BOSTON (AP) — No unprecedented comeback, no last-tick miracle, no cavalcade of higher seeds is going to prevent these Miami Heat from playing for the NBA title.
Eastern Conference finals Most Valuable Player Jimmy Butler scored 28 points, and Caleb Martin had 26 points and 10 rebounds to help the eighth-seeded Heat beat Boston 103-84 in Game 7 on Monday night and advance to the NBA Finals for the second time in four seasons.
NBA Finals berth at stake as Heat, Celtics prepare for Game 7
May 28, 2023 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Moments after Boston's dramatic win at Miami on Saturday night, Jaylen Brown began thinking about the future. He raised his hands, put up seven fingers and began yelling, “Game 7! Game 7!”
Boston, Miami set for game 7 conference finals matchup
May 28, 2023 GMTMiami Heat (44-38, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (57-25, second in the Eastern Conference)
Boston; Monday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: Celtics -8; over/under is 203.5
White’s putback as time expires lifts Celtics past Heat, forces Game 7 in East finals
May 28, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — The Boston Celtics were a tenth of a second away from elimination. The Miami Heat were a tenth of a second from the NBA Finals.
Derrick White owned that final moment.
White scored on a putback as time expired and the Boston Celtics moved to the brink of the greatest comeback in NBA playoffs history, holding off the Miami Heat 104-103 on Saturday night to force a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference finals.
Bucks finalizing deal to make Raptors’ Adrian Griffin their head coach, AP source says
May 27, 2023 GMTMILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks are finalizing a deal to make Adrian Griffin their head coach after he spent the last five seasons as a Toronto Raptors assistant, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.
MIAMI (AP) — Maybe Kevin Garnett was right. Maybe, as he screamed in celebration of Boston’s 2008 NBA championship, anything truly is possible.
NBA Playoffs: Celtics’ starters come up with a bit of history in Game 5 win over Heat
May 26, 2023 GMTThe Boston Celtics aren't done yet.
The Celtics — once down 3-0 in the Eastern Conference finals — are now within 3-2, after leading the whole way and topping the Miami Heat 110-97 on Thursday night.
Miami looks to clinch conference finals in game 6
May 26, 2023 GMTBoston Celtics (57-25, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. Miami Heat (44-38, eighth in the Eastern Conference)
Miami; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: Heat -3; over/under is 211
BOSTON (AP) — The Miami Heat insist they are as confident as ever, even after missing two chances to eliminate the Boston Celtics.
They will get the next one, Jimmy Butler said.
“It’s going to be all smiles,” Butler said after the Celtics won 110-97 on Thursday night to cut the Heat’s lead in the series to 3-2.
BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics have looked elimination in the face four times this postseason and still haven't blinked.
Derrick White had 24 points, including six 3-pointers, and the Celtics dominated the Miami Heat 110-97 on Thursday night in Game 5 to extend the Eastern Conference finals.
BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics’ season didn’t end in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference finals matchup with the Miami Heat, and now there is a flicker of hope.
Whether Boston’s 116-99 victory on Tuesday night was the start of a miraculous revival or simply a momentary reprieve from what NBA history suggests is still inevitable remains to be determined.
MIAMI (AP) — Down nine early in the third quarter, down 3-0 in the series, the Boston Celtics knew their season was completely on the brink.
Three minutes later, everything looked different.
Jayson Tatum had 33 points and 11 rebounds, Jaylen Brown added 17 points and the Celtics staved off elimination in the Eastern Conference finals by running away in the second half to beat the Miami Heat 116-99 in Game 4 on Tuesday night.
Celtics look to pull off the impossible, as Heat stand on brink of making NBA Finals
May 23, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Blown out in Game 3, facing elimination in Game 4, tasked with engineering the sort of comeback that no team in their league has ever pulled off before.
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The chants of fans in Florida drowned out the public-address announcer at the end of the game Monday night, making it impossible to hear his call of the first star of the game.
NEWTON, Mass. (AP) — Even though the odds are against them, former Red Sox slugger and Hall of Famer David Ortiz isn't giving up on the Boston Celtics.
“Big Papi” knows no NBA team has recovered from an 0-3 deficit like the Celtics face in the Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat.
Miami aims to clinch conference finals in game 4
May 22, 2023 GMTBoston Celtics (57-25, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. Miami Heat (44-38, eighth in the Eastern Conference)
Miami; Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: Heat -1.5; over/under is 215.5
MIAMI (AP) — Joe Mazzulla’s roller-coaster season is at its lowest. And with the Boston Celtics now on the brink of elimination, the first-year coach is blaming himself.
MIAMI (AP) — Erik Spoelstra had his team fully expecting that Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals would be extremely difficult, that the Miami Heat were going to have to take the best shot that a desperate bunch of Boston Celtics could muster.
Jim Brown Appreciation: Remembering Hall of Fame running back’s lasting impact on and off field
May 20, 2023 GMTCLEVELAND (AP) — Jim Brown was both extraordinary and extraordinarily complicated.
One man. Many versions.
His greatness on the football field is beyond reproach. For generations, Brown, who died Thursday night peacefully at his home in Los Angeles, has long been the standard of excellence for running backs, a freakish blend of brute power and blazing speed who in many ways changed the NFL forever.
MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler is Miami’s leader this postseason in points, minutes, assists and steals per game. He’s the sommelier at team dinners. He’s the barista when it’s time for coffee.
Adebayo and the Heat host Boston with 2-0 series lead
May 20, 2023 GMTBoston Celtics (57-25, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. Miami Heat (44-38, eighth in the Eastern Conference)
Miami; Sunday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: Heat -3; over/under is 214
Celtics pay price for Williams dust up, Tatum’s cold finish in East finals Game 2 loss
May 20, 2023 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Grant Williams poked Jimmy Butler, Jayson Tatum went cold again in the fourth quarter and the Boston Celtics are staring at a 2-0 deficit in the Eastern Conference finals.
Throughout the season, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has trumpeted his team's ability to respond with angry resilience following poor outings.
BOSTON (AP) — Jimmy Butler went forehead-to-forehead with the Boston Celtics, and the Heat are heading back to Miami with an opportunity to advance to the NBA Finals.
Butler scored 27 points, hitting back-to-back buckets to tie the game and give Miami the lead, and the eighth-seeded Heat left Boston with a 111-105 victory Friday night and a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
BOSTON (AP) — The latest Eastern Conference finals pairing between the Heat and Celtics will be a matchup that ultimately turns on the play stars like Jimmy Butler and Jayson Tatum.
But Miami’s 123-116 Game 1 victory also showed how the tactical battle between rookie coach Joe Mazzulla and veteran counterpart Erik Spoelstra will also play a big factor.
BOSTON (AP) — The Miami Heat were in need of a calming presence following a sluggish start to their latest conference finals showdown with the Boston Celtics.
Miami takes 1-0 lead into game 2 against Boston
May 18, 2023 GMTMiami Heat (44-38, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (57-25, second in the Eastern Conference)
Boston; Friday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: Celtics -9; over/under is 215.5
BOSTON (AP) — Once so prodigious on their parquet floor, the Boston Celtics can’t seem to squeeze out a home-court advantage during these playoffs.
The franchise that once went 40-1 at home over an entire season fell to .500 at the TD Garden in the playoffs this year with a 123-116 loss to the Miami Heat on Wednesday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Doc Rivers' penchant for playoff collapses and second-round exits cost him his coaching job with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 76ers fired Rivers on Tuesday following a third straight exit in the second round of the playoffs, and the second time over that span he lost a series lead and a Game 7.
Recent beasts of the East, Heat and Celtics ready for latest conference finals showdown
May 16, 2023 GMTBOSTON (AP) — From the pandemic to the play-in tournament, not much has kept the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat from crossing paths in the Eastern Conference finals recently.
When they tip off Game 1 of their latest playoffs pairing on Wednesday night, it will mark the third East finals matchup between Miami and Boston in the last four seasons and the second straight after Boston prevailed in seven games last spring.
Preview capsule for the Heat-Celtics Eastern Conference finals
May 16, 2023 GMTPreview capsule for the Boston-Miami Eastern Conference finals series that starts Wednesday:
No. 2 BOSTON CELTICS (57-25, 8-5) vs. No. 8 MIAMI HEAT (44-38, 8-3)
DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Stars coach Pete DeBoer pulled his goalie twice in seven games in the Western Conference semifinals against Seattle.
Jake Oettinger didn't take either move as a sign of panic.
Boston hosts Miami to open Eastern Conference finals
May 16, 2023 GMTMiami Heat (44-38, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (57-25, second in the Eastern Conference)
Boston; Wednesday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: Celtics -8.5; over/under is 210.5
BOSTON (AP) — As the Celtics’ 112-88 Game 7 rout of the 76ers began to crystallize late in the third quarter, a Boston fan toting a neon pink inflatable flamingo held up a sign that read, "See you in Miami!”
BOSTON (AP) — Nolan Arenado and Andrew Knizner each hit a two-run homer, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Boston Red Sox 9-1 on Sunday night to complete a three-game sweep.
Paul DeJong added a solo shot and Arenado drove in four runs for the Cardinals, who won for the sixth time in seven games since an eight-game losing streak.
BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum gave Boston a long-overdue fast start and followed it up with a finish the NBA had never seen before.
After struggling in back-to-back games, Tatum erupted for 51 points – the most in a Game 7 in history — and the Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 112-88 on Sunday to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight year.
Boston, Philadelphia set for game 7 matchup
May 14, 2023 GMTPhiladelphia 76ers (54-28, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (57-25, second in the Eastern Conference)
Boston; Sunday, 3:30 p.m. EDT
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: Celtics -6.5; over/under is 201
BOSTON (AP) — Joe Mazzulla's Game 7 experience has been as an assistant coach, including last year when the Celtics won two of them on their way to the NBA Finals.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jayson Tatum humbly believes he is one of the best basketball players in the NBA and not even a lengthy streak of missed shots in a win-or-else Game 6 could shake his faith.
Sometimes, though, a pep talk in the heat of the moment lifts even the most confident stars.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Two of the dominant players of their generation, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic have each won MVP awards.
Neither player has won the ultimate prize, an NBA championship.
Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers and Jokic and the Denver Nuggets are on the brink of getting one round closer if their teams can win a pair of Game 6s on Thursday night.
Harden and the 76ers look to clinch series against Boston
May 10, 2023 GMTBoston Celtics (57-25, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (54-28, third in the Eastern Conference)
Philadelphia; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: 76ers -2; over/under is 214.5
Embiid scores 33, 76ers beat Celtics 115-103 for 3-2 lead
May 10, 2023 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Having silenced the TD Garden crowd and put the defending Eastern Conference champion Celtics on the brink of a second-round exit, 76ers players barely cracked a smile as they walked off the court.
Nuggets search for answers after dropping 2 straight to Suns
May 9, 2023 GMTDENVER (AP) — Kevin Durant and Devin Booker needed just a little bit more offensive help, someone to take just the tiniest bit of pressure off Phoenix's high-scoring tandem.
Along came Landry Shamet, who elevated his game — five 3-pointers, 19 points — as the Suns equalized the second-round series at 2-2 against the Denver Nuggets.
Celtics, 76ers face off with series tied 2-2
May 8, 2023 GMTPhiladelphia 76ers (54-28, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (57-25, second in the Eastern Conference)
Boston; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: Celtics -7; over/under is 214
Harden’s 3 helps 76ers tie Celtics; Booker, Suns top Nuggets
May 8, 2023 GMTPHILADELPHIA (AP) — James Harden hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 18 seconds left in overtime and scored 42 points to help the Philadelphia 76ers stave off a wild Boston Celtics comeback in a 116-115 victory on Sunday that evened their playoff series at 2-2.
Harden makes winning 3 in OT, 76ers tie series with Celtics
May 7, 2023 GMTPHILADELPHIA (AP) — James Harden had a new friend he called his good-luck charm in the arena and the grit he needed to turn in a vintage effort — in the form of tying and winning shots —for the 76ers.
Celtics, Nuggets seek 3-1 series leads over 76ers, Phoenix
May 6, 2023 GMTPHILADELPHIA (AP) — James Harden showed in Game 1 he could still be as great once as he ever was in his prime.
Boston takes 2-1 lead into game 4 against Philadelphia
May 6, 2023 GMTBoston Celtics (57-25, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (54-28, third in the Eastern Conference)
Philadelphia; Sunday, 3:30 p.m. EDT
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: 76ers -2.5; over/under is 214.5
Celtics beat 76ers 114-102 for 2-1 lead in Eastern semis
May 6, 2023 GMTPHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 27 points, Jaylen Brown had 23 and the Boston Celtics spoiled Joel Embiid’s MVP coronation, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 114-102 Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Tatum, Brown spark Celtics past 76ers 114-102 in Game 3
May 6, 2023 GMTPHILADELPHIA (AP) — Scrambling for a loose ball late in the fourth quarter and the outcome of Game 3 still in the balance, Grant Williams was accidentally stomped face-first into the court by Joel Embiid's wayward foot.
76ers, Celtics square off with series tied 1-1
May 4, 2023 GMTBoston Celtics (57-25, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (54-28, third in the Eastern Conference)
Philadelphia; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: 76ers -1.5; over/under is 214
Brown scores 25, Celtics spoil Embiid’s return in 121-87 win
May 4, 2023 GMTBOSTON (AP) — The Celtics walked off the court angry and frustrated after giving up home-court advantage in their series-opening loss to the 76ers.
Boston called on those emotions — and its defense — to dominate in Game 2.
New MVP Embiid will start for 76ers in Game 2 vs. Celtics
May 3, 2023 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid will play and start in Game 2 of the 76ers’ second-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics.
76ers’ Embiid doubtful; Celtics vow adjustments for Game 2
May 2, 2023 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said he didn’t walk off the court feeling any panic following Boston’s 119-115 Eastern Conference semifinals loss to the 76ers in Game 1.
Philadelphia takes 1-0 lead into game 2 against Boston
May 2, 2023 GMTPhiladelphia 76ers (54-28, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (57-25, second in the Eastern Conference)
Boston; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EDT
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: Celtics -9; over/under is 218.5
Harden hits late 3, 76ers defeat Celtics in semifinal opener
May 2, 2023 GMTBOSTON (AP) — James Harden matched his playoff career high with 45 points and hit a go-ahead, step-back 3-pointer over Al Horford with 8.7 seconds left as the Philadelphia 76ers rallied without Joel Embiid to beat the Boston Celtics 119-115 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal matchup on Monday night.
Harden scores 45, hits late 3 as 76ers down Celtics 119-115
May 2, 2023 GMTBOSTON (AP) — James Harden was asked for most of this season to be a facilitator for a 76ers team built around big man Joel Embiid.
With the MVP finalist sidelined for the opener of his team’s second-round playoff series with the Celtics, Philadelphia called on a vintage version of Harden.
76ers star Joel Embiid (knee) out for Game 1 vs. Celtics
May 1, 2023 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Joel Embiid sat out Game 1 of the Philadelphia 76ers' Eastern Conference semifinal against the Boston Celtics with a right knee injury.
Coach Doc Rivers confirmed the MVP finalist's status during his pregame availability on Monday.