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Celtics vs. Raptors preview: Boston readies for NBA’s worst – The Boston Globe

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Celtics vs. Raptors preview: Boston readies for NBA’s worst – The Boston Globe


Only three teams have gotten in the Celtics’ way so far, and there aren’t many challenges on the horizon. Saturday night will likely be no exception.

Boston, ranked second in the Eastern Conference standings, will host the Toronto Raptors. The Celtics hope to revive a win streak that hasn’t exceeded two games since early November.

At 2-11, the Raptors have the worst record in the NBA. Center Jakob Poeltl ranks seventh in the league with a team-leading 11.1 rebounds per game. Shooting guard RJ Barrett has the ninth-most turnovers in the league (3.6).

With small forward Jayson Tatum at the helm, the reigning champions have thrived this season. Tatum averages 30.2 points and 4.2 3-pointers, ranking third and fourth in the league, respectively.

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But, his career performance against Toronto is significantly lower. In 23 games, he’s averaged 18.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists.

Let’s get into it.

When: Saturday, 8 p.m.

Where: TD Garden, Boston

TV, radio: NBCSB, WBZ-FM 98.5

Line: Boston -16.5. O/U: 228.5.

RAPTORS

Season record: 2-10. vs. spread: 8-4. Over/under: 7-5

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Last 10 games: 1-9. vs. spread: 7-3. Over/under: 5-5

CELTICS

Season record: 10-3. vs. spread: 7-6. Over/under: 6-6, 1 push

Last 10 games: 7-3. vs. spread: 5-5. Over/under: 4-5, 1 push

TEAM STATISTICS

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Points per game: Toronto 112.8, Boston 121.3

Points allowed per game: Toronto 120.8, Boston 110.5

Field goal percentage: Toronto .458, Boston .461

Opponent field goal percentage: Toronto .478, Boston .466

3-point percentage: Toronto .332, Boston .373

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Opponent 3-point percentage: Toronto .346, Boston .344

Stat of the day: The Celtics averaged 109 points across 15 wins and five losses since Sept. 2020 against the Raptors.

Notes: The Raptors will attempt to collect their first road victory Saturday night when they visit the Celtics for the first of four meetings between the teams this season. … The Raptors are 0-7 in road games. The Celtics are only 3-2 at home but 10-3 overall. … It will be the second game in as many nights for Toronto, which is coming off Friday night’s 99-95 loss against Detroit in the second NBA Cup game for each team. The loss extended Toronto’s overall losing streak to six games. … Boston hasn’t played since it beat Brooklyn 139-114 Wednesday night. … The 139 points were the most the Celtics have scored in a game this season. Boston scored 74 points in the second half. … Tatum, at an average of 30.2 points a game, and Brown (25.4) are Boston’s leading scorers this season. Tatum also leads the team in rebounds (7.6) and steals (1.5). Brown is second on the team in rebounds (7.2) and is tied with Pritchard for second in steals (1.2).


Alexa Podalsky can be reached at alexa.podalsky@globe.com.

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Boston, MA

New York Yankees Legend Rips Boston Red Sox for ‘Trash’ Move

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New York Yankees Legend Rips Boston Red Sox for ‘Trash’ Move


Gerrit Cole throws and participates in drills in Tampa | Yankees Spring Training

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Lukas Reichel has goal and assist in Boston debut to help Bruins top Jets 6-1

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Lukas Reichel has goal and assist in Boston debut to help Bruins top Jets 6-1


Boston Bruins

Boston was coming off overtime losses at New Jersey on Monday night and Montreal on Tuesday night.

Boston Bruins left wing Lukas Reichel (75) shoots the puck past Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) for a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) AP

BOSTON (AP) — Lukas Reichel had a goal and an assist in his Boston debut, Jeremy Swayman made 22 saves and the Bruins beat the Winnipeg Jets 6-1 on Thursday night to end a two-game losing streak.

David Pastrnak scored his 27th goal of the season and had an assist. Viktor Arvidsson and Pavel Vacha also each had a goal and assist, and Fraser Minten and Jonathan Aspirot added late goals.

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Fighting for one of the final Eastern Conference playoff spots, the Bruins finished in regulation for only the second time in seven games. They were coming off overtime losses at New Jersey on Monday night and Montreal on Tuesday night.

Jonathan Toews ended Swayman’s shutout bid on a tip-in at 5:38 of the third. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 22 shots for Winnipeg.

Reichel came to Boston from Vancouver at the trade deadline and was recalled from Providence of the American Hockey League on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old German winger Reichel made it 2-0 at 6:23 of the second period. Hellebuyck misplayed the puck behind the net on a wraparound, inadvertently knocking it out front for Reichel to swat in.

Pastrnak opened the scoring with 5:08 left in the first. He got the puck back off his own rebound, moved to the front and fired in a wrister.

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Arvidsson knocked in a backhander off a scramble with 1:44 remaining in the second, and Zacha scored at 3:15 of the third.

After Toews put Winnipeg on the board, Minten had a tip-in with 4:08 left and Aspirot capped the scoring with 1:42 to go.

The Jets opened a three-game trip after an eight-game homestand.

Jets: At Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Bruins: At Detroit on Saturday night.

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Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy wins 2026 Red Smith Award – The Boston Globe

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Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy wins 2026 Red Smith Award – The Boston Globe


Few columnists can say their words triggered that kind of reaction. Shaughnessy could and often did.

It’s work like that and much more over a 53-year career that has earned Shaughnessy the 2026 Red Smith Award. The award is presented by the Associated Press Sports Editors each year to a writer or editor who has made major contributions to sports journalism.

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Shaughnessy grew up in Groton, Mass., about 35 miles west of Fenway Park. His love of Boston sports comes naturally. His knowledge and experience are unquestioned. But as a sports columnist, he has long been a polarizing figure.

“He views himself as the ombudsman for the fans,’’ said Bob Ryan, his fellow Globe columnist and a Red Smith Award winner, too. “He definitely feels that his job as a columnist is to afflict the comfortable. He inherently challenges authority. He knows there’s going to be pushback. He doesn’t mind it; he can take it. He is fearless in that regard.’’

There has certainly been pushback in sublime and ridiculous ways.

At Fenway Park, Shaughnessy likes to position himself on the suite level during games. People with information they want to share are constantly parading past. Unhappy with this, Red Sox management instructed a security guard to escort him back to the press box. Undaunted, Shaughnessy solved the problem by getting a ticket from a suite owner he knew.

Then there was the man in full clown regalia on the streets of New Orleans before the Super Bowl in 1997 who recognized him.

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“Shaughnessy, you suck,’’ he yelled.

Dan’s response: “Well, you’re a clown.’’

None of it ever stopped him from writing what he believed needed to be said. He is known for biting criticism, but he is a gifted writer when crafting a poignant, touching tale.

“Whatever he was doing, whether as a beat writer or a columnist, he would always know what story was the most important one to write,’’ said Don Skwar, the Globe sports editor who named Shaughnessy a columnist. “He’s a really good reporter and he knew what people wanted to read about. He had a bead on what was most important.’’

Despite his reputation, not every reader, fan, athlete or coach dislikes Dan. In fact, perhaps the grumpiest of all, Bill Belichick, likes him. During one Super Bowl week, Belichick agreed to take a survey Dan devised, featuring questions of incredible importance, such as Coke or Pepsi? Mary Ann or Ginger?

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That may seem trivial; Dan’s work mostly wasn’t.

He has been named the Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year 14 times and has earned APSE Top 10 columnist honors in the large-circulation category 15 times, including this year. He is the author of 13 books, most notably “The Curse of the Bambino,’’ which chronicled the tribulations of the Red Sox as they failed to win the World Series from 1918 until 2004.

Despite his great love of sports, Dan himself would acknowledge he was not a great athlete. It makes it all the more remarkable that he and his wife of 44 years, Marilou, have had three Division 1 athletes – daughters Sarah and Kate, and son Sam. With five grandchildren, there may be more big-time athletes on the way.

Despite a career forged in print journalism (and Dan has never forsaken his beloved print readers), he clearly discerned the best way to acquire readers was to adapt to the changes in how his column was delivered. He adapted his habits to make sure his column was in front of online readers at the best time of day.

His columnist persona is also balanced by his charitable work, notably with The Jimmy Fund and UNICEF. His connection to The Jimmy Fund is especially personal – his daughter Kate is a leukemia survivor. His co-workers will tell you he is a great teammate, someone willing to assist colleagues from the sports department’s high school writers to its managers, and even the Globe’s “Love Letters’’ columnist.

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Shaughnessy was honored by the Baseball Hall of Fame with the BBWAA Career Excellence Award in 2016. He is the ninth person to win that award and the Red Smith, joining Red Smith, Shirley Povich, Jim Murray, Joe McGuff, Wendell Smith, Sam Lacey, Jerome Holtzman, and Thomas Boswell.

He is the sixth person associated with the Boston Globe to receive the Red Smith Award, joining Bud Collins, Dave Smith, Vince Doria, Leigh Montville, and Ryan.

Garry D. Howard, Hal Bodley, Mark Whicker, Michael Wilbon, and Gary Smith were the next five candidates receiving the highest totals in this year’s Red Smith voting and will automatically return to the ballot in 2027.

Joe Sullivan was sports editor of the Boston Globe from 2004 to 2018.





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