Boston, MA

AJ Dybantsa shines, but future NBA star’s Boston homecoming spoiled by UConn

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4 months ago

November 16, 2025

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AJ Dybantsa shines, but future NBA star’s Boston homecoming spoiled by UConn

Boston Celtics

“That’s as high a level of shot-making as you’re going to see in college basketball.”

AJ Dybantsa scored 25 points in his first college game in Boston. Barry Chin/Globe Staff

By Conor Ryan

November 16, 2025 | 12:24 AM

4 minutes to read

Saturday might have been an anticipated return to the Commonwealth for Brockton native AJ Dybantsa.

But the BYU star and projected top-three pick in the 2026 NBA Draft didn’t exactly receive the warmest welcome on the parquet floor at TD Garden.

The Massachusetts product might have had plenty of family and friends at TD Garden for the 18-year-old forward’s first game back on Causeway Street since his days playing for St. Sebastian’s.

But in a game against the No. 3-ranked UConn Huskies, Dybantsa and the No. 7 BYU Cougars were entering into enemy territory — with a majority of the Garden crowd donning Huskies gear.

“Just coming in as a freshman — it’s like a new environment,” Dybantsa said. “I mean, I’ve played in NBA arenas before, but I haven’t played in one feeling like this. And obviously they brought a lot of fans and everything like that. So I just had to stay calm, stay poised.”

Be it a hostile crowd, initial jitters in his return to Massachusetts, or a daunting matchup against an imposing UConn roster, Dybantsa labored out of the gate in Saturday’s heavyweight bout in the Hall of Fame series.

But not for long.

After posting four points in the first half, Dybantsa helped turn a potential blowout for the Cougars into a nailbiter — finishing with 21 points over the final 20 minutes of play en route to an eventual 86-84 Huskies win.

“That’s as high a level of shot-making as you’re going to see in college basketball,” UConn head coach Dan Hurley said of Dybantsa, who closed the game with a game-high 25 points, six rebounds, and two steals. “I mean, that guy with the threes — he hasn’t been making threes at least to start the year, he’s been a rim guy. But he had the whole bag going tonight.”

Despite Dybantsa’s heroics down the stretch, it wasn’t enough to topple a UConn squad that built an early lead and did not relinquish it — despite several attempts from the Cougars to claw back.

For all of the talk of Dybantsa’s return to Massachusetts, it was also a welcome homecoming for Huskies redshirt senior Alex Karaban — with the Southborough native standing as one of three UConn players to post 21 points to go along with three rebounds, two steals, and a block.

“I loved it,” Karaban said of playing at TD Garden. “I mean, I definitely had this game circled. … It was special. Some of my favorite games of my UConn career were the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games when we came here two years ago. So just being blessed to have the opportunity to come back here, play with another UConn squad was awesome. I loved every second of it.”

“I mean, AJ deserves it,” Karaban added of the hype around Dybantsa. “He’s one hell of a player, just what he’s done for Boston. … He deserved the homecoming too.”

That praise wasn’t necessarily shared by a boisterous UConn crowd, especially during the opening 20 minutes of action.

As his offensive game labored in the first half, Dybantsa was subject to jeers of “overrated!” as his shots continued to clang off the rim.

All it took was a couple of successful jumpers early in the second half to help the explosive forward start settling into a rhythm. Once Dybantsa’s shots from both midrange and beyond the arc started to fall, what was once a 20-point lead for the Huskies started to drain as Dybantsa’s confidence grew.

Even though he didn’t shred UConn in transition, Dybantsa used his strong frame to drive to the rim in crunch time — drawing fouls and finishing through contact.

With Celtics Jaylen Brown and Derrick White in attendance, Dybantsa and the Cougars cut the lead all the way down to two points with under 30 seconds to go.

But when handed a chance to take the lead, BYU’s Robert Wright III lost the handle on the ball — with UConn’s Silas Demary Jr. recovering the turnover to snuff out any hope of a Cougars comeback.

Despite the setback for Dybantsa and BYU, Hurley doled out plenty of praise for the future NBA star — whose stock should continue to soar as this season continues.

“Just the growth and his approach,” Hurley said of what has stood out about Dybantsa. “Sometimes you watch these kids, they come into college, these high draft picks, and it’s been over the course of years and years and years. You can see on film — the entitlement, the spoiled entitlement, the not guarding, the not being about the team. … I’m watching [his] evolution from game to game to tonight.

“I mean, this guy’s out there guarding, he’s on the backboard, he’s communicating with his teammates, and he’s playing with a level of desperation to win the game.

“For a guy that’s going to be maybe the number one pick — it’s a little refreshing to see this guy and the mental toughness. I mean, his first half was a mess, and for him to be able to put that behind him back home and putting that second-half performance on was as good as you’ll see from a freshman.”

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.

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Boston Celtics Star Jayson Tatum Made History In Hornets Game

Published

2 hours ago

March 30, 2026

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Boston Celtics Star Jayson Tatum Made History In Hornets Game

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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 01: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts in the first quarter during their game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on November 01, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

On Sunday night, the Boston Celtics played the Charlotte Hornets in North Carolina.

The Celtics won by a score of 114-99.

Boston Celtics Star Jayson Tatum Made History

GettyFOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – MARCH 26: Jayson Tatum, player of Boston Celtics looks on prior to the international friendly match between Brazil and France at Gillette Stadium on March 26, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Jayson Tatum finished the win with 32 points, five rebounds, eight assists and one block while shooting 12/23 from the field and 5/10 from three-point range in 31 minutes of playing time.

Tatum also made history during the game.

Celtics Stats wrote: “Jayson Tatum scored his 14,000th career point tonight at Charlotte, becoming the ninth player in franchise history to reach that mark.”

GettyBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MARCH 06: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the second quarter at TD Garden on March 06, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Tatum is now averaging 20.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.1 steals per contest while shooting 39.9% from the field and 32.3% from three-point range in 11 games this season.

Celtics Stats added: “Jayson Tatum recorded a season-high 32 points tonight at Charlotte. It marked his 16th career game with at least 30 points without committing a turnover – the most in franchise history.”

GettyCHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 02: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics dunks against the Charlotte Hornets during the second half of the game at Spectrum Center on November 02, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Celtics After Hornets Victory

GettyDETROIT, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 26: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on against the Detroit Pistons during the second quarter at Little Caesars Arena on October 26, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

With their win over the Hornets, the Celtics improved to 50-24 in 74 games, which has them as the second seed in the Eastern Conference.

They are in the middle of a three-game winning streak (and have won seven out of their last ten).

On the road, the Celtics have gone 24-13.

Following the Hornets, they will play their next game on Monday night when they visit the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena in Georgia.

GettyBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MARCH 08: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics talks with head coach Joe Mazzulla during the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers at TD Garden on March 08, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 111-101. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

With Tatum playing like himself, the Celtics will have a real chance to win their second title in three years.

They are coming off a year where they lost to Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks in the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs.

Hornets After Boston Loss

GettyCHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 26: (R-L) LaMelo Ball #1 talks with Moussa Diabate #14 of the Charlotte Hornets in the second half against the New York Knicks during their game at Spectrum Center on March 26, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

The Hornets dropped to 39-36 in 75 games, which has them as the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference.

They are in the middle of a two-game losing skid (but have won seven out of ten).

Ben Stinar Ben Stinar has been covering the NBA for over seven years.

He has written for OnSI, Forbes, Amico Hoops, The Big Lead and had a podcast with former All-Star Jameer Nelson. More about Ben Stinar

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!$+∇√$[+[!LIVESTREAMs!]+] Minnesota Wild vs Boston Bruins Live Free Streams On Tv Channel 2026-03-29

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14 hours ago

March 29, 2026

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Minnesota Wild vs Boston Bruins

HERE’S (*WAY TO WATCH*) Minnesota Wild VS Boston Bruins Ｆｒｅｅ LIVE 2026-03-29 Rose Bowl Parade 2026 live: Rose Bowl Parade 2026 look to seize control of thrilling Rose Bowl Parade 2026. Every team in the Rose Bowl Parade 2026 has two wins apiece as we go into the final two game weeks. Rose Bowl Parade 2026 will host Rose Bowl Parade 2026 at Live NHL mAtch Durban’s Kings Park Stadium with the Rose Bowl Parade 2026 a single point ahead of Rose Bowl Parade 2026 in the standings and just one behind leaders Rose Bowl Parade 2026.

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+)WAY TO WATCH Ｆｒｅｅ Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals LIVE

Published

1 day ago

March 29, 2026

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Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals

Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals LIVE GAME: Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals look to seize control of thrilling Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals. Every team in the Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals has two wins apiece as we go into the final two game weeks. Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals will host Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals at Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals Park Stadium with the Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals a single point ahead of Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals in the standings and just one behind leaders Boston Legacy FC vs Utah Royals.

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