Udoka joins Rockets after serving suspension with Celtics
April 26, 2023 GMTHOUSTON (AP) — Ime Udoka is everything the Houston Rockets were looking for in a coach, and owner Tilman Feritta insists they aren’t concerned about the behavior that led to his year-long suspension from the Boston Celtics.
Rockets make it official, hire ex-Celtics coach Ime Udoka
April 26, 2023 GMTHOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Rockets officially hired Ime Udoka as their new coach on Tuesday, replacing Stephen Silas, who was fired after three seasons.
The Rockets had the worst record in the previous two seasons and finished tied with the Spurs for the second-worst record this season, earning another lottery pick in this year’s draft.
AP source: Rockets hire ex-Celtics coach Udoka as new coach
April 24, 2023 GMTHOUSTON (AP) — Ime Udoka has been hired as the new coach of the Houston Rockets, a source familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Monday.
Udoka led the Celtics to the NBA Finals last season, then was suspended for this season after the disclosure of an inappropriate relationship with a female Celtics employee.
Celtics remove interim tag, name Joe Mazzulla head coach
February 17, 2023 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Joe Mazzulla has been so steady guiding the Celtics through a franchise-shaking crisis that their turbulent offseason has taken a back seat to their championship aspirations.
The team rewarded him by turning a temporary opportunity of a lifetime into a permanent one.
Nets roll to 12 in a row as Vaughn builds winner in Brooklyn
January 3, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Jacque Vaughn was viewed as such a temporary solution in Brooklyn that his successor was already assumed before he coached one game.
That was two months ago. The Nets had parted ways with Steve Nash and were expected to hire suspended Boston coach Ime Udoka.
Celtics interim coach Mazzulla misses game with eye problem
December 28, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Boston Celtics interim coach Joe Mazzulla missed the game Tuesday night against the Houston Rockets because of eye irritation and was replaced on the bench by assistant Damon Stoudamire.
Celtics have NBA’s best record despite offseason strife
November 22, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — The Celtics entered the season with a built-in reason to underachieve.
Ime Udoka, the man who had changed so much about their culture and led them to the NBA Finals as a first-year coach last season, was given a yearlong suspension prior to training camp for having an inappropriate relationship with a woman in the organization.
Nets make Jacque Vaughn coach, decide against Udoka pursuit
November 10, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Jacque Vaughn knew when he moved into Steve Nash's seat that he might just be keeping it warm for Ime Udoka.
The Brooklyn Nets were expected to hire the suspended Boston Celtics coach for their job, maybe after Vaughn had it only for a game.
Durant, Nets pound Knicks 112-85 after promoting Vaughn
November 10, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — New coach, same result in a New York basketball rivalry that's become no rivalry at all.
Kevin Durant had 29 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists, becoming the first player since Michael Jordan to score at least 25 points in his team's first 12 games, and the Brooklyn Nets routed the Knicks 112-85 on Wednesday night after making Jacque Vaughn their head coach.
Tatum, Brown each score 35, Celtics beat 76ers 126-117
October 19, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — A scandal off the court cast a shadow over the Boston Celtics entering the preseason.
On the court, they opened the regular season looking like a team still very much capable of contending for a championship.
Celtics still eyeing return to Finals despite Udoka scandal
October 11, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — The Celtics ended last season in the spotlight for all the right reasons.
A team seemingly stuck in the mud for multiple years recovered from a slow start to make a surprise run to the NBA Finals led by homegrown talents Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Brown, Tatum, 3-point shooting leads Celtics past Hornets
October 3, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 24 points and Jayson Tatum added 16 on Sunday as the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics opened under new coach Joe Mazzulla with a preseason 134-93 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.
Newly promoted Mazzulla wins preseason debut for Celtics
October 3, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Not too many NBA first-timers get to take over a reigning conference champion and oddsmakers’ favorite to win an NBA title.
Celtics find some normalcy during 1st training camp practice
September 27, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Joe Mazzulla didn’t want his first practice as the Celtics interim coach to feel any different than his previous three years as an assistant.
So when he arrived at the team’s facility Tuesday for Boston’s first training camp workout, he did his best to keep everything about his routine the same, right down to where he parked.
Mazzulla says Celtics need time to heal in wake of Udoka ban
September 26, 2022 GMTCANTON, Mass. (AP) — The Celtics were supposed to enter the preseason as one of the favorites to emerge from the Eastern Conference on the heels of their surprise run to the NBA Finals under rookie head coach Ime Udoka.
Celtics: Udoka suspended for ‘multiple’ policy violations
September 24, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — The reigning Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics suspended coach Ime Udoka after a months-long investigation by an outside law firm that found multiple violations of team policies but did not point to a larger cultural problem of sexual misconduct, owner Wyc Grousbeck said Friday.
Celtics suspend coach Ime Udoka for 2022-23 season
September 23, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics have suspended Ime Udoka for a full year, banning the coach who led them to the NBA Finals last spring for the entire 2022-23 season over what two people with knowledge of the matter said was an improper relationship with a member of the organization.
Celtics take bitter with sweet after losing in NBA Finals
June 17, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — The Celtics made an NBA Finals run nobody saw coming, rising from a team that was three games under .500 in early January under a first-time head coach to being within two victories of winning the franchise’s 18th championship.
Streaky Celtics hit cold spot at bad time in Game 5 loss
June 14, 2022 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Boston Celtics couldn't make a 3-pointer to start the game and found themselves in a deep hole. Then they couldn't miss and turned the game around.
With NBA Finals tied at 2, Celtics try to stop Stephen Curry
June 12, 2022 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — As the Boston Celtics search for answers in an effort to stop Stephen Curry in these NBA Finals, they know even their best defense won't always be good enough.
“Steph Curry is pretty good, if you guys haven’t noticed.
Overlooked no more, Brown shines for Celtics in Finals
June 9, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — There was a time when the narrative surrounding Jaylen Brown was that he was a redundant player on a Celtics team shaping its identity around budding superstar Jayson Tatum.
Though he was a recent All-Star on a team packed with young, homegrown talent, Brown was considered by outsiders to be a potential trade chip Boston could use to adjust a roster that didn't get past the conference finals during his first five seasons.
Tatum gets no help, Celtics routed in Game 2 of NBA Finals
June 6, 2022 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jayson Tatum found his scoring touch after a rare poor shooting night in Game 1 of the NBA Finals but it was the rest of his Boston Celtics teammates who went missing.
Udoka, Ujiri angry over Nigerian basketball dysfunction
June 5, 2022 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri and Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka both spoke out Sunday against the decision by Nigeria’s government to withdraw its basketball teams from international competitions for two years and potentially eliminate any chance of qualifying for the 2024 Olympics.
Celtics were resilient in Game 1; Warriors now must respond
June 3, 2022 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — In Game 1, Boston showed its resilience.
In Game 2, Golden State gets a chance to answer.
Over the last two months, no teams in the NBA have shown more of a bounce-back ability than the Celtics and the Warriors.
Analysis: Celtics in 2022 have parallels to Warriors in 2015
June 3, 2022 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — When the Golden State Warriors look at the tape of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, they’ll see both the present and the past.
They’ll see the Boston Celtics, the 2022 version.
They’ll also see a team that looks a lot like the 2015 Warriors.
Transformative year: Black coaches now lead 50% of NBA teams
June 3, 2022 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — It’s an annual occurrence in the NBA. Teams change head coaches and the roster of candidates who should get those jobs starts getting bandied about, and especially in recent years those lists almost always included Black candidates.
NBA Finals preview: Breaking down Celtics-Warriors matchup
June 1, 2022 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Preview capsule for the NBA Finals, which start Thursday:
East No. 2 BOSTON CELTICS (51-31, 12-6) vs. West No. 3 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (53-29, 12-4)
Ime’s way: Celtics’ Finals run a product of coach’s vision
June 1, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics’ transition from a team that went from sitting just outside the top tier of the Eastern Conference to being four wins away from the franchise’s 18th championship began the moment Ime Udoka grasped the microphone at his introductory news conference last June.
The Finals matchup: Celtics vs. Warriors for NBA title
May 30, 2022 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Somewhere, Gregg Popovich must be pleased.
Ime Udoka and Steve Kerr played for Popovich with of the San Antonio Spurs, both served as assistant coaches under him, and neither makes any effort to hide the affinity they have for the NBA’s career victory leader.
Celtics run past Heat 93-80, move a win from NBA Finals
May 26, 2022 GMTMIAMI (AP) — The Boston Celtics know the formula. They believe their defense, as has been the case time and again in these playoffs, will eventually wear down teams.
Hard to argue.
Jaylen Brown scored 25 points, Jayson Tatum added 22 and the Celtics are now one win from the NBA Finals.
Celtics torch Heat early, even series with 102-82 blowout
May 24, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — The Miami Heat left Jayson Tatum lying on the court with a pain in his neck in the closing minutes of Game 3.
The Celtics All-Star did his part to make sure the Heat were hurting after Game 4.
Heat’s Herro, Celtics’ Smart out for Game 4 of East finals
May 24, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Celtics point guard and Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart was ruled out for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against Miami, joining Heat guard Tyler Herro on the sidelines for Monday night's game.
Trainer’s room busy as Heat, Celtics prepare for Game 4
May 22, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — The Heat were embarrassed in Game 2, surrendering home-court advantage in their blowout loss to the Celtics in their Eastern Conference finals matchup.
Miami returned the favor in Game 3, building a 26-point first-half lead en route to hanging on for a 109-103 victory despite star Jimmy Butler sitting out the second half with swelling in his right knee.
Celtics’ Williams out, Heat’s Lowry, Tucker warming up
May 21, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics will be without center Robert Williams III for Game 3 of their Eastern Conference finals matchup with the Miami Heat on Saturday night due to soreness and swelling in his left knee.
Horford and Smart cleared to play, White out for Celtics
May 19, 2022 GMTMIAMI (AP) — The Boston Celtics are closer to whole for the Eastern Conference finals.
Al Horford's stay in the NBA's health and safety protocols ended Thursday, a few hours before tipoff of Game 2 of the series against the Miami Heat.
Celtics rule Smart, Horford out for Game 1 against Heat
May 17, 2022 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Boston was without two starters for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday night, with Al Horford entering the NBA's health and safety protocols and Marcus Smart unable to play because of a mid-foot sprain.
Spoelstra, Udoka have Heat and Celtics ready for East finals
May 16, 2022 GMTMIAMI (AP) — He grew up in Portland, basketball in his blood. Wasn’t exactly a big-time recruit before eventually playing some college ball in the West Coast Conference. Took a circuitous route into coaching, guided along the way by one of the game’s legendary sideline bosses.
Williams has 27, Celtics make 22 3s in Game 7 rout of Bucks
May 16, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — In the fog of the Celtics’ Game 5 loss to Milwaukee that dropped his team into a 3-2 series hole, Boston coach Ime Udoka made a prediction.
“It’ll make it sweeter when we bounce back,” he said.
Celtics big man Williams available for Game 7, won’t start
May 15, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Celtics big man Robert Williams III will be available to play when Boston hosts the Bucks Sunday in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference semifinals matchup.
Williams has missed three straight games with soreness and a bone bruise in his surgically repaired left knee.
Celtics’ Robert Williams won’t play Game 4 against Bucks
May 10, 2022 GMTMILWAUKEE (AP) — Boston Celtics big man Robert Williams didn't play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series against Milwaukee on Monday because of soreness in his surgically repaired left knee.
Suns’ Williams voted NBA Coach of the Year after 64 wins
May 10, 2022 GMTPHOENIX (AP) — Monty Williams now has the honor that his Phoenix Suns players have been clamoring that he receive for two years: NBA's Coach of the Year.
Long breaks between games gives playoff teams time to heal
May 7, 2022 GMTMILWAUKEE (AP) — The quirks of scheduling for the NBA playoffs created three-day breaks between games in the Boston-Milwaukee and Memphis-Golden State series.
In this case, the teams don’t mind the delays too much.
Bucks forward Khris Middleton out at least 2 more games
May 5, 2022 GMTMILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton will miss at least two more games in the Eastern Conference semifinal series with the Boston Celtics as he recovers from a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
Celtics’ Smart out with thigh bruise for Game 2 vs. Bucks
May 3, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Celtics guard Marcus Smart has been ruled out of Tuesday's Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals with a bruised right thigh.
Smart was hurt Sunday in the loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1.
Poor shooting costs Celtics late in Game 1 loss to Bucks
May 1, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — For most of Game 1 of their second-round series opener against Milwaukee, the Celtics did pretty much everything they wanted to on the defensive end against Giannis Antetokounmpo.
They blitzed him early with multiple defenders when he received the ball in the post and forced him into turnovers.
Confident Celtics feel ready for challenge of Giannis, Bucks
April 30, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — The Celtics’ sweep of the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the playoffs underscored one thing about Boston's late-season rise to the top tier of the NBA's Eastern Conference: it was no fluke.
Celtics-Bucks Eastern Conference semifinal preview capsule
April 30, 2022 GMTPreview capsule for the Boston-Milwaukee Eastern Conference semifinal series that starts Sunday:
No. 2 BOSTON CELTICS (51-31, 4-0) vs. No. 3 MILWAUKEE BUCKS (51-31, 4-1)
Tatum, Brown lead Celtics to 109-103 win, 3-0 lead over Nets
April 24, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — The stoppers are suffocating the scorers.
And as Boston was finishing another shutdown effort against Kevin Durant and the Nets, a loud “Let’s Go Celtics! Let’s Go Celtics!” chant broke out from the many fans in green who had seats in Barclays Center.
Robert Williams to return for Celtics in Game 3 vs Nets
April 23, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Center Robert Williams is set to play for the Boston Celtics on Saturday night in Game 3 of their first-round series against Brooklyn after missing nearly a month with torn cartilage in his left knee.
Celtics not fazed after drawing recharged Nets in 1st round
April 16, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — For most of the season, the spotlight was on everyone except the Celtics in the Eastern Conference.
That was until Boston and new coach Ime Udoka put things together down the stretch with a brand built on defense, buoyed by All-Star Jayson Tatum’s nightly scoring punch.
Celtics finish 2nd in East with 139-110 win over Grizzlies
April 11, 2022 GMTMEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 31 points, Jaylen Brown added 18 and the Boston Celtics secured the second seed in the East with a 139-110 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night in the regular-season finale for both teams.
Sticking to blueprint has keyed Celtics’ 2nd half turnaround
March 29, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — When the Celtics slumped off the Madison Square Garden court following a buzzer-beating loss to the New York Knicks on Jan. 6, they were a team without direction.
The setback dropped the Celtics to 18-21 and into 11th place in the Eastern Conference.
Celtics C Robert Williams III out with torn meniscus
March 28, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III has torn cartilage in his left knee that will require surgery, likely keeping him out for the rest of the regular season and well into the playoffs.
Celtics beat T’Wolves 134-112, take over top spot in East
March 28, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Celtics coach Ime Udoka has his priorities set for the final push to the playoffs, and trying to figure out Boston's best matchup isn't among them.
Tatum scores 36, Celtics roll past Oklahoma City 132-123
March 22, 2022 GMTOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 36 points and the Boston Celtics beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 132-123 on Monday night.
Tatum has scored 30-or-more points in his last three games, extending the streak on 11-of-19 shooting against Oklahoma City.
Sizzling Celtics race past Nuggets 124-104
March 21, 2022 GMTDENVER (AP) — Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum each scored 30 points and the sizzling Boston Celtics stymied reigning MVP Nikola Jokic on their way to routing the Denver Nuggets 124-104 Sunday night.
The Celtics shot 57.3% from the floor and finished 19 of 40 from beyond the arc.
Tatum, Brown combine for 62, Celtics beat Kings 126-97
March 19, 2022 GMTSACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Jayson Tatum made seven 3-pointers and scored 32 points, Jaylen Brown added 30 points and the Boston Celtics beat the Sacramento Kings for the second time this season, 126-97 on Friday night.
Popovich breaks Nelson’s NBA victory record with No. 1,336
March 12, 2022 GMTSAN ANTONIO (AP) — Gregg Popovich is the winningest coach in NBA regular-season history, getting his 1,336th victory when the San Antonio Spurs rallied to beat the Utah Jazz 104-102 on Friday night.
Tatum’s 54 leads Celtics past Durant, Irving, Nets 126-120
March 6, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — The challenge to Jayson Tatum against a Brooklyn lineup that featured a rare appearance from both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving: “Take the alpha approach.”
“Be the best guy on the court each night,” Celtics coach Ime Udoka said he told Tatum before Tatum scored a season-high 54 points to lead Boston to a 126-120 victory over the uncommonly intact Nets.