Different story in LA as Paul Pierce plays final game vs. Celtics

Unless lightning strikes and the Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers make it into the NBA Finals – and Doc Rivers admitted he didn’t leave $100 in the visitors dressing room at the Garden – last night was Paul Pierce’s last game against his old club. But without the Causeway Street crowd making it a lovefest, there wasn’t the same emotion.

Isaiah Thomas, Tyler Ulis Face Off in Least Likely NBA Jump Ball Ever

It’s everyone’s dream to be a professional athlete, and if you watch the NBA , then that dream oftentimes seems less attainable due to the sheer size of most players. But for one brief moment, both 5-foot-9 Isaiah Thomas of the Boston Celtics and 5-foot-10 Tyler Ulis of the Phoenix Suns gave all fans a glimpse at what a jump ball would look like between mere mortals.

Celtics vs Lakers Rivalry Ready for Revival

Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley shoots the ball against Los Angeles Lakers guard Nick Young . Photo Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports In the NBA and professional sports in general, there are fewer storied rivalries than the one between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers .

An Ideal Offseason

The Celtics right now hold all the assets right now to add a superstar, keep their salary cap situation with room to resign are key players, and compete for an NBA Championship for ten years. Jerebko’s ability to space the floor, shoot the three coming off the bench, play solid defense, and provide veteran support and leadership are qualities that can not be overlooked.

Celtics’ Bradley returning to starting lineup against Hawks

The Boston Celtics says guard Avery Bradley is returning to the starting lineup against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night after sitting out more than a month with a sore right Achilles. Coach Brad Stevens says Bradley will play restricted minutes in games this week, getting somewhere between 15 and 25 minutes per night.

The Read & React: Celtics crumble (again) vs. Raptors

Celtics paid the price for doing nothing : When I learned that Indiana wanted the whole boat for Paul George and the Bulls weren’t interested in moving Butler all that much, I excused Danny Ainge for not unboxing the fireworks now. My fury didn’t falter for the C’s not making some move to improve.

Impact on Raptors of trade-deadline deals

… defeating the Dallas Mavericks in overtime at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports There have been plenty of hosannas already offered to Raptors GM Masai Ujiri for pulling off this deal. I’m offering one more. …

DeRozan has career-high 43, Raptors beat Celtics 107-97

DeMar DeRozan scored a career-high 43 points and the Toronto Raptors rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat the Boston Celtics 107-97 on Friday night. DeRozan shot 15 of 28 from the floor as he surpassed his 42-point effort against the Houston Rockets on March 30, 2015, helping the Raptors overcome the absence of fellow All-Star Kyle Lowry.

On path to superstardom, Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas controls his own destiny

On path to superstardom, Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas controls his own destiny Thomas, who will be a free agent in 2018, is long overdue for a pay day. Check out this story on greenbaypressgazette.com: http://usat.ly/2mgxxtg When the NBA’s salary cap started spiking as if it had been hit with a defibrillator last summer, Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas was asked to share his perspective on how the league’s new landscape might ultimately impact his situation.

Thursday Bolts – 2.23.17

… If they can contend for a title. According to a person with knowledge of the meeting who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, that is the crossroads that Pacers president Larry Bird now …

Re: Lost in the Shuffle?

With Patrick Patterson injured, and Bebe, Pascal Siakam and Jared Sullinger all having their issues in recent weeks, it’s opened the door for Jakob Poeltl to establish himself as a rotation player in the NBA. He’s grabbed that opportunity by the horns, delivering two solid starts, despite losing both games, and then working as the lone big man on the floor in a masterful fourth quarter comeback against Charlotte surrounded by guards.

#Standpat

Both sensible Celtic fans and the organization alike agree that the team is best suited to build for the future, when superpowers Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers burn out and when the young core of Marcus Smart, Terry Rozier, Jaylen Brown, Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn draft selections are ready to take over. This was evident when the Celtics refused to trade for DeMarcus Cousins, who would have costed the them Jaylen Brown and/or Brooklyn Picks.

Celtics G Bradley, F Brown out with injuries

Boston guard Avery Bradley and rookie forward Jaylen Brown have been ruled out for the Celtics’ final game before the All-Star break due to injuries. Gerald Green was questionable for Thursday night’s game at Chicago, but he entered in the first quarter.

NBA Capsules

Russell Westbrook scored 29 points and had his 26th triple-double of the season to help the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-109 on Thursday night. Victor Oladipo scored 23 points and Steven Adams had 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Thunder, who now can focus on their showdown with former teammate Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.

Thomas has 34 and Celtics beat Blazers 120-111

Isaiah Thomas scored 34 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter, and the Boston Celtics rebounded from a loss the previous night to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 120-111 on Thursday. Marcus Smart added 18 for the Celtics, who had seven scorers in double figures.

Collison scores 26, Kings snap Celtics’ 7-game win streak

Sacramento Kings guard Darren Collison, left, hits the ball out of the hands of Boston Celtics forward Amir Johnson during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, in Sacramento, Calif. less Sacramento Kings guard Darren Collison, left, hits the ball out of the hands of Boston Celtics forward Amir Johnson during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, in Sacramento, … more Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder, left, grabs an errant pass over Sacramento Kings forward Anthony Tolliver during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, in Sacramento, Calif.

Celtics winning streak ends with sloppy loss in Sacramento

For every night when it seems the Celtics can score with any team in the NBA, there comes a time like the one last night, when the make/miss principle takes a fateful turn. The Celtics’ seven-game winning streak hit a wall with last night’s 108-92 loss to the Kings, deprived for the night of the suspended DeMarcus Cousins.

Celtics winning streak ends with sloppy loss in Sacramento

For every night when it seems the Celtics can score with any team in the NBA, there comes a time like the one last night, when the make/miss principle takes a fateful turn. The Celtics’ seven-game winning streak hit a wall with last night’s 108-92 loss to the Kings, deprived for the night of the suspended DeMarcus Cousins.

Celtics win in Pierce’s farewell

Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas drives past Los Angeles Clippers guard Raymond Felton, behind, as Celtics forward Amir Johnson looks on in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Boston. ORG XMIT: MASR113 less Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas drives past Los Angeles Clippers guard Raymond Felton, behind, as Celtics forward Amir Johnson looks on in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 5, … more Isaiah Thomas stole the spotlight from Paul Pierce on Sunday, scoring 28 points to lead Boston to its seventh straight victory, a 107-102 win over the Los Angeles Clippers in the former Celtics captain’s final game in the Garden.

Celtics say goodbye to Pierce, beat Clippers 107-102

Isaiah Thomas bumped into Paul Pierce tooling around Boston on Saturday night and then stole the spotlight from the former Celtics captain on Sunday. With the crowd uncertain whether to cheer loudest for the Celtics or for Pierce – or for the Patriots in the Super Bowl – Thomas scored 28 points to lead Boston to its seventh straight victory, a 107-102 win over the Los Angeles Clippers in Pierce’s final game in the Garden.

Trade proposals from a Nuggets fan

I’ve been thinking over some scenarios that could benefit both of the Magic and Nuggets. I’ve been following the Magic for quite some time, even considered them my second favorite team in the league for a while.

Re: Pint-Sized Super-Human Isaiah Thomas Carries Celtics Over Raptors

It can be really tempting to make excuses for this one. The refs had a very interesting interpretation of the rules, DeMar DeRozan was out with injury, Patrick Patterson was on a minutes restrictions, they missed a fair amount of makeable shots and so on, but any game in which you build an 18 point 3rd quarter lead is a game that you should win.