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Boston Celtics
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Boston Celtics Daily Links 2/9/25
Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/2/9/24362302/boston-celtics-daily-links-2-9-25
Jayson Tatum vs Knicks 2/8/25 | Photo by Elsa/Getty Images
All the Celtics news you need in one convenient place.
Herald Kristaps Porzingis scratched for Celtics-Knicks matchup in late lineup change
Jayson Tatum’s 40-point night powers Celtics to road beatdown of Knicks
Globe Jayson Tatum’s 40 helps Celtics blowout Knicks: 8 takeaways
Former Celtics guard Nate Robinson has kidney transplant
Joe Mazzulla explains Kristaps Porzingis’s late lineup scratch
Jayson Tatum said he tried to put on a show for Denzel WashingtonTorrey Craig excited for the opportunity to play with Celtics, but must wait for his debut
Lakers call off Mark Williams trade with Hornets, leaving them short on big men
With Kristaps Porzingis a late scratch, the Celtics produce one of their best efforts in rout of Knicks
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CelticsBlog Jayson Tatum erupts for 40, Boston Celtics beat New York Knicks 131-104
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CLNS Media Celtics Adjust to Porzingis Scratch with More Jayson Tatum in Win
Celtics .com Keys to the Game: Celtics 131, Knicks 104
NBC Sports Boston Celtics-Knicks recap: Jayson Tatum scores 40, C’s earn statement win at MSG
NESN Three Studs, Three Duds As Short-Handed Celtics Down Knicks
Mass Live Boston Celtics rival rescinds crucial trade deadline deal with Hornets
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The Athletic Late scratch leads Celtics to double-big lineups and dominance over Knicks in MSG
Boston Sports Journal NBA Notebook: Al Horford and Billy Donovan remember trying to repeat at Florida
BSJ Game Report: Celtics 131, Knicks 104 - Tatum’s 40 leads C’s in blowout win
Karalis: Celtics picked on New Yorks weaknesses, immediately reminding us why they’re still the team to beat
CLNS Media/YouTube Tom Thibodeau on the Celtics vs Knicks Rivalry | Pregame Interview
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Payton Pritchard on Tatum’s 40 points: “That’s what a superstar does,” | Celtics Knicks 2-8
Jayson Tatum Wanted to Put On Show For Denzel Washington | Celtics vs Knicks Postgame 2-8
Derrick White on Jayson Tatum: “He was special.” | Celtics vs Knicks Postgame 2-8
Luke Kornet on Starting Last Minute for Celtics | Postgame Interview
Our Sports Central Windy City Drops Overtime Matchup to Maine
Last Word on Sports Jayson Tatum Moves Up the Celtics’ All-Time Scoring List After Dominant Game
Fox 61 Jayson Tatum dominates, Boston Cetlics blow out New York Knicks
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Athlon Sports Jalen Brunson’s New York Knicks Speak Out On ‘Unacceptable’ Blowout Loss
Jordan Poole Locker Room Encounter With Marcus Smart Turns Heads
SI .com New York Knicks Star Calls Out ‘Unacceptable’ Performance
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Audacy How Jayson Tatum made history on a star-studded night at MSG
Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/2/9/24362302/boston-celtics-daily-links-2-9-25
Boston Celtics
Just Drafted
The Celtics just beat the Knicks so badly that Grimace is now a Bostonian
Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/2/...atum-payton-pritchard-new-york-mets-ogrimacey
Fraud New York Grimace | Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images
You can also call it “Deuce York” now
Saturday’s beatdown of the New York Knicks was probably the most I’ve laughed while watching a Boston Celtics game all season. Well, maybe not as much as I did on ring night, which was also against the Knicks.
The Knicks, by the way, were the team that many felt had put themselves on the Celtics’ level over the summer when they acquired Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges.
New York has now played and been humiliated by the reigning champions twice.
It was evident right from the very first bucket of the night that it was going to be Boston’s game, despite being without both Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday.
Jayson Tatum’s loud dunk over Precious Achiuwa accounted for the first two of his 40 points at Madison Square “Garden.”
The Knicks were in shambles trying to stop Boston’s superstar forward. He lit them up from just about everywhere on the floor and went nuclear at the most crucial part of the game — the third quarter. New York had cut the Celtics’ lead down to just three in that frame and then Tatum and Derrick White decided that they’d seen enough.
I mean, look at this.
Tatum meticulously attacked Mikal Bridges (five first-rounders, btw) or whichever Knick had the misfortune of trying to check him. He made five straight shots in the closing minutes of the period and absolutely broke the Knicks and their fans.
The Tatum/White combo combined to score 33 points in the quarter, helping Boston increase the difference back to 20 points heading into the fourth.
The Celtics comfortably closed this one out behind a strong final stint from Payton Pritchard. After helping the team build their initial lead in the first half with 14 second-quarter points, he essentially gave the Knicks a replay of the whole thing in the fourth. Pritchard iced the game by sinking four of his five attempts en route to 11 fourth-quarter points.
Of course, there was this laugher, which served as the knockout blow.
By the end of the night, New York fans were booing, Celtics fans were making themselves heard, and any semblance of confidence had been ripped away from the Knicks.
Oh, and Grimace is officially a Bostonian.
“Do you mean the McDonald’s mascot?”
Yes, I mean the McDonald’s mascot.
The same people who would’ve had a championship parade (Bing Bong) on Saturday out in the snowstorm, had their Knicks beaten the Celtics, have adopted the purple monster as their own after he helped the Mets turn around their 2024 season.
Grimace threw out the first pitch at Citi Field on June 12. Up to that point, the Mets had been underwhelming, to say the least. Then, all of a sudden, they were winning games and eventually won their way to the National League Championship Series.
People went crazy over Grimace. There were Grimace costumes in the stands, on the subways, and there was even a Grimace seat dedicated at Citi Field.
Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25866605/2172718921.jpg "Washington Nationals v New York Mets")
Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25866608/2171730618.jpg "Washington Nationals v New York Mets")
Fraud New York Grimace
Fast forward to earlier this week, when McDonald’s began promoting their annual limited-time offering of the “Shamrock Shake.” This year, they decided to bring back Grimace’s supposed uncle, “Uncle O’Grimacey.”
Apparently, O’Grimacey used to be a regular in McDonald’s ads back in the day, but I’d never seen nor heard of him before he popped up on my Twitter/X timeline this week.
O’Grimacey’s emergence couldn’t really come at a better time. He was the perfect trade deadline acquisition for the Celtics and it rules that there’s an Irish/Celtics themed version of the adopted New York mascot.
It’s a real shame that Grimace rides with the Cs now.
Bing bong.
Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/2/...atum-payton-pritchard-new-york-mets-ogrimacey
Boston Celtics
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Celtics-Knicks Notebook: Jayson Tatum spearheads massive win, “Big Luke” shines in start, the secret to Payton Pritchard’s big performance
Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/2/...k-white-torrey-craig-joe-mazzulla-luke-kornet
Photo by Elsa/Getty Images
Joe Mazzulla agreed the win over the Knicks was one of the most complete games of the season.
NEW YORK CITY — No Kristaps Porzingis, no Jrue Holiday, no problem for the Celtics, who got back in the win column with a 131-104 decimation of the Knicks. The victory was led by Jayson Tatum, who exploded for 40 points on 7 threes, Luke Kornet, who had one of his most effective games as a Celtic, and Payton Pritchard, who posted back-to-back 20+ point games for the first time since December.
Oh, and there was Derrick White, who tallied 14 points in a huge third-quarter run that resoundingly put the game out of reach.
By the waning minutes of the ball game, “Let’s Go Celtics” chants reverberated through Madison Square Garden, a tune that’s become increasingly familiar as the Celtics continue their dominant road season (en route to a league-best 21-6 away record).
It was a win that several Celtics, including Joe Mazzulla, deemed one of the most complete of the year.
“I think for the entire 48 minutes, we played with a level of connectivity on both ends, and that’s the most important thing,” Mazzulla said, who was as animated as he’s been all year as the Celtics’ completed several second-half runs.
“It was great for us to respond the way that we did, especially with some guys out tonight,” Tatum said. “The way we were connected on both ends of the floor — our toughness showed tonight.”
Payton Pritchard agreed.
“The intensity, being locked in, it was definitely there tonight,” Pritchard said. “We’re capable of doing really great things — it’s gotta be every night.
Here’s what stood out from a resounding win at Madison Square Garden:
Luke Kornet shines as starter in place of Kristaps Porzingis
Kristaps Porzingis wasn’t on the injury report going into Saturday’s primetime matchup, and he seemed ready for a big game against the team that drafted him. During warmups, Porzingis chatted with MSG employees who he knew from his time as a Knick and went through what appeared to be his usual routine.
But, just minutes before tip-off, Porzingis was a late scratch with an illness. So, Mazzulla turned to Luke Kornet for the last-minute start and had his good friend Payton Pritchard deliver the news.
“Joe came in [to the locker room], and Luke wasn’t in here, so Joe told me to tell Luke to be ready to be in the starting lineup,” Pritchard recounted after the game. “But, he did a good job. Thrown in right away, he did his job tonight.”
It was more than good for Kornet, who tallied 14 points on a perfect 7-7 from the field, 12 rebounds (5 offensive), and 3 blocks. The Celtics outscored the Knicks by 21 points during Kornet’s 28 minutes. And, with the Celtics’ beginning the game with a double-big lineup of Al Horford and Kornet, Knicks’ All-Star center Karl Anthony-Towns was limited to just 9 points.
“Big Luke played his ass off today,” Tatum said, looking over to a nearby Kornet with a proud smile. “He really set the tone to start — contesting, blocking shots.”
Pritchard, who recorded 25 points on 9-13 shooting (6-8 from three), 4 assists, and 4 rebounds, praised the bench’s ability to step up when starters are missing.
“It’s a next-man mentality,” Pritchard said. “This group is very deep. We got a lot of talent. People are ready for the opportunity when they came, I know I am. And that carries through everybody, 1 through 15.”
Mazzulla echoed that sentiment, also praising Neemias Queta, who had 11 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block, and 1 steal in 26 minutes.
“It just gives guys an opportunity to step up,” Mazzulla said. “That’s the great thing about the locker room — guys are always ready.”
Jayson Tatum puts together a “special” performance in rout
Tatum finished the night with 40 points on 13-26 shooting, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Nearly half of his scoring output — 19 points on 6-9 shooting — came in the third quarter, helping to effectively bury the Knicks.
“That was a special performance,” Mazzulla said.
“He was special from the first play on,” White echoed.
Pritchard praised Tatum for what he described as an “unbelievable” performance: “He didn’t rush his shots, he got to his spots, and he was money. He broke the lead open for us, and that’s what a superstar does, what he did tonight.”
Tatum broke down what drove his sense of urgency from the jump.
“We lost last game, and then finding out that KP was out right before the game, we knew it was going to be a challenge,” he said. “And, I saw Denzel Washington sitting courtside, so I was excited about that.”
Tatum moved into 9th on the Celtics’ all-time scoring list Saturday. He also officially has more wins than any player since he joined the NBA.
“I think he’s still underrated,” Mazzulla said. “One of the best players out there.”
Payton Pritchard explodes for 25 points off the bench
With Kristaps Porzingis back in the lineup, Pritchard’s shot attempts and scoring have taken a hit in recent weeks, despite his efficiency remaining elite.
But, on Thursday, in the Celtics’ letdown loss to the Mavericks, the 27-year-old guard led a spirited comeback that saw a lineup of himself, Jordan Walsh, Drew Peterson, Neemias Queta, and Sam Hauser cut a 27-point fourth-quarter deficit to just 7.
The comeback was ultimately unsuccessful, as the Mavs’ starters were able to hang on, but it still infused life into a TD Garden crowd that desperately yearned for something to cheer for. And, it immensely helped Pritchard — who scored 17 points in that fourth-quarter rally — regain some offensive flow, which carried over to Saturday.
“I try to take advantage of those [opportunities],” Pritchard said. “You know, you can get stuck in a role sometimes, and you can become a little bit robotic, and I definitely get caught up in that at times. So, I always gotta remember to stay aggressive, even if the role doesn’t call for that at times.”
Pritchard finished with 21 points on 9-15 shooting on Thursday, and followed that with 25 points on 9-13 shooting on Saturday.
“It definitely helps create that confidence going into the next game and just carrying that over,” he said. “I know my team needs me to be aggressive.”
Torrey Craig on the sidelines for the first time as a Celtic
Torrey Craig, the Celtics’ newest signee, addressed reporters Saturday morning at Celtics’ shootaround and expressed his excitement at joining a championship contender.
While he wasn’t active on Saturday night as he continues to work his way back from an ankle injury, Craig was locked into the game from the sidelines and emphatically celebrating the Celtics’ growing lead throughout the night, seemingly particularly stunned at Tatum’s takeover performance.
Earlier Saturday, Craig explained the decision to join the Celtics after he was waived by the Bulls last week.
“You always want to play for something and compete for something,” Craig said. “I’m a super competitor — and I want to play basketball the right way at the highest level. Just to get an opportunity to come play with these guys was a no-brainer.”
Mazzulla said pregame he was confident in Craig’s ability to come in right away and contribute.
“Played on a lot of good teams, a high-level defender, brings a lot of energy,” Mazzulla said. “Shot the ball well over the last three years, so a piece that we can add on both ends of the floor.”
And, while integrating midseason acquisitions can be difficult, Mazzulla believed the 34-year-old’s acclimation wouldn’t be too difficult.
“He’s versatile enough so where it could be seamless, from a tactical standpoint,” he said. “But obviously understanding the language and the situational stuff that comes up. But, just patient — obviously just give him a chance to learn the language, learn stuff. But at the same time, he’s played for a long time. So he can fit right in and help us at any time.”
Everyone loves playing in Madison Square Garden
In the backdrop of the win was the reality that the Celtics, like many NBA teams, love playing at Madison Square Garden.
Tatum himself admitted that the presence of celebrities like Denzel Washington made him want to put on a show, and Mazzulla said he could feel it from the sidelines as well.
“Once you get out there, and you feel the energy of the Garden, and you feel the energy of the two teams... it was obviously a game that the guys wanted,” Mazzulla said.
Pritchard, who is from Portland, Oregon, said he grew up watching games at MSG and dreamt of the chance to one day play there.
“Besides Boston, it’s probably the best place to play,” Tatum said. “They have all the celebrities, but they also have that edge about them. They know basketball.”
Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/2/...k-white-torrey-craig-joe-mazzulla-luke-kornet
Boston Celtics
Just Drafted
Behind another Tatum masterclass, Boston blows out Miami 103-85
Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/2/...ws-out-miami-103-85-celtics-heat-jayson-tatum
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
The Celtics road their hot shooting in the second half to a dominant win over the Heat
Coming off of a dominating win over the New York Knicks, the Celtics took a trip down to South Beach for a matchup against the Miami Heat. Boston would beat Miami pretty handedly by a score of 103-85.
For the second game in a row, Jayson Tatum led the way for the Celtics with a dominant performance of 33 points and 8 rebounds on 13-26 shooting. Kristaps Porzingis pitched in with 17 points and 9 rebounds of his own while Al Horford turned back the clock with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds.
With Tyler Herro out, Boston’s defense suffocated Miami, holding the Heat to 34% shooting from the field and 24% shooting from three. The Celtics offense was cold to start but once the second quarter, the Heat could not slow them down.
Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25868734/2198253157.jpg "Boston Celtics v Miami Heat")
On the three year anniversary of the Derrick White trade, it felt fitting that White scored the Celtics first points of the game with two free throws. Without JaBoston’s offense was cold early as they started the game shooting 2-13 from the field (1-10 from three).
Miami capitalized on Boston’s cold stretch by going on a 14-4 run to open up a double digit lead early as Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 9 points on 4-9 shooting.
With 2:37 left in the first half, Baylor Scheierman checked into the game to try and inject some energy in the Celtics offense. Boston was able to hit a few shots to end the quarter on a 9-2 run but still trailed Miami 24-18 at the end of the first quarter. The Celtics shooting was their downfall in the first quarter, shooting 6-25 from the field and 2-18 from three.
Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25868736/2198252965.jpg "Boston Celtics v Miami Heat")
The Celtics energy completely shifted to open the second quarter as they opened on a 13-0 run. Boston completely stifled Miami on defense as the Heat went over six minutes without scoring a basket. Sam Hauser was the main catalyst for the Celtics offense as he lit up the Heat from beyond the arc, hitting 4 of his 5 first half threes in the second quarter alone.
Once Hauser went to the bench, it was Jayson Tatum’s turn to cook. After not making a shot in the first quarter, Tatum went on a 7-0 run by himself as the Celtics continued to dominate the Heat. Although Miami went on a 7-0 run to end the quarter, Boston still held a 52-43 lead going into the half.
From the 1:15 mark of the first quarter to the end of the second quarter, the Celtics went on a 39-19 run. After an awful first quarter shooting, the Celtics shot 12-20 from the field and 7-14 from three in the second quarter, completely flipping the momentum of the game.
Sam Hauser ended the first half as the leading scorer for the Celtics with 15 points on 5-8 shooting from three and Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 16 points on 5-11 shooting. Payton Pritchard also had a big first half, with a stat line of 5 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals.
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25868763/2198795658.jpg "Boston Celtics v Miami Heat")
The Celtics cold shooting returned to start the third quarter but back to back Al Horford buckets got Boston back on track. Horford scored 8 points in the third quarter alone to fuel a 16-5 Celtics run.
With Boston finding their groove, it was Jayson Tatum’s time to take over in the third quarter once again. Tatum went off for 20 points in the third quarter alone, embarrassing the Heat’s defense and with a Derrick White buzzer beater, the Celtics took an 88-65 lead.
The Celtics shot even better in the third quarter than they did in the second quarter, shooting 14-21 (66.7%) from the field and 7-13 (53.8%) from three. Boston dominated every facet of the game in the third quarter and Miami had no answers.
Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25868789/2198259002.jpg "Boston Celtics v Miami Heat")
Even with Boston not getting off to a great start to the fourth quarter, Miami had no shooting what so ever and couldn’t capitalize. The Celtics just killed the clock in the fourth quarter and with another tough bucket by Jayson Tatum, Boston put in the stay ready group with 2:39 left to wrap up the ball game.
The Celtics next game is at home on Wednesday February 12th against the San Antonio Spurs at 7pm.
Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/2/...ws-out-miami-103-85-celtics-heat-jayson-tatum
Boston Celtics
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10 takeaways from the Celtics dominant win over the Heat
Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/2/...-win-over-miami-heat-jayson-tatum-luke-kornet
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
Boston went down to South Beach and flexed their might once again.
1. Pure Dominance
In Miami’s first game against Boston without Jimmy Butler and with Tyler Herro out, the Celtics made quick work of the Heat in a 103-85 blowout victory.
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Lead Tracker (via NBA.com)
After a slow first quarter, the Celtics really picked it up in the second and third quarter as they outscored the Heat 70-41 during that stretch. This was a pretty boring game overall as with Miami being down their best player, the Heat had no shooting on the floor and had no way of making this game competitive.
The Celtics cold shooting in the first and fourth quarters will make the percentages look bad but Boston’s offense was really humming in this game. They shot 39-85 (46%) from the field and 17-53 (32%) from three. Boston really dominated the painted area as they were able to take advantage of the Heat’s lack of rim protection.
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Celtics Shot Zone Chart (via NBA.com)
2. Jayson Tatum: The King of the Third Quarter
After Jayson Tatum dropped 40 points on the New York Knicks on Saturday with 19 of those points coming in the third quarter, some may wonder what he was going to do for an encore.
After not making a basket in the first quarter, Tatum lit up the Heat for 33 points, 20 of which coming in the third quarter alone.
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25869013/2198806280.jpg "Boston Celtics v Miami Heat")
Tatum started his third quarter performance with back-to-back three pointers over Andrew Wiggins. He then made an in and out dribble around an Al Horford screen and pulled up for a smooth fadeaway jumper over Kel’el Ware. Then he put his shoulder in to Wiggins’ chest and got off a finger roll that forced Erik Spoelstra to call a timeout.
This didn’t stop Tatum’s hot streak, as he continued to bully the Heat defenders for easy baskets. He drove his chest into Pelle Larson for a layup, then spun away from Terry Rozier on defense for a reverse layup, and finally, after crossing up Duncan Robinson, drove to the basket and got a tough and-1 bucket.
Jayson Tatum is currently averaging 9.3 points per game this season in the third quarter which is third in the NBA and is second in total third quarter points with 472.
3. Vintage Horford performance
Not every night Al Horford is going to put up a big performance but when they do come along, it’s always a great sight to see. Horford had a double-double against the Heat with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks on 6-11 shooting from the field and 4-8 shooting from three.
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25868949/2198806241.jpg "Boston Celtics v Miami Heat")
When the Celtics were struggling to start the third quarter, it was Horford who ignited the offense with 8 straight points. He started with getting Kel’el Ware to bite on a pump fake three and got to the paint to hit a floater over Bam Adebayo.
The next bucket came when Tatum drove to the rim and dropped off a pass to Kristaps Porzingis under the basket who kicked it out to a wide open Horford for three at the top of the arc.
The final basket of this run came with Horford setting a screen for Sam Hauser so he could receive a pass from Tatum. Horford popped out to the three-point line and Hauser found him on a behind the back bounce pass for a three over Ware.
Horford also did a great job when it came to defending Bam Adebayo and fighting for positioning under the basket for rebounds. The best play on Bam was when he was able to strip him in the second quarter in isolation that would count as a block.
4. Hauser shifted the energy
After the Celtics put up only 18 points on 6-25 shooting from the field and 2-18 from three in the first quarter and with Tatum going to the bench, the Celtics needed a spark. That spark’s name was Sam Hauser.
Hauser was on fire in the first half of this game and finished with 15 points on 5-8 shooting from three, with 12 of those points coming in the second quarter.
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25868958/2198806535.jpg "Boston Celtics v Miami Heat")
Sam Hauser’s first three of the second quarter came on the fast break as when Porzingis was driving to the basket, he kicked it out to Hauser for a corner three.
The next three came when Payton Pritchard was double teamed on the baseline and threw a cross court pass to wide open Hauser in the same exact place as his first three of the quarter.
The third three of the quarter came after Derrick White collapsed the defense and found Duncan Robinson out of position defending Hauser. White made a simple bounce pass and Hauser rose up over a late contest from Robinson.
The final three of the quarter came on another fast break. After Pritchard stole the ball on the defense, he came down and found Hauser for a wide open three that caused the Heat to finally call a timeout.
5. Sneaky good Pritchard game
Payton Pritchard’s scoring numbers might not have looked impressive with only 5 points on 2-9 shooting but he had a great game in almost every other aspect of the game. He finished with 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and a +17 on the night as he did a great job facilitating the Celtics offense when Tatum was off the floor.
Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25868968/2198273498.jpg "Boston Celtics v Miami Heat")
The first pass that was really impressive came on Sam Hauser’s second three of the night. He was double teamed on the baseline and found Hauser for three on a cross court pass.
Another great pass was when Pritchard was driving to the rim, pump faked like he was going to shoot a layup that got Duncan Robinson in the air, and then found Kristaps Porzingis streaking down the lane for an emphatic dunk.
6. Boston’s solid defense
The Celtics defense did a great job of making sure the Heat couldn’t find any rhythm on offense. Boston held Miami to only 34% shooting from the field and 24% shooting from three.
Boston did a great job getting out to Miami’s three point shooters and were able to force some timely turnovers that aided in the Celtics dominance in the second and third quarters.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25868971/BOS_vs_MIA_on_02_10_2025__2_.png)
Heat Shot Zone (via NBA.com)
One of the best defensive plays of the night for Boston was when Terry Rozier drove to the basket and Al Horford blocked him at the rim as he was rising up. Then when Bam Adebayo got the rebound, Jayson Tatum flew in and sent back his put back attempt on the same possession.
7. Starters balanced scoring
With the Celtics being undermanned tonight, only seven players scored points tonight with all but nine of their points (Pritchard: 5, Queta: 4) coming from the starting lineup. Jayson Tatum led the way with 33 points, Kristaps Porzingis had 17, Al Horford with 16, Sam Hauser with 15, and Derrick White with 13. The starting lineup combined to shoot 50% from the field and 38% from three.
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Celtics Box Score (via NBA.com/Celtics)
8. Next man up mentality
With Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday out for the Celtics tonight, it was going to be up to the Stay Ready group to make an impact on tonight's game and they did not disappoint.
Boston got big scoring nights from Horford and Hauser while Pritchard did a great job of facilitating the offense. Luke Kornet made an impact on defense and Baylor Scheierman also got some rotation minutes as well late in the first quarter.
Horford even went out of his way to praise Hauser, Kornet and Pritchard in his postgame interview and specifically highlighted Luke Kornet. Horford said Kornet has been key to the identity of the Celtics and has done a great job on defense when it came to protecting the rim.
9. Road Dogs
With the Celtics win in Miami tonight, Boston has improved their league-leading road record to 22-6. As it stands right now, Boston has the 8th best road record in NBA history up to this point.
The last Celtics team to have a road record this good was the 2007-08 Celtics at 31-10. The best road record in NBA history came with the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors at 34-7.
When NBC Boston's Abby Chin asked Jayson Tatum about his thoughts on the Celtics road record, Tatum said, “we give up too many easy ones at home so we have to make up for it. We need to get back on track at home because we let our fans down too many times this year and sometimes last year, so we owe it to them to play better at home and we’re going to figure it out.”
Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25868995/2198273854.jpg "Boston Celtics v Miami Heat")
10. End of a chapter to the rivalry
With Miami trading Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors, it marks the end to a chapter of a crazy time in the Celtics vs. Heat rivalry.
The Celtics matched up against the Jimmy Butler-led Heat four different times in the playoffs with three of those times coming in the Eastern Conference Finals and the other coming with Butler injured in the first round of last year’s playoffs. The final tally ended in a draw with both teams winning twice against each other but it was Boston that was the only team to win a championship after winning the matchup.
Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25869009/1491621444.jpg "Miami Heat v Boston Celtics - Game Two")
There was a different level of anxiety and vitriol when these two teams faced off in the playoffs over the years that has yet to be matched by any other team in the Eastern Conference. You knew you were in for some of the most annoying and grind it out basketball you have ever seen with most of the games coming down to the wire.
Whether it was Jimmy Butler missing the game-winning three in Game 7 of the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals that resulted in the Celtics first Finals appearance since 2008 or the Derrick White buzzer beater in Game 6 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals that forced a Game 7 after Boston was dow 0-3 in the series, the matchups with the Miami Heat in the playoffs created some of the greatest moments in recent Celtics history.
Without the Celtics losses in 2020 and 2023, who knows if Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum improve their games to the level they are now. If the Celtics didn’t lose in 2023, who knows if Brad Stevens would have traded Marcus Smart for Kristaps Porzingis and Robert Williams for Jrue Holiday. In a way we should thank Miami for showing the Celtics exactly what their problems as a team were so they would be able to fix them and win the championship in 2024.
So this is goodbye for now Miami, I’m sure you’ll find a way to get another super star player in the future and the rivalry will be renewed once again but it will never reach the heights of the Jimmy Butler era.
Photo by Eric Espada/NBAE via Getty Images/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25869011/1258301133.jpg "2023 NBA Playoffs - Boston Celtics v Miami Heat")
Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/2/...-win-over-miami-heat-jayson-tatum-luke-kornet
Boston Celtics
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Boston Celtics Daily Links 2/13/24
Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/2/13/24365187/boston-celtics-daily-links-2-13-24
Jayson Tatum vs Spurs 2/12/25 | Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
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Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/2/13/24365187/boston-celtics-daily-links-2-13-24
Boston Celtics
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Celtics overcome feisty Raptors, win in Toronto 111-101
Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/2/...-in-toronto-111-101-jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown
Photo by Kevin Sousa/Getty Images
Small ball Celtics get road win in Toronto on the first night of a back-to-back.
The Boston Celtics traveled to the Scotiabank Arena Tuesday evening to take on the Toronto Raptors. The Celtics lost to Toronto on January 15th by double digits, but over a month later, managed to overcome the feisty Raptors, 111-101.
Derrick White was the fourth quarter hero again with multiple big plays down the stretch. He finished the game with 22 points, Jaylen Brown led the team with 24 points and Jayson Tatum had 19 points and 11 assists.
The Boston Celtics trotted out a truly bizarre starting five with Torrey Craig, Tatum, Brown, White, and Sam Hauser. For prosperity and possibly the only time in his career, Jayson Tatum took the opening tip for the road team. Jakob Poeltl was absent for the Raps, and the result was a free-flowing start to the game, with plenty of fast break points for both before Joe Mazzulla eventually called a timeout up 14-10.
Joe Mazulla’s love affair with double bigs was tested in this game as he opted for strictly wings for the first six minutes of the game. Neemias Queta would eventually be subbed into the game for a semblance of interior defensive presence. Hauser relished the extended early minutes with 2 rebounds, 1 block, and four early points highlighted by a tip-in over two outstretched Raptors. Queta was then rewarded on the fast break as Jaylen Brown laid down a nifty pass to the Portuguese big man for the powerful two-handed slam.
With big men Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis ruled out prior to the game, Queta looked locked in for a big evening off the bench. Speaking of being locked in, Payton Pritchard hit on his first three-pointer of the game as Boston went up 24-16. Pritchard would be joined by Jordan Walsh and rookie Baylor Scheierman in the lineup as Joe rolled the dice on the experimental rotations. The first quarter was a hectic pace, with plenty of highlights as Boston took a 35 to 24 lead.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25888385/2201368511.jpg "Boston Celtics v Toronto Raptors")
Jayson Tatum started a Center Tuesday night, sporting a headband for Boston.
Scottie Barnes was super fired up to take on the Celtics in this one, taking Queta strong to the hole and chirping in Tatum’s face. The Raptors second leading scorer poured in six straight points to start the second quarter and push Toronto back with 5 points. Barnes then drove again on Queta and drew another foul, which saw Neemias go to the bench with his third foul.
Boston would have just two points in the first four and a half minutes of the second quarter as Toronto cut the Boston lead to just one point. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum scored on consecutive plays as they broke the scoring drought for the second-placed team. Both teams started hitting three-point shots, Grady Dick hit the Raptors second three-pointer of the game, then Hauser and White connected for the C’s sixth and seventh triples on the evening.
The road Celtics finally started to roll as the second quarter progressed; White hit on another triple for his twelfth point, and Brown drove and connected on a sweet mini hook shot. Tatum started to get going, hitting on a pull-up three-pointer, assisting JB for a dunk in the key, and then hitting a floater as Boston pulled away by 12 points to lead 66-54 at the half.
Toronto started the third quarter strong, scoring the first seven points of the half as Boston struggled to keep pace. The Raps got the lead back to 6 points before Brown stopped the bleeding. With Boston lacking in size tonight, the team would look to everyone to contribute; this was evident on a second-chance weak-side rebound from Pritchard, who then found Tatum in the corner to step into a three-pointer. White had a monster block on Dick. Pritchard would then drive on the bigger-bodied Barnes to sell a head fake and lay the ball in, as Boston would go up by 12, 76-64.
Photo by Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu via Getty Images/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25888440/2201373865.jpg "Boston Celtics vs Toronto Raptors")
Derrick White had two blocks in the second half in Toronto.
White had yet another huge block on RJ Barrett as the lanky guard denied the ball with two hands. Boston then found a waiting Pritchard, who calmly hit his third three-pointer and 15th point of the night. JD Davison would also see time in the third for Boston as Joe Mazzulla gave the stay-ready guys meaningful minutes in Toronto. Hauser hit on his 10th point of the night with a three-pointer at the top of the key, and then Pritchard had a last-second triple as time expired in the third quarter, Boston up by its largest lead of the night with thirteen, 89-76.
Brown was struggling with leg issues all night but returned to action in the fourth hitting on a step-back bucket over Barnes. He then drove on Barnes and connected on a bank shot in the key over a double team. The Raptors pesky length was making life difficult for Boston as soon as they brought the ball over the half way line. The Celtics turned the ball over multiple times to start the fourth and a Agbaji three-pointer saw Boston’s advantage shrink to just 8 points.
White went 4th quarter mode as he scored on consecutive baskets. First, he pulled off a nasty spin move that led to a floater and then he hit a deep three-pointer for his 19th point of the night as Boston steadied 102-93. Raptor rookie Jamal Shead drove and scored his sixth point to get it back to seven. Both teams traded baskets to finish it, as Boston would hold on against a pesky Raptor team.
The Boston Celtics next face the Detroit Pistons tomorrow night in Detroit on the second night of a back-to-back.
Source: https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/2/...-in-toronto-111-101-jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown