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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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Boston, MA

What a World Cup ‘fan zone’ is and what Boston fans can expect in 2026

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What a World Cup ‘fan zone’ is and what Boston fans can expect in 2026


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The FIFA World Cup is coming to Massachusetts, and when it comes to having a place for people to hang out together, there will be a free fan zone where everyone can celebrate the big event.

Seven World Cup matches will take place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA this summer, and the first one is right around the corner, to be played on June 13, with Scotland taking on Haiti.

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Fan Zones are a public space to watch the game for people who don’t have tickets to the actual game. Held in public places, they broadcast the mach on giant screens to offer an immersive experience to watch the game, according to FIFA>

“At the heart of FIFA Fan Festival Boston, (a) Cultural Showcase will ignite the stage with a vibrant celebration of the spirit, creativity, and cultural heartbeat of Boston and communities across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” FIFA said.

Where will the fan zone be located when the World Cup games start in just 11 days?

Where is the World Cup fan zone going to be in Massachusetts?

The official FIFA Fan Festival for the 2026 World Cup in Boston will be located at Boston City Hall Plaza at 1 City Hall Sq. Boston, MA.

“The festival will run daily from June 12 through June 27, offering live match broadcasts, cultural showcases, food vendors, and entertainment,” according to FIFA.

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The fan zone will open between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and will stay open until after dark, between 8:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. according to reports.

Activities at the fan zone

Here are some of the offerings at the fan zone in Boston, according to the FIFA website:

  • Live broadcasts: Giant outdoor screens that broadcast tournament matches in high-definition.
  • Entertainment & music: Live concerts, DJ sets, and performances celebrating global culture.
  • Interactive activations: Skills challenges, mini-pitches, inflatable games, and sponsor booths.
  • Food & merch: International food stalls, local beverage offerings, and official tournament merchandise.

How to go to the fan zone

While the game is free, you do need to register in advance.

“You can select which days and matches you plan to attend through the FIFA World Cup Boston 2026 website or the Meet Boston events page. Up to six people can register on a single application,” the World Cup Boston website says.

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Who Will Form the Boston Bruins’ Future Core?

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Who Will Form the Boston Bruins’ Future Core?


The Boston Bruins increasingly relied on a new wave of young players in the 2025-26 season. Their speed and energy became an intrinsic part of the team’s structure, complementing a more experienced core. Boston entered the offseason on May 2 after a 4-1 loss to Buffalo in Game 6 of the first round. Despite this, […] The post Who Will Form the Boston Bruins’ Future Core? appeared first on The Lead.



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Updating Red Sox’s Playoff Chances: Numbers Never Lie | NESN

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Updating Red Sox’s Playoff Chances: Numbers Never Lie | NESN


So you’re saying there’s a chance? Despite an abysmal start to the 2026 season, the Boston Red Sox remain in the mix for a playoff spot. At least according to FanGraphs, who gives the club a 27.1% chance of reaching the postseason.

Boston’s likely path to October means winning the wild card. FanGraphs gives the Red Sox a 26.1% chance of winning an American League wild card. The team currently sits threes games back of the third and final wild card, despite a record of 25-33.

Don’t look for a division title this year in Beantown. FanGraphs gives the Red Sox a 1% chance of winning the AL East. Which makes sense, since the team currently sits in last place, 11.5 games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays.

But SI’s Tom Verducci and Will Laws thinks Boston has a much tougher chance of making the playoffs. In their deep dive of the postseason, the pair came up with what they call the “Line of Doom.” According to their research, a team that starts “no better than 23–31 and your season is almost over only one-third of the way through the schedule.” Here’s why.

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“In the wild card era (since 1995), only one team made the postseason starting with less than 22 wins in the first 54 games, the 2005 Astros (20–34). Of the 231 teams to start 23–31 or worse, only seven made the playoffs—once every 33 times,” Verducci and Laws note.

“Since the postseason field expanded in 2022, 31 teams began 23–31 or worse. Only one, the 2024 Mets (22–32), made the playoffs. That leaves such slow starters with a 1 in 31 chance—virtually the same as the larger sample size,” the pair add.

“The fact is one-third of the season does a good job separating pretenders from contenders. And as the calendar flips to June, understand that the playoff spots won’t change very much. In the four seasons with 12 playoff spots up for grabs, teams in playoff position when May ended kept a playoff spot 73% of the time—35 of 48 teams,” Verducci and Laws conclude.

So what does this have to do with the Red Sox, you ask? It’s Boston’s record after 54 games: 23-31. The “Line of Doom.”

More MLB: Red Sox Legend Backs ‘Worried’ John Henry

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