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Celtics seek to be more physical in Game 2

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Celtics seek to be more physical in Game 2


The Celtics tied a franchise postseason record for made 3-pointers in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series. They blew out the Miami Heat by 20 points and led by as many as 34.

What must they do Wednesday night to avoid a Game 2 letdown? Ratchet up the physicality against their underdog opponents.

“Better is what we did with higher intensity and higher physicality,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said after Tuesday’s practice at the Auerbach Center. “I think that’s what Game 2s call for.”

Top-seeded Boston boasts a far more talented roster than No. 8 seed Miami, especially with Heat star Jimmy Butler expected to miss the entire series with a knee injury. That disparity showed in Sunday’s opener, with seven different Celtics sinking multiple threes and the team going 22-for-49 (44.9%) from deep in a 114-94 victory at TD Garden. The Heat went 12-for-37 (32.4%) from three, and half of their makes came in the fourth quarter with Boston up big.

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The Celtics’ intensity did wane at times, however. The Heat battled back from a 17-2 deficit in the first quarter and outscored Boston 35-23 in the fourth.

“If you think that you’re not going to see a different version of Miami (in Game 2), then you’re kidding yourself,” Mazzulla said of the team that eliminated the Celtics in two of the last four NBA postseasons. “So at the end of the day, it’s about giving what that game needs and having the expectation that it’s just going to be a fight, and just go get ready for a fight.”

Jaylen Brown reiterated that same word — “fight” — multiple times when describing what the Celtics must do to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

“Every game is a fight,” said Brown, who had 17 points and eight rebounds in Game 1. “You’ve got to win the game, and you’ve got to win the fight. Both of those things are important, and we embrace both. …

“We’ve got a good game plan (for Game 2). We feel good about it. But we’ve got to win the fight. I can’t stress that enough.”

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Speaking of fights, one nearly broke out on the court in the final minute of Game 1 after Heat forward Caleb Martin upended Celtics star Jayson Tatum while the latter was jumping for a rebound. Brown and Kristaps Porzingis rushed in to confront Martin, leading to a brief scuffle beneath the basket.

Brown said he sent a stern message to Martin, who was a surprise standout in Miami’s Eastern Conference finals upset of Boston last season. Martin scored four points in 29 minutes on Sunday and was 0-for-4 from 3-point range.

“I just told him to watch that, making sure it’s basketball plays being made out here,” Brown said. “We know they like to play hard and be physical, but there’s a line. So, making sure we’re not crossing the integrity of the game. I just told him to watch it.”

He added: “Seeing a guy go down, I’ve got my guy’s back 10 times out of 10.”

Game 2 at TD Garden tips off Wednesday night at 7 p.m. ET.

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Tatum fine after fall

Tatum was a full participant in Tuesday’s practice, according to Mazzulla, showing no ill effects from his late-game tumble two days earlier. Mazzulla also said he didn’t believe Martin’s hard foul was deliberate.

“I don’t think it was intentional,” Mazzulla said. “It’s obviously something that people can latch on to for two days, but I didn’t think it was really that intentional. I thought it was just, it is what it is.”

Despite struggling from beyond the arc (1-for-8), Tatum registered the first playoff triple-double of his career in Game 1, finishing with 23 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds. Porzingis called the five-time All-Star’s performance “beautiful” and “perfect.”

Mazzulla unbothered by awards snubs

Despite boasting easily the NBA’s best record, no Celtics were among the finalists for the league’s seven end-of-season awards, which were announced Monday.

That lack of individual recognition didn’t bother Mazzulla one bit.

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“No, not at all,” Boston’s head coach said. “I think it’s beautiful. … Why would you get an award for the past?”

Mazzulla said the snubs haven’t been a topic of conversation around the Celtics’ facility.

“The great thing about this team is I think from Day 1, we’ve appreciated the individual awards that we’ve gotten from the Player of the Month, Staff of the Month and whatnot,” he said. “But at the end of the day, I think one of the biggest strengths of this team is they haven’t had that agenda. None of the guys have brought it, and I don’t think it’s important at all because we’re all focused on what we need to do as a team.”

Oklahoma City’s Mark Daigneault, Minnesota’s Chris Finch and Orlando’s Jamahl Mosley were the three finalists for NBA Coach of the Year. Mazzulla was a finalist last season.



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

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


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

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


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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Red Sox at Reds preview: Sonny Gray makes his first start for Boston – The Boston Globe

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Red Sox at Reds preview: Sonny Gray makes his first start for Boston – The Boston Globe


Gray, acquired in a November trade from the St. Louis Cardinals, was one of Boston’s key rotation additions, along with Ranger Suarez, in the offseason. He was 14-8 with a 4.28 ERA in 2025.

“He’s very specific about his work. Every day has a purpose,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Gray. “Two hundred strikeouts, that’s something that we were looking for. The competitor. Every five days, this guy is going to give you everything.”

In his five career appearances against the Reds, Gray is 1-3 with a 4.18 ERA.

“It’s pretty much one of the only things that is continuing to push me, is to get to a World Series, to win a World Series, to pitch in big games,” said Gray. “I love the moment, and I am chasing that moment.”

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Here’s the preview:

RED SOX (1-0): TBA

Pitching: RHP Sonny Gray

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REDS (0-1): TBA

Pitching: RHP Brady Singer

Time: 4:10 p.m.

TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7

Red Sox vs. Singer: Wilyer Abreu 2-5, Roman Anthony 1-2, Willson Contreras 2-7, Jarren Duran 3-10, Caleb Durbin 0-1, Isiah Kiner-Falefa 6-16, Marcelo Mayer 0-1, Andruw Monasterio 1-4, Carlos Narváez 1-1, Ceddanne Rafaela 1-5, Trevor Story 0-4, Connor Wong 2-8, Masataka Yoshida 2-7

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Reds vs. Gray: Will Benson 0-5, Elly De La Cruz 5-11, TJ Friedl 1-8, Ke’Bryan Hayes 4-17, Nathaniel Lowe 2-10, Noelvi Marte 0-5, Matt McLain 2-2, Spencer Steer 4-9, Tyler Stephenson 0-8, Eugenio Suárez 7-13, Jose Trevino 0-2

Stat of the day: Sal Stewart become the first Cincinnati rookie since 1958 to record three hits on Opening Day.

Notes: Cincinnati sends righthander Brady Singer (14-12, 4.03 in 2025) to the mound … With Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo already on the injured list to start the season, Singer is considered one of Cincinnati’s most durable pitchers, leading the Reds with 32 starts last season … Singer has made five career starts against Boston, posting a 2-2 record with a 4.88 ERA over 24 innings … His last appearance against the Red Sox, on July 1 in Boston, ended after just three innings when he allowed two earned runs on three hits.


Cam Kerry can be reached at cam.kerry@globe.com.





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