Jason Kidd dropped a bomb on Saturday in an attempt to get into the Boston Celtics locker room. He claimed Jaylen Brown is the team’s best player, trying to split Brown and Jayson Tatum. As someone who’s been in The Finals as the star player, Kidd knows what he’s doing here.
“Jaylen’s their best player,” Kidd said. “Just looking at what he does defensively, he picked up Luka [Doncic] full court, he got to the free throw line, he did everything. That’s what your best player does.”
This comes after the Celtics dismantled Jason Kidd’s Dallas Mavericks 107-89 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Kidd is willing to do anything and everything possible to gain an edge ahead of Game 2, and it shows. It doesn’t quite seem to be working, though.
READ MORE: Dallas Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving Speaks on Hostile Boston Celtics Crowd, Chess Match of NBA Finals
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“No reaction. This is a team sport,” Tatum responded. “…We understand people try to drive a wedge between us. I guess it’s a smart thing to try to do. … This is not our first time at the rodeo.”
It appears the comments didn’t bother Tatum much, who used his gravity and passing ability to help control Game 1 of the series. Not only that, but it didn’t move Brown, either, as both claimed that basketball is a team game.
“I don’t have no reaction. It’s a team game,” Brown claimed.” I’m trying to focus on that. Everybody has their own opinions.”
Evidently, they’re right. It is a team basketball game, and the Celtics’ rotation from top to bottom is incredible. It’s the very reason Boston posted 64 wins in the regular season. Still, Kidd has to do anything possible to give his team an advantage in this series, even if the attempt is obvious and fails.
In Game 1, Mavericks’ Luka Doncic posted a game-high 30 points, but his supporting cast, including Kyrie Irving, simply wasn’t good enough. Outside of playing mind games through media, it’ll be interesting to see what Kidd has up his sleeve to either slow down the Celtics or get the rest of the Mavericks going.
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READ MORE: Kyrie Irving Has To Be Better For The Dallas Mavericks in The NBA Finals, And He Knows It
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Editor’s note:Follow live World Cup standings updates and analysis for the round of 32
Paraguay fans can breathe a sigh of relief, their team is headed to the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup.
Paraguay rebounded nicely after a tough first match against the United States, defeating Turkey and drawing Australia, finishing the group stage in third place and officially qualifying for the knockout rounds when Uruguay lost to Spain on Friday night.
However, it does not get easier from here, as Paraguay will take on Germany in the round of 32.
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SHOP: Paraguay vs. Germany World Cup tickets
The match will take place outside of Boston at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. and is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to buy tickets for Paraguay vs. Germany’s in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup.
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Germany vs. Paraguay round of 32 World Cup ticket price
With its Group E win, Germany will play its Round of 32 match at Gillette Stadium on Monday, June 29. As of publication, the cheapest available tickets for Germany’s game in Boston start at $1,044.
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Germany World Cup Round of 32 game information
Where: Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
What time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Tickets: Starting at $826
When: Monday, June 29
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More:Here’s how to buy 2026 World Cup Final tickets in New York
When is Paraguay vs. Germany World Cup game?
Germany clinched the top spot in Group E on Saturday, its Round of 32 match will take place on Monday, June 29.
Where is Paraguay vs. Germany World Cup game?
Germany and Paraguay will play their round of 32 game outside of Boston. This will be the team’s first game in Foxborough, Mass. for the tournament.
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Germany World Cup schedule
Sunday, June 14: Germany def. Curaçao WIN 7-1
Saturday, June 20: Germany vs. Ivory Coast WIN 2-1
Thursday, June 25: Germany vs. Ecuador LOSS 2-1
Monday, June 29: Germany vs Paraguay in Boston (round of 32) – Shop tickets
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World Cup Group E standings
Paraguay World Cup schedule
Paraguay vs. United States – LOSS 4-1
Paraguay vs. Turkey – WIN 1-0
Paraguay vs. Australia – DRAW 0-0
Monday, June 29 – Paraguay vs. Germany in Boston (round of 32) – Shop tickets
More: We ranked the 2026 FIFA World Cup jerseys, here are our favorites
The fifth World Cup match in Foxborough features two strong teams and two of the best strikers in the world.
Kylian Mbappé leads France against Erling Haaland and Norway in the final group-stage game being played in Foxborough. On Monday, Germany will take on a yet-to-be-determined opponent in a Round of 32 elimination game, and Foxborough’s final match will be a quarterfinal on July 9.
Here are scenes from Friday’s game from Globe photographers.
France superstar Kylian Mbappé (right) screams after one of teammate Ousmane Dembele’s goals.Christian Kantosky for The Boston Globe
France’s Jules Kounde (left) defends against Norway forward Andreas Schjelderup.Lane Turner/Globe Staff
France forward Ousmane Dembele celebrates after scoring one of his three first-half goals.Christian Kantosky for The Boston Globe
Erik Lunde, from California, attended the Group I match between France and Norway in Foxborough.Finn Gomez for The Boston Globe
Norway striker Erling Haaland, who did not start, warms up before the World Cup match against France.Christian Kantosky for The Boston Globe
Norway fans are fired up before the game against France.Lane Turner/Globe Staff
France forward Rayan Cherki (left) and Norway’s Erling Haaland, teammates at Manchester City, embrace before the start of the game.Lane Turner/Globe Staff
A Norway fan wore face paint and a Viking helmet for the game.Christian Kantosky for The Boston Globe
Norway fans filled the stands in Foxborough.Christian Kantosky for The Boston Globe
A France fan, complete with rooster headwear, waits for the start of the game.Lane Turner/Globe Staff
Robert Branchaud of Tewksbury is prepared for the Group I match between France and Norway.Finn Gomez for The Boston Globe
Fans begin to enter the stadium for the match between France and Norway.Finn Gomez for The Boston Globe
Howard Carlsson and Christian Loset of Drammen, Norway, pose for a photo before the game.Finn Gomez for The Boston Globe
Lane Turner can be reached at lane.turner@globe.com. Finn Gomez can be reached at finn.gomez@globe.com. Christian Kantosky can be reached at christian.kantosky@globe.com. Follow him on Instagram at @ckantoskyphoto.
