes on Bill Belichick’s job status as Patriots head to Germany to face Colts
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — In the past, playing a regular-season game abroad would bring a sense of festivity for a New England Patriots team that is unbeaten in three previous international appearances. This time, it has the feeling of a team and its long-celebrated coach reluctantly stepping into a bigger spotlight as they trudge through […]
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Time is running out for 2-7 Patriots to salvage worst start to season since Tom Brady’s departure
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — This season was supposed to be a course correction for the New England Patriots. A year removed from an 8-9 finish that featured a regression for second-year quarterback Mac Jones and the offense under the direction of Matt Patricia and Joe Judge, the 2023 season was supposed to be a step […]
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Patriots, Commanders enter matchup with confidence in spite of recent results
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — At the bottom of the AFC standings and in the throes of his worst start since his first season in New England, Bill Belichick and the Patriots could have easily been sellers at the trade deadline. They weren’t. “We’re getting ready for Washington,” Belichick said this week regarding his team’s lack […]
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Things go from bad to worse for Patriots, who are at the bottom of the AFC and without their top WR
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Patriots coach Bill Belichick has said he usually gets a pretty good idea of what kind of football team he has around this time of year. Leading up to Sunday’s game with the Dolphins, he wasn’t quite ready to make that assessment. “I think we’re still working through it,” he said. […]
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White scores 28, Celtics outlast Heat 119-111 in rematch of Eastern Conference finals
BOSTON (AP) — So much has changed for the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics since their seven-game slugfest in the playoffs last season. It hasn’t taken an ounce out of the rivalry’s intensity. Derrick White had 28 points, including five 3-pointers, and the Celtics rallied to beat the Heat 119-111 on Friday night in a […]
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Patriots look to build on offensive performance with some of NFL’s most generous defenses up next
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The seat under Bill Belichick isn’t as warm as it seemed just a week ago. How long that remains the case is to be determined. No, the Patriots’ 29-25 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday didn’t save their season. At 2-5, New England is still at the bottom of the AFC East […]
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Mac Jones’ late TD pass lifts Patriots over Bills 29-25; Bill Belichick is 3rd coach with 300 wins
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Bill Belichick will wait for another day to talk about the latest milestone win of his coaching career. But his team’s victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday will at the very least quiet the conversation about his coaching future. Mac Jones threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Mike Gesicki with 12 seconds […]