Boston, MA
Celtics Rumors: Boston Interested In Reunion With Preseason Standout
The Boston Celtics underwent a preseason split with guard Lonnie Walker IV, but the reigning champs haven’t taken their eyes off the six-year veteran.
Walker agreed to a one-year, Exhibit 10 contract with the Celtics in August just before training camp commenced. It was a low-risk, high-reward move by team president of basketball operations Brad Stevens, who with limited financial wiggle room, sought out ways to improve the team’s roster ahead of its title defense.
That didn’t work out.
Now, as Walker’s settled in with the Žalgiris Kaunas of the EuroLeague, the Celtics are among five “potential suitors,” according to NBA insider Marc Stein, to sign Walker and bring him back. The Philadephia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets are the others Walker is rumored to have garnered interest from.
It seemed like a perfect fit in Boston, especially once Walker took the floor for the Celtics in the preseason. The 26-year-old made four appearances, averaged 7.3 points on 42.9% shooting from the field and scored 20 points in 30 minutes during the team’s second-to-last preseason matchup against the Toronto Raptors. Stevens, seemingly, had the next depth fleece in the palm of his hands, however, once the luxury tax caught up to the Celtics it became time to cut ties with Walker — his league-minimum contract would’ve cost Boston over $10 million on top of its over $600 million offseason spree.
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“This is a championship organization coming off a championship year,” Walker said of the Celtics during team media day, per NBC Sports Boston. “It means a lot (to put on this jersey), and you kind of come into here with the championship mindset, not skipping no steps, being to the best of your capability, you owe it to your teammates each and every day to be 100 percent and be prepared, mentally and physically.”
Boston, MA
Weekend To Do List: Holiday light shows across Massachusetts
BOSTON – Happy New Year! It’s officially 2025, so why not start the new year with some fun, family-friendly light displays across Massachusetts?
Winterlights in Canton
Winterlights is open at the Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate through January 4. The outdoor light show is fun for the entire family! They have warm cocoa, cider, and hand-baked desserts. Cozy up while you walk through the mile-long trail from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate, Canton
When: January 3 and 4 from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Cost: $30 for adults, $12 for children ages 3-13, and free for children under 2. Tickets are $5 cheaper for members. Concession items are available for purchase.
Click here for more information.
Winterlights on the North Shore
If you can’t make it to Canton to enjoy the Winterlights, they also have one on the North Shore! The Stevens-Coolidge House and Gardens in North Andover will be lit up for an outdoor experience. It’s open through Saturday from 4:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. Be sure to get your tickets in advance for either Winterlights experience.
Where: Stevens-Coolidge House and Gardens, North Andover
When: January 3 and 4 from 4:30 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Cost: $30 for adults, $12 for children ages 3-13, and free for children under 2. Tickets are $5 cheaper for members. Concession items are available for purchase.
Click here for more information.
2024 JP Holiday Light Show
If you’re in the Boston area, Jamaica Plain hosts an annual holiday light show! The event projects the lights onto the steeple of Jamaica Plain’s First Baptist Church every thirty minutes from 5 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Be sure to scan the QR code while there to listen to the music and dialogue for the event in Spanish or English!
Where: First Baptist Church, 633 Centre St, Jamaica Plain
When: January 3 and 4 from 5 p.m. through 8:45 p.m.
Cost: Free
Click here for more information.
Boston, MA
Bruins Notes: Boston's Scoring Woes Continue In Loss To Struggling Rangers
The Boston Bruins are simply having an excruciating time finding the back of the net.
For the second straight game, the Bruins had their chances but managed to score just one goal. After a couple of defensive lapses in the first period, they lost a 2-1 decision to the New York Rangers on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.
“I like the effort for the most part of our group,” interim head coach Joe Sacco told Andy Brickley on NESN’s postgame. “I thought that the guys tried to execute the game plan. I feel like we’re trying to make a better play all the time right now in situations where we can put the puck to the net and create some more opportunities for us that way.
“But, you score one goal the last two games, it’s tough. It puts a lot of pressure on your team’s defense. We’re still defending fairly well, but we’ve got to find a way to be more consistent offensively.”
The Bruins outplayed the Rangers for most of the game, but with the Rangers leading 2-0 at the end of the first period, Jonathan Quick did a great job of preserving the two-goal lead.
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“We had a lot of chances, but we didn’t capitalize,” David Pastrnak told reporters in New York. “It’s tough because their goalie played amazing. I thought, especially in the second period, we had the opportunity to tie the game. We played really well, and the chances were there. We just didn’t capitalize.”
Here are more notes from Thursday’s Bruins-Rangers game:
— The Rangers snapped a four-game losing skid with the win over the Bruins. They had lost seven of their last eight and 15 of their last 19.
— Jeremy Swayman stopped 25-of-27 shots he faced and fell to 13-12-3 on the season.
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— The Bruins fell to 8-12-2 on the season when opponents score first, 11-10-1 against Eastern Conference opponents and 5-7-0 against teams in the Metropolitan Division. Boston is 0-3-1 against New York in their last four meetings dating back to last season. The two Original Six franchises will play two more times this season — Feb. 1 in Boston and Feb. 5 in New York.
— Elias Lindholm tallied the only Bruins goal of the game, his seventh of the season. He has faced Quick in 14 games and has four career goals against the Connecticut native.
— Both clubs had one power play opportunity but were unable to capitalize on the man advantage. Neither team registered a shot on goal while skating 5-on-4.
— Quick improved to 14-6-1 against the Bruins in 21 games with the Los Angeles Kings and Rangers.
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— The Bruins complete their three-game road trip on Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Puck drop for the Original Six matchup is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, and you can watch the game on NESN, following an hour of pregame coverage.
Boston, MA
Celtics Injury Report: Boston May Face Timberwolves Down Two Stars
Ahead of Thursday night’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Boston Celtics could be without a pair of ailing starters.
Per the NBA’s most recent injury report, three-time Celtics All-Star small forward Jaylen Brown and one-time All-Star Boston center Kristaps Porzingis are both considered questionable to suit up.
Brown is dealing with a strained right shoulder. The 6-foot-6 wing out of the University of California at Berkeley was seen with several ice packs strapped to his shoulder at the end of Boston’s masterful 125-71 blowout victory over the lowly Toronto Raptors on New Year’s Eve.
Read More: Celtics Make Franchise History with Dominant New Year’s Eve Victory Over Raptors
In that game, Brown had to play just 25 minutes, scoring 12 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the floor, grabbing nine rebounds, dishing out three assists, and swiping one steal. On the year, Brown is averaging 24.4 points while slashing .461/.332/.734 shooting splits, 6.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.4 steals in 28 healthy games.
Porzingis has been struggling with a left ankle sprain since his team’s 118-114 Christmas Day defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 7-foot-2 big man has been healthy for just 11 games this season, but in those contests has looked like his typical two-way self. Porzingis is averaging 18.3 points on .453/.328/.849 shooting splits, 6.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.5 blocks and 0.7 blocks a night.
Two-way Celtics players JD Davison and Anton Watson are on assignment with Boston’s G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics, as is rookie guard Baylor Scheierman.
For the Timberwolves, rookie lottery pick Rob Dillingham is sidelined with a right ankle sprain and veteran big man Luka Garza remains on the shelf with a sprained left ankle. Two-way players Jaylen Clark and Jesse Edwards are away from the team, working with the club’s NBAGL squad, the Iowa Wolves.
The two clubs, who both made the league’s final four last season (Minnesota was eliminated from the Western Conference by the Dallas Mavericks, while Boston beat Dallas in the NBA Finals), took wildly different approaches to their respective offseasons. The Celtics brought back all of their important players, while the Timberwolves traded away a pricey All-Star, power forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns, in exchange for cheaper ex-New York Knicks All-Star power forward Julius Randle and shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo. Boston has thrived in its title defense so far, going 24-9 on the year and earning the East’s No. 2 overall seed so far. Minnesota, meanwhile, is just 17-15 in the loaded West, good for just the No. 8 seed.
The action tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Target Center.
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