It’s amazing to think how much life has changed for University of Houston guard Kingston Flemings in such a short amount of time.
“My main goal was just find a way I can help his team and winning, you know, coming here, I just wanted to win so bad, and that’s the reason I chose here,” Flemings said.
This time last year, he hadn’t even graduated from high school. Today, he declared for the NBA draft.
“It’s crazy how fast it went. I remember Coach talking about it, like ‘you don’t really see the end of the tunnel, but it’s going to go by so fast,'” he said. “I will be declaring for the NBA draft.”
He’ll take his talents to the NBA, declaring for the draft on June 23. “I just want anyone I play with to enjoy playing with me, so whatever the coach is going to need, that’s what I’m gonna go out there and do,” Flemings said.
“You know, I don’t have a one track mind. I don’t care about scoring that much, I don’t care about assist or anything like that, as long as we’re winning; that’s all I care about.”
Kingston is humble, unselfish and the ultimate team player.
“The first thing that jumped out to me was how selfless and loyal he is,” UH head basketball coach Kelvin Sampson said.
He has all the qualities an NBA team is looking for. He’s projected to be taken in one of the top-ten picks, but Sampson believes he’s better than that. “I don’t think he’s a top-ten pick, I think he’s a top five pick if I was an NBA team, I’d draft him top five,” Sampson said.
Kingston says he is a cougar for life and when talking about head coach Kelvin Sampson, he said he was a perfect fit that helped him grow not only as a player, but a man.
“Just to see these people and just the players and how they grow when they’re here, you know, whether they’re here for one year or two years, three years or four, he just grows everyone in different ways and in ways that’s going to stick with them for life,” Flemings said.
“We have a responsibility to develop him, Coach Sampson said. “He’s not a number to us. He’s not stats on a page to us. He is a living, breathing human being.”
We’ll have to wait until June 23 to see where he lands. “I’m proud of Kingston. Am I upset about it? Heck, no. I’m proud of him.”
One thing we know for sure, the team that drafts him will not only get a great player, but an even better person.
“I’ll be a cougar for life for sure. So thank you,” Flemings said.
At Vila Belmiro, Santos came from ahead to lose 3-2 to Fluminense, who managed to breathe again after a string of defeats and a crisis brewing between the board and the fans.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — KeyBank Center is the site of the best story in the NHL: the Buffalo Sabres.
The Sabres had missed the playoffs for 14 consecutive seasons, but they’re back, and it starts Sunday night. The Eastern Conference first-round series matches Buffalo up with the Boston Bruins in a series that matches one of hockey’s surprise teams against one of its perennial contenders.
The Sabres were in last place in the Eastern Conference on December 8.
By the end of the regular season, they had the second-most points in the East, not just getting into the playoffs but ensuring that their return would be played at home.
It’s hard to know for sure how the Sabres will respond to this season, but given the way they played the whole second half of the campaign, it’s safe to expect them to be formidable.
The Bruins, of course, won’t be a pushover. Led by David Pastrnak, Boston remains a talented bunch, and they made it out of a jumble in the Eastern Conference standings to ensure this playoff berth.
The NHL clearly likes the storylines here: They made it the primetime ESPN game on Sunday night as the playoffs opened this weekend.
Below, we’ll bring you all the updates you need to keep up with the action from Buffalo with The Sporting News live from the KeyBank Center.
– Jeremy Swayman is singlehandedly keeping Buffalo off the scoreboard.
– UPL with a big save on a wide open breakaway to deny the Bruins.
– Bruins kill that penalty. Back to even strength with 17:30 left in the escond.
– Bruins penalty Pavel Zach 27 seconds into the second period. It’ll be 23 seconds of 4-on-4 and then 1:37 of a Buffalo powerplay.
– Sabres have 50 seconds of a penalty to kill to start the second.
– Hockey will resume at about 8:42 p.m. ET.
First Period
– Jeremy Swayman the player of the first period, with 15 saves, including some very good ones.
– Sabres keep Boston from getting a second before the first period ends. Morgan Geekie passed up a wide open net late to try and pass.
– Bruins get a powerplay with 1:10 left in the first period as Jason Zucker goes to the box.
– Bruins kill the powerplay — Sabres with three great chances in the two minutes.
– Ryan McLeod with a great solo rush in on goal but another Swayman stop.
– The Sabres got the puck across the line, but it was only after shoving with Swayman and the net, so it doesn’t count.
– Swayman with a fantastic glove save on Dahlin midway through the powerplay.
– Sabres on the powerplay with 5:15 left in the first period. Nikita Zadorov for crosschecking.
– Sabres kill the penalty. Back to even strength with less than six minutes to go in the first.
– Bruins powerplay less than two minutes after the goal. Rasmus Dahlin to the box for two minutes for hooking.
– 10:52 into the first period, Morgan Geekie scores the opening goal for the Bruins. David Pastrnak had a shot blocked, but it went right into Geekie’s path to make it 1-0 Boston.
– Mattias Samuelsson just absolutely lit someone up.Â
– Jason Zucker with a strong chance in front but not quite for Buffalo with about 11 minutes remaining in the first period. Swayman with a strong left pad.
– Couple early icings by the Bruins. Sabres’ forecheck has been strong.
– Six minutes in and the biggest play might be a diving blocked shot by Buffalo’s Mattias Samuelsson on what otherwise looked like a clean look from the slot for the Bruins.
– Some heavy hits early, including one by Alex Tuch. One shot on target apiece in first four minutes.
– Sabres have the first shot on target, an easy catch for Swayman. KeyBank Center is LOUD.
–Â It’s time. Playoff hockey is back in Buffalo.
Pregame
– Among the lines intrigue: The Bruins have a pairing of youngsters on the third line with James Hagens and Fraser Minten.
– Warmups are done. Pregame festivities commence at 7:29, with faceoff at 7:42.Â
– As expected, starting goalies are Jeremy Swayman for Boston and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for Buffalo.
– About 45 minutes until opening faceoff and the KeyBank Center is already nearly full. These fans are ready.
– They just showed a very small baby on the video board. That child will never know what the playoff drought was like.
– In the arena, the band Uncovered Buffalo provides some pregame entertainment. They open with that classic line: “The boys are back in town.” Yep, Sabres playoff hockey is back in town.
– Also, because of course it has, it has snowed in much of Western New York on Sunday.
– Parking lots in downtown Buffalo are cleaning up tonight. Even a couple miles from the arena was $30, and only up from there.
– A sign on the way on 33-West into Buffalo reads, “Welcome to Lindy Ruffalo.” The city is ready.
– Of note for fans tuning in: The official time scheduled for the opening faceoff is 7:42 p.m. ET.
After a year away from the postseason, the Bruins will return to the playoff stage when they hit the ice on Sunday night for Game 1 against the Sabres.
Under first-year head coach Marco Sturm, Boston has found success with a structured, defensive-first mentality that relies on the brilliance of goaltender Jeremy Swayman. The Bruins will be the underdog in the first round, though, as they are going head-to-head with a Sabres squad that led the Atlantic Division with 109 points.
Both the Bruins and Sabres defied expectations this season, and now, the two contenders will battle in the postseason for the ninth time. The atmosphere in Buffalo will certainly be electric, as Sabres fans are ready to watch playoff hockey for the first time in 14 years.
Follow along right here for live updates from Game 1 between the Bruins and Sabres.
Bruins vs. Sabres score
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2
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Bruins
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Sabres
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Bruins vs. Sabres live updates, highlights from Game 1
8:52 p.m.:Â The Sabres have had their fair share of chances this period, now with Jack Quinn alone right in front of Swayman. But, the goaltender was in good position and made the save.
We’re five minutes through the second.
8:49 p.m.:Â It’s a prime opportunity for Pastrnak, who gets the puck behind defenders and has a breakaway. But, his backhander is saved by Pekka Luukkonen.
8:48 p.m.:Â Buffalo’s power play is over, making both teams 0-for-2 tonight.
This one was a lot different for Boston, who got a few clearances and kept the pressure off Swayman.
8:44 p.m.:Â Now, Pavel Zacha takes a holding penalty, ending the Bruins power play.Â
It will be a 4-on-4 for 23 seconds, then Buffalo will have its second man advantage of the night.
8:42 p.m.:Â The second period is underway in Boston.
The Bruins lead 1-0 courtesy of the Geekie goal.
End of the first period: Bruins 1, Sabres 0
8:25 p.m.:Â Geekie had a prime opportunity to give Boston a 2-0 lead, but his eyes were down and he didn’t see an empty net. The Sabres’ goaltender had no chance if Geekie ripped it. But, instead, he chose to pass, and time expires in the first.
Still, the Bruins have a 1-0 lead behind Geekie’s goal and Swayman’s strong performance. Both teams head to the locker room and look to come out in the second period firing.
8:23 p.m.:Â The Bruins are heading back to the penalty, with Jason Zucker now taking a penalty for holding. The power play will go into the second period, if Boston doesn’t score.
8:19 p.m.:Â It’s a big kill for the Bruins, and now both teams are 0-for-1 on the power play. With three minutes left in the first, the Bruins are holding onto a 1-0 lead.
Swayman has 13 saves so far.
8:18 p.m.:Â Swayman picks up right where he left off in the playoffs, now making a save on Ryan McLeod, who burst from end-to-end to get right in front of No. 1.
He’s made three saves this power play.
8:16 p.m.:Â There’s some chaos in front of the Boston net. After Swayman makes a save, a scrum ensues as the Bruins goaltender is pushed into the net after the whistle is blown. There’s 51 seconds left in the power play.
The puck ended up in the net, but not before the play was waved off.
8:13 p.m.:Â Now, the Sabres will head to the power play for the first time.
It’s Nikita Zadorov going to the box for Boston, a two-minute penalty for cross-checking. For the first time tonight, the Boston kill takes the ice.
8:08 p.m.: Boston’s had a fair share of shots during the power play, but Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has made the saves.
Now, Elias Lindholm gets shoved into the net fishing for a rebound and a scrum ensues.
8:04 p.m.:Â Now, Geekie creates more chaos in the offensive zone and drives the first penalty of the series. It’s a hooking call on Dahlin, sending the Buffalo captain to the box and giving Boston the first power play tonight.
There’s 7:57 remaining in the first.
Bruins 1, Sabres 0
8:02 p.m. GOAL:Â The Boston Bruins have the first goal of the series, and it’s their leading scorer from the regular season.
That’s Morgan Geekie, who had a career-high 39 goals. Here, he hits a one-timer after David Pastrnak’s shot is blocked by Rasmus Dahlin and it goes into the net; Geekie picks up right where he left off, and it gives Boston the lead and silences the crowd.
7:15 p.m.:Â Puck drop is getting closer, and the Bruins aren’t the only Boston team to play a playoff game today.
Earlier this afternoon, the Celtics took a 1-0 series lead with a dominating win over the 76ers at TD Garden. Then, the Celtics sent their luck to their TD Garden partners ahead of tonight’s contest.
7:04 p.m.:Â If Boston is going to have a chance in the series, expect Jeremy Swayman to be a reason why.
Swayman enters the 2026 postseason boasting an elite career playoff save percentage of .922 and a 2.38 goals-against average across 20 appearances. He remains a cornerstone for Boston after a historic 2023-24 playoff run where he posted a .933 save percentage over 12 games, proving he can shoulder the weight of an entire series.
Following a bounce-back regular season with 31 wins, the recently crowned Olympic gold medalist is now tasked with neutralizing a high-powered Buffalo offense as he makes his fifth career postseason appearance.
6:55 p.m.:Â Buffalo isn’t the only team to have exceeded expectations in this matchup. Enter the Bruins, who many thought would miss the postseason outright with a roster that looked like it was in a transition year.
Instead, Boston is back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with plenty of life.
“Never say die.”
The Sabres may have their burn book, but the #NHLBruins have receipts too.
6:34 p.m.:Â The Bruins are staring across the ice at a playoff opponent that feels entirely unfamiliar yet dangerously rejuvenated.Â
The 2025-26 Buffalo Sabres didn’t just break the longest postseason drought in NHL history; they kicked the door down by finishing first in the Atlantic Division with a staggering 109 points. This wasn’t a fluke of a season, but rather a dominant 50-win campaign where Buffalo sat among the league’s top five offensive units, averaging nearly 3.5 goals per game.
The middle of the season saw the Sabres transform into a historical juggernaut, at one point embarking on a 32–6–2 run —the best 40-game stretch the NHL has seen in 30 years. Tage Thompson led the charge with a 40-goal season, while captain Rasmus Dahlin anchored a blue line that evolved from a liability into a position of strength, helping Buffalo secure their first division title since 2010.
What makes this iteration of the Sabres so terrifying is their ability to control the pace through elite skating and opportunistic finishing. While they struggled in the early weeks, they ended the year as one of the most efficient teams in the league, ranking 5th in shooting percentage (12.3%). With Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen coming into his own between the pipes and a roster full of young stars like Zach Benson and Bowen Byram hitting their stride, the Sabres enter the first round not as happy-to-be-here underdogs, but as a genuine threat to hoist the Cup.
6:30 p.m.:Â It’s time for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Â
After one year away, the Boston Bruins have returned to the dance, putting up a 100-point season under first-year head coach Marco Sturm. The Bruins clinched the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, setting up a matchup with the Atlantic Division champion Buffalo Sabres in Round 1.
Tune in for live updates throughout the night as Boston gets its Stanley Cup Playoff campaign started.
How to watch Bruins vs. Sabres Game 1: TV channel, live stream
Bruins vs. Sabres will air locally on NESN. Game 1 will also be available to stream on NESN 360Â and fubo.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100-plus top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
Bruins vs. Sabres Game 1 start time
Date:Â Sunday, April 19
Time:Â 7:30 p.m. ET
Bruins vs. Sabres is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 19. Game 1 will be played at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y.
The Los Angeles Chargers have been an interesting watch this offseason, as the franchise has been content to sit on over $40 million in cap space.
Given the needs at edge, receiver, and offensive line, it is a little odd for the Chargers, who have glaring needs, not to use the cap space to bolster Justin Herbert’s protection and weaponry.
But there’s a method to general manager Joe Hortiz’s madness, it seems.
And as it turns out, it’s more of a philosophical thing.
“I just believe in building through the draft, and I believe in paying the players you know,” Hortiz said via ESPN’s Kris Rhim.
Hortiz then added:
“I just think you have to spread your money around a little bit. We could pay top dollar for five offensive linemen. We could do that. And we wouldn’t have money left over for much of anyone else outside the quarterback. So you have to be selective in free agency.”
In my opinion, it is all good and well to say that you believe building through the draft is the way to approach roster building, but when your franchise quarterback gets sacked 54 times last season, surely that is enough of a blinking red light to go free agency shopping?
Tyler Biadasz is a fine signing, but the Chargers need more. Plus, Herbert likely needs another receiver as well. So those are two areas that L.A. can help its franchise quarterback.
Would Herbert rather have a veteran lineman with a handful of years of experience (same as a receiver) or go with a rookie?Â
I think I know which he would prefer. But it is clear that Hortiz has his way of doing things, and whether you agree with it or not, he won’t be changing the way he builds an NFL roster any time soon.
The mock chants rained down from the TD Garden crowd late in Game 1 of the Celtics’ first-round playoff series, as they built a lead as large as 35 points in a 123-91 victory. Bostonians were poking fun at a Philadelphia crowd that, nights earlier, had chanted, “We want Boston,” when their 76ers beat the Orlando Magic in the play-in tournament, setting up a best-of-seven set between the Atlantic Division rivals.
“I heard it,” said the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum. Everyone heard it.
Do the Sixers want the Celtics? It didn’t look like they did in the series opener. Their coach, Nick Nurse, called his team’s effort “unacceptable.” His 76ers have too many holes defensively and not enough to exploit on the other end of the court. Boston is the more complete team. In fact, the Celtics may be the East’s most complete team.
The question, then: Does anyone want Boston?
The West isn’t concerned with the East. The Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets have too much to worry about in their own conference. Whoever survives that gauntlet is going to feel just fine about their Finals matchup.
But in the East, where the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers all enter the playoffs with question marks, the Celtics offered their answer in Game 1. Nobody watched them just smother the 76ers and thought, Yeah, we want Boston.
After all, Tatum looked like the Jayson Tatum of old, compiling 10 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in the opening quarter alone. He finished with a 25-11-7 on 9-for-17 shooting, with two steals, and barely took the floor in the fourth quarter. Even teammates can forget he is only 48 weeks removed from Achilles surgery.
“It’s pretty nuts how far he’s come and how fast he’s gotten back,” said Celtics wing Sam Hauser, who added 12 points. “It just shows how determined and committed he was to his rehab and wanting to get back, and the belief he had in us — the chance we have to hopefully make a deep run — so it’s pretty impressive what he’s doing.”
Jaylen Brown, who made a surprising All-NBA First Team case during the regular season, backed it up in the playoff opener. He posted a 26-4-3, with two steals of his own, in 30 minutes, and turned Paul George into a nonfactor for much of the night.
There were questions about the rest of the Celtics, too. Not just about Tatum’s health or Brown’s emergence. Could what worked for them in the regular season — replacing erstwhile All-Stars Kristaps Porziņģis, Jrue Holiday and Al Horford with a collective that isn’t as talented but competes like hell — translate to the playoffs?
Well, the Celtics rolled out a regular rotation, 10 deep, even before things got out of hand against the 76ers, and got contributions from everyone. Hauser, Derrick White, Neemias Queta, Payton Pritchard, Nikola Vučević, Jordan Walsh, Luka Garza, Baylor Scheierman, all of them found positive ways into the box score before garbage time.
“We play our rotation,” said Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla. “We play our guys. It’s what we’ve done the entire year, and it’s what we’ll continue to do. … We just need them ready to make plays. We did that tonight, and we have to continue to do that.”
It was not like this last season. The Celtics were a top-heavy bunch that depended on talent, relying on the six guys who carried them to the 2024 NBA championship. And they were worn out. Porziņģis couldn’t stay healthy. Holiday was working on a hobbled hamstring. Horford was pushing 40 years old. And Tatum’s Achilles gave out.
They got beat in the second round of the 2025 playoffs by a harder-playing Knicks team. They let their foot off the gas and blew a pair of 20-point leads in Games 1 and 2 to New York and never recovered. It feels like they learned from that loss, and they took it out on Philadelphia, because Game 1 was certainly a mismatch in competition.
And the Celtics aren’t satisfied with a 32-point victory.
“We’ve been the harder-playing team all year,” said Brown. “That can’t change now that the playoffs have started. It’s just honing in on the details and winning the fight.”
Granted, this was one win against the 76ers, who are without one-time MVP Joel Embiid. But in it was a statement: Tatum’s Celtics took their first step back toward a third Finals in five years, and they put their foot on the gas. These Celtics will not be outplayed. They may be outscored at some point. But they will not be outplayed.
The mock chants rained down from the TD Garden crowd late in Game 1 of the Celtics’ first-round playoff series, as they built a lead as large as 35 points in a 123-91 victory. Bostonians were poking fun at a Philadelphia crowd that, nights earlier, had chanted, “We want Boston,” when their 76ers beat the Orlando Magic in the play-in tournament, setting up a best-of-seven set between the Atlantic Division rivals.
“I heard it,” said the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum. Everyone heard it.
Do the Sixers want the Celtics? It didn’t look like they did in the series opener. Their coach, Nick Nurse, called his team’s effort “unacceptable.” His 76ers have too many holes defensively and not enough to exploit on the other end of the court. Boston is the more complete team. In fact, the Celtics may be the East’s most complete team.
The question, then: Does anyone want Boston?
The West isn’t concerned with the East. The Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets have too much to worry about in their own conference. Whoever survives that gauntlet is going to feel just fine about their Finals matchup.
But in the East, where the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers all enter the playoffs with question marks, the Celtics offered their answer in Game 1. Nobody watched them just smother the 76ers and thought, Yeah, we want Boston.
After all, Tatum looked like the Jayson Tatum of old, compiling 10 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in the opening quarter alone. He finished with a 25-11-7 on 9-for-17 shooting, with two steals, and barely took the floor in the fourth quarter. Even teammates can forget he is only 48 weeks removed from Achilles surgery.
“It’s pretty nuts how far he’s come and how fast he’s gotten back,” said Celtics wing Sam Hauser, who added 12 points. “It just shows how determined and committed he was to his rehab and wanting to get back, and the belief he had in us — the chance we have to hopefully make a deep run — so it’s pretty impressive what he’s doing.”
Jaylen Brown, who made a surprising All-NBA First Team case during the regular season, backed it up in the playoff opener. He posted a 26-4-3, with two steals of his own, in 30 minutes, and turned Paul George into a nonfactor for much of the night.
There were questions about the rest of the Celtics, too. Not just about Tatum’s health or Brown’s emergence. Could what worked for them in the regular season — replacing erstwhile All-Stars Kristaps Porziņģis, Jrue Holiday and Al Horford with a collective that isn’t as talented but competes like hell — translate to the playoffs?
Well, the Celtics rolled out a regular rotation, 10 deep, even before things got out of hand against the 76ers, and got contributions from everyone. Hauser, Derrick White, Neemias Queta, Payton Pritchard, Nikola Vučević, Jordan Walsh, Luka Garza, Baylor Scheierman, all of them found positive ways into the box score before garbage time.
“We play our rotation,” said Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla. “We play our guys. It’s what we’ve done the entire year, and it’s what we’ll continue to do. … We just need them ready to make plays. We did that tonight, and we have to continue to do that.”
It was not like this last season. The Celtics were a top-heavy bunch that depended on talent, relying on the six guys who carried them to the 2024 NBA championship. And they were worn out. Porziņģis couldn’t stay healthy. Holiday was working on a hobbled hamstring. Horford was pushing 40 years old. And Tatum’s Achilles gave out.
They got beat in the second round of the 2025 playoffs by a harder-playing Knicks team. They let their foot off the gas and blew a pair of 20-point leads in Games 1 and 2 to New York and never recovered. It feels like they learned from that loss, and they took it out on Philadelphia, because Game 1 was certainly a mismatch in competition.
And the Celtics aren’t satisfied with a 32-point victory.
“We’ve been the harder-playing team all year,” said Brown. “That can’t change now that the playoffs have started. It’s just honing in on the details and winning the fight.”
Granted, this was one win against the 76ers, who are without one-time MVP Joel Embiid. But in it was a statement: Tatum’s Celtics took their first step back toward a third Finals in five years, and they put their foot on the gas. These Celtics will not be outplayed. They may be outscored at some point. But they will not be outplayed.
The mock chants rained down from the TD Garden crowd late in Game 1 of the Celtics’ first-round playoff series, as they built a lead as large as 35 points in a 123-91 victory. Bostonians were poking fun at a Philadelphia crowd that, nights earlier, had chanted, “We want Boston,” when their 76ers beat the Orlando Magic in the play-in tournament, setting up a best-of-seven set between the Atlantic Division rivals.
“I heard it,” said the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum. Everyone heard it.
Do the Sixers want the Celtics? It didn’t look like they did in the series opener. Their coach, Nick Nurse, called his team’s effort “unacceptable.” His 76ers have too many holes defensively and not enough to exploit on the other end of the court. Boston is the more complete team. In fact, the Celtics may be the East’s most complete team.
The question, then: Does anyone want Boston?
The West isn’t concerned with the East. The Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets have too much to worry about in their own conference. Whoever survives that gauntlet is going to feel just fine about their Finals matchup.
But in the East, where the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers all enter the playoffs with question marks, the Celtics offered their answer in Game 1. Nobody watched them just smother the 76ers and thought, Yeah, we want Boston.
After all, Tatum looked like the Jayson Tatum of old, compiling 10 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in the opening quarter alone. He finished with a 25-11-7 on 9-for-17 shooting, with two steals, and barely took the floor in the fourth quarter. Even teammates can forget he is only 48 weeks removed from Achilles surgery.
“It’s pretty nuts how far he’s come and how fast he’s gotten back,” said Celtics wing Sam Hauser, who added 12 points. “It just shows how determined and committed he was to his rehab and wanting to get back, and the belief he had in us — the chance we have to hopefully make a deep run — so it’s pretty impressive what he’s doing.”
Jaylen Brown, who made a surprising All-NBA First Team case during the regular season, backed it up in the playoff opener. He posted a 26-4-3, with two steals of his own, in 30 minutes, and turned Paul George into a nonfactor for much of the night.
There were questions about the rest of the Celtics, too. Not just about Tatum’s health or Brown’s emergence. Could what worked for them in the regular season — replacing erstwhile All-Stars Kristaps Porziņģis, Jrue Holiday and Al Horford with a collective that isn’t as talented but competes like hell — translate to the playoffs?
Well, the Celtics rolled out a regular rotation, 10 deep, even before things got out of hand against the 76ers, and got contributions from everyone. Hauser, Derrick White, Neemias Queta, Payton Pritchard, Nikola Vučević, Jordan Walsh, Luka Garza, Baylor Scheierman, all of them found positive ways into the box score before garbage time.
“We play our rotation,” said Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla. “We play our guys. It’s what we’ve done the entire year, and it’s what we’ll continue to do. … We just need them ready to make plays. We did that tonight, and we have to continue to do that.”
It was not like this last season. The Celtics were a top-heavy bunch that depended on talent, relying on the six guys who carried them to the 2024 NBA championship. And they were worn out. Porziņģis couldn’t stay healthy. Holiday was working on a hobbled hamstring. Horford was pushing 40 years old. And Tatum’s Achilles gave out.
They got beat in the second round of the 2025 playoffs by a harder-playing Knicks team. They let their foot off the gas and blew a pair of 20-point leads in Games 1 and 2 to New York and never recovered. It feels like they learned from that loss, and they took it out on Philadelphia, because Game 1 was certainly a mismatch in competition.
And the Celtics aren’t satisfied with a 32-point victory.
“We’ve been the harder-playing team all year,” said Brown. “That can’t change now that the playoffs have started. It’s just honing in on the details and winning the fight.”
Granted, this was one win against the 76ers, who are without one-time MVP Joel Embiid. But in it was a statement: Tatum’s Celtics took their first step back toward a third Finals in five years, and they put their foot on the gas. These Celtics will not be outplayed. They may be outscored at some point. But they will not be outplayed.
The Celtics cruised to a convincing 123-91 victory over the 76ers in Game 1 of the playoffs on Sunday. However, despite the ease of the win, Boston star forward Jayson Tatum isn’t underestimating Philadelphia.
“They’re not really like a traditional 7th seed,” Tatum said of the 76ers on Sunday, via Celtics on CLNS. “They’re really really talented team, great coaching staff…Nick Nurse is a championship coach. “You have to show them that respect.”
Tatum is right about the 76ers being a not-your-typical No. 7 seed, since they have one of the league’s best guards in Tyrese Maxey and a dominant center in Joel Embiid, who, when healthy, is among the top players in the league.
The main concern is that Embiid struggles to stay healthy, and he wasn’t on the court Sunday because he had to undergo surgery on April 9 to have his appendix removed.
There’s a strong possibility that Embiid won’t play in this series, and if he doesn’t return within the next week, it’s likely the series will be over, as the Celtics are the clear favorites and a superior team.
The Celtics will tip off Game 2 on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET, live from the TD Garden.
Austin Hedges had been waiting for the right moment. So, after he helped the Cleveland Guardians to an 8-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday afternoon, he went for it.Â
Hedges, who scored the first run of the game for the Guardians on Sunday at Progressive Field, proposed to girlfriend Lexi Dickinson on the field after the contest. She quickly said yes.
“I’ve had the ring since early spring training, but was just trying to figure out when the right time was,” Hedges said, via The Associated Press. “I was going to do it regardless, but I really wanted to win that game to make it extra special.”
Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges proposed to girlfriend Lexi Dickinson on Sunday afternoon. (David Dermer-Imagn Images)
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / REUTERS
Hedges and Dickinson first started dating in November 2024.Â
“I had a lot of nerves today,” he said. “I’m always nervous for baseball games, but just trying to stay present, knowing there were some activities after made it harder. It was a special day. A special day to be able to soak it all in.”
Hedges is in his third season back with the Guardians. The catcher signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the franchise this past offseason. Hedges, who got his MLB start with the San Diego Padres in 2015, also spent time with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Texas Rangers, where he won a World Series title in 2023.
Hedges holds a .250 batting average with two RBI in nine games this season. He scored in the third inning Sunday after Steven Kwan hit a sacrifice fly to put Cleveland on the board first.Â
The win pushed Cleveland to 13-10 this season. The Guardians are 8-0 when Hedges has started behind the plate.
