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Knicks overturn 20-point second-half deficit for 91-90 win over Celtics in Game 2

The Knicks overturned a 16-point hole in the fourth quarter to storm back for a 91-90 win over the Celtics to take a 2-0 lead in their second-round series against Boston.

Stop if you have heard this before: Mikal Bridges overcame a poor night shooting to make the crucial defensive play to stop a potential game-winning shot by the Celtics. In Game 2, the Knicks guard, who was held scoreless through three quarters, stole the ball from Jayson Tatum in the game’s final seconds to preserve the win after Jalen Brunson’s free throws gave New York the lead.

The Knicks, who overturned a 20-point hole in Game 1, shot 12-for-24 from the floor in the fourth quarter while holding the Celtics to a horrendous 5-for-25, including a nine missed threes.

Karl-Anthony Towns kept the Knicks in the game early and finished with 21 points and 17 rebounds in 35 minutes in a game where every New York starter had a negative plus-minus, and it looked hopeless for the visitors as Boston built a 20-point third-quarter lead.

Bridges finished with 14 points on 6-for-18 shooting with seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and two turnovers in 43 minutes. He was a minus-6, but came up huge when it mattered.

Here are the takeaways...

- The game fell into a pattern: The Knicks would fall into a deep hole, claw their way back to within single digits, and then fall back into a deep hole. That was until Boston stopped making shots and New York had enough of being down double-digits.

Entering the fourth down a dozen, Bridges finally got his first bucket with 11:04 left after missing his first eight shots. He would score seven points to start the quarter, but the problem was that the Celtics scored 11 in that span and stretched the lead back to 16 with under nine to play. 

That was when the Knicks went on a 14-2 run to make it a four-point game with three to play, wth Bridges scoring seven of those points. Boston went over six minutes without a made field goal (0-for-9, including seven from deep)

After a Knicks timeout, a Towns and-1 and a fadeaway from Jalen Brunson, who had a terrible start to the night shooting, gave New York their first lead of the game with 1:59 to play.

Boston's cold streak hit 13 straight missed buckets and Brunson's running layup made it a three-point New York lead with a minute to play. Tatum cut the lead to one with two at the line, Brunson had a good look at a three, and Tatum (out of a timeout) answered by going coast-to-coast, blowing past Mitchell Robinson for a dunk – Boston’s first field goal in 8:21 of game time – for a one-point lead.

Brunson's two at the line saw the lead back to the visitors with 13 to play. The Celtics didn’t use their last timeout to advance the ball and had it back in Tatum’s hands, but he was forced to his left off a pick by Robinson and turned away from the hoop by OG Anunoby – before Bridges took the ball from his hand as he looked to make a leaping pass to end the game.

- Brunson finished with 17 points (6-for-19 shooting) with seven assists and three rebounds and was a minus-1. 

Josh Hart, who had just six rebounds and three assists, made up for it with efficient scoring, finishing with 23 points on 9-for-15 shooting to lead New York.

- In the third, things could have turned around when Anunoby had a monster dunk plowing through Derrick White that would have made it a seven-point game. Instead, it went for an offensive foul as the Celtics guard had both feet out of the restricted area. Boston took advantage with an 11-2 run for an 18-point edge (largest thus far), forcing a Tom Thibodeau timeout with under five to play in the quarter.

Of course, that is when the Celtics did their part to keep the Knicks in the game. Tatum and Jaylen Brown had a 2-on-1 break up 20 and three to play in the third. It went for a ball out of bounds. Could that have changed the game as Boston was enjoying a 16-5 run? New York answered with an 8-0 run to end the period. It was a harbinger of things to come in the fourth as the home team crumbled. Overall, they shot 15-for-45 (33 percent) in the second half, including going 5-for-19 from three.

- Down 11 to start the second quarter, Towns single-handedly kept New York in the game to start the second as he got Al Horford for back-to-back old-fashioned three-point plays and then blew past Horford for an easy bucket to cut Boston's lead to five on his 8-0 run.

That came with Robinson providing some solid play off the bench, adding four points, two steals, three rebounds, and was a plus-7 in eight minutes. But a hack-a-Robinson sent him to the bench. And then things, as they did all night, slide away for the Knicks. Sloppy play struck with three bad turnovers and more Boston offensive rebounds, leading to 16 16-point New York deficit with three to play. 

The Knicks closed the half on an 11-4 run, with Hart going for six points. But there was much to clean up as Boston's nine offensive rebounds gave them 15 second-chance points to New York's six points on four rebounds. (And the Knicks' eight turnovers led to 13 points.)

Towns had 14 at the half (6-for-11) with 10 rebounds. Brunson was 3-for-10 in the first half for seven points and had as many assists as turnovers (two).

Brown, who settled for threes and was 1-for-10 in Game 1, was moving much better in the early goings with 17 first-half points on 7-for-16 from the floor and added six rebounds (four offensive). Tatum did not start well again with just two first-half points (1-for-7 from the floor). White continued to be a thorn in the Knicks’ side with 14 (3-for-6 from deep) in the opening half.

Brown had just three points in thes second half going 1-for-6, Tatum had 11 while going 4-for-12, and white had 16, going 0-for-5 from three.

- The first quarter was ugly. The Celtics missed their first four threes and started 2-for-11 from the floor, but the Knicks failed to capitalize as they started 0-for-7 from the field. (Anunoby made a three on the game’s opening possession, but, upon review, he didn’t beat the shot clock and the points came off the board.) The home side was quickly up seven before two buckets from Towns finally broke the seal. A deluge of buckets didn’t follow as the Knicks were 2-for-16 from the floor (0-for-3 from deep) behind 16-4 late in the first quarter. 

Brunson missed his first five attempts before a bucket with 16 seconds left in the first quarter, but he wasn’t alone as Bridges (0-for-5) and Anunoby (0-for-2) went scoreless with New York shooting 6-for-23 in the quarter. Hart made the Knicks' lone three on eight attempts.

Who was the game MVP?

Thibs is the hero for the mentality of his team being able to get over the horrible play and pushing all the right buttons, including having Robinson give him 22 minutes off the bench with six points, eight rebounds (three offensive) and three steals. He was a plus-19.

Highlights

What's next

The series trades the Boston Garden for Madison Square Garden, with the Knicks having the opportunity to end the series at home, starting with Saturday's Game 3. Tip is set for 3:30 p.m.

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Thunder set NBA playoff record for first-half points vs. Nuggets in Game 2

Thunder set NBA playoff record for first-half points vs. Nuggets in Game 2 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Oklahoma City Thunder set an NBA playoff record for first-half points with 87 against the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series Wednesday night.

Oklahoma City surpassed the previous record of 86 set by the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on June 9, 2017. Chet Holmgren, who missed two critical free throws late in Game 1, made a pair with a second remaining to set the record.

The Thunder tied the record for points in any half of a playoff game. Milwaukee had 87 in the second half against Denver on April 23, 1978.

The Thunder shot 58.8% from the field and made 17 of 18 free throws to take an 87-56 lead at the break. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 18 points. All five Thunder starters scored in double figures in the first half.

Oklahoma City eventually won 149-106 to even the series. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 34 points and eight assists in three quarters.

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Knicks thriving, Celtics faltering under pressure in playoffs

Knicks thriving, Celtics faltering under pressure in playoffs originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

BOSTON — The New York Knicks’ affinity for clutch time has been the difference so far in their Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Boston Celtics.

For the second straight game, the Knicks erased a 20-point deficit and defeated the reigning NBA champions at TD Garden. They’ve been exceptional in the clutch this postseason, with seven of their eight games coming down to the final five minutes. Six of them have been wins, including Wednesday’s 91-90 triumph.

With their Game 2 victory, the Knicks became the first team in NBA history to complete a 20-point comeback in consecutive playoff games. Meanwhile, the Celtics became the first team since 1996-97 to lose two games while leading by 20 or more points in a single postseason.

The Celtics entered Wednesday with a -15.7 net rating in clutch situations. In three clutch-time games, they shot 26.1 percent from the floor and 10 percent from 3.

Boston’s inability to close out games — and New York’s perseverance — could ultimately determine the outcome of the series. In Games 1 and 2 combined, the Celtics shot 9-for-45 (20 percent from the floor and 4-for-24 from 3 -point range (16.7 percent) for a total of 33 points in the fourth quarter.

Knicks forward Mikal Bridges nearly outscored the C’s himself in the final 12 minutes of Game 2, dropping all 14 of his points in the frame and topping off the performance with a game-sealing steal against Jayson Tatum. Jalen Brunson, the 2024-25 NBA Clutch Player of the Year, scored all six Knicks points in the final two minutes and has outscored Boston in the final five fourth-quarter minutes of both games, 17-13.

Tatum finished Game 2 with only 13 points (5-19 FG) — his lowest scoring output of the season.

“They made every play,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said of the Knicks. “Throughout the end of third and into the fourth quarter, I thought we generated some good looks. We had some live-ball turnovers, and they took advantage of it. They made the necessary plays to win.”

Jaylen Brown was among the few bright spots for Boston in the devastating loss. The 2024 NBA Finals MVP tied Derrick White for a team-high 20 points, though he didn’t score in the fourth quarter.

So, how can Brown and the C’s avoid letting their late-game collapses affect them mentally for the remainder of the series?

“Just be poised, take a deep breath, and just go out there and do what we’re supposed to do,” Brown said. “We gotta be better to close games, and we gotta learn and respond fast. So that’s the key. Shift your mentality, shift your focus. What’s in the past is over with. Let it sting a little bit, and then do whatever it takes Game 3.”

Brown admitted the team’s performance has been “inexcusable,” but he isn’t losing faith as the series shifts to New York.

“These are the moments where we need to show our resiliency, we need to show our mental toughness,” he added. “Because we can get back into this thing, no question. Obviously, being down 0-2, it sucks. But we’ve got a great group, and if I had to select any guys to get it done, it’s the group that we have in our locker room.”

The Celtics will look to get back on track Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Tip-off for Game 3 is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET.

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Basketball world reacts to Knicks' second-straight comeback win over Celtics

Basketball world reacts to Knicks' second-straight comeback win over Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Knicks-Celtics sequel was very similar to the original.

Same cast. Same plot. Same ending.

The Celtics go up by 20 in the third quarter, the Knicks chip away and take a late lead, Mikal Bridges makes a defensive stop to seal the win, the Knicks celebrate on Boston’s home court, and Knicks fans celebrate in the streets of Manhattan.

History repeated itself on Wednesday as the Knicks erased a 20-point deficit and defeated the Celtics 91-90 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. New York, which also erased a 20-point third quarter deficit in Game 1 en route to a 108-105 win, return to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon with a 2-0 series lead over the heavily-favored defending champions.

Jalen Brunson made two free throws with 12.7 seconds left for a 91-90 lead. Jayson Tatum was then unable to get a shot off after being stifled by OG Anunoby and Bridges, who batted the ball away just before the buzzer.

That made the Knicks the first team to comeback from a 20-point deficit and win in consecutive postseason games, per TNT, and the first team to do so in any two games within a single series since at least 1998, according to ESPN.

The historic comebacks for New York and collapses for Boston caused an uproar on social media….

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Basketball world reacts to Knicks' second-straight comeback win over Celtics

Basketball world reacts to Knicks' second-straight comeback win over Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Knicks-Celtics sequel was very similar to the original.

Same cast. Same plot. Same ending.

The Celtics go up by 20 in the third quarter, the Knicks chip away and take a late lead, Mikal Bridges makes a defensive stop to seal the win, the Knicks celebrate on Boston’s home court, and Knicks fans celebrate in the streets of Manhattan.

History repeated itself on Wednesday as the Knicks erased a 20-point deficit and defeated the Celtics 91-90 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. New York, which also erased a 20-point third quarter deficit in Game 1 en route to a 108-105 win, return to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon with a 2-0 series lead over the heavily-favored defending champions.

Jalen Brunson made two free throws with 12.7 seconds left for a 91-90 lead. Jayson Tatum was then unable to get a shot off after being stifled by OG Anunoby and Bridges, who batted the ball away just before the buzzer.

That made the Knicks the first team to comeback from a 20-point deficit and win in consecutive postseason games, per TNT, and the first team to do so in any two games within a single series since at least 1998, according to ESPN.

The historic comebacks for New York and collapses for Boston caused an uproar on social media….

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Porzingis opens up about illness that's limited him in Celtics-Knicks

Porzingis opens up about illness that's limited him in Celtics-Knicks originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

What’s wrong with Kristaps Porzingis?

That’s been a pressing question since Monday night, when the Boston Celtics big man exited Game 1 of the team’s second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks due to an illness.

After the Celtics’ loss to the Knicks in Game 2 on Wednesday night, Porzingis provided some answers.

“Yeah, I’m dealing with some — I don’t know how to call it, but just not feeling my best at all,” Porzingis told reporters following Boston’s heartbreaking 91-90 defeat at TD Garden. “It just kills me inside that it’s happening in this moment.”

Porzingis, who went scoreless over 13 minutes in Game 1 before coming out in the second quarter, made more of an impact in Game 2 with eight points on 3 of 5 shooting with four rebounds. He was on the court for just 13:53 minutes, however, and still didn’t look like his usual self.

“It’s a tough moment for me to not be able to be with guys,” Porzingis said, adding that he’s been “super appreciative” of the support he’s received both inside the organization and from fans as he navigates his illness.

“It’s not an injury or anything, but just not feeling my best. It’s tough for me, honestly, but who cares? Nobody feels sorry for us, sorry for me, and we have keep going.”

Porzingis missed eight consecutive games in late February and early March due a viral upper respiratory illness, and appeared to confirm speculation that his current condition is tied to that original issue.

“Probably. Probably,” Porzingis said when asked if the two illnesses are related. “I’ve had ups and downs up until this point, and just now had a big crash. My energy, my everything hasn’t been good.

“But who cares? Have to look forward, and we’ll get better from this point on.”

The Celtics certainly could use Porzingis’ energy. The C’s became the first team in the NBA’s play-by-play era (since 1996-97) to lose two games in the same postseason when leading by 20-plus points, per Celtics stats guru Dick Lipe, and looked flat and disjointed in the fourth quarter of both Game 1 and Game 2.

Porzingis played a key role in Boston’s regular-season success against the Knicks, averaging 22.4 points per game versus his former team since coming to Boston while making 50 percent of his 3-pointers (26 for 52). But it’s clear that version of Porzingis hasn’t been present at TD Garden in this series to date.

The series shifts to New York on Saturday for Game 3, with tip-off set for 3:30 p.m. ET. NBC Sports Boston’s coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. ET with Celtics Pregame Live.

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2025 NBA Playoffs Panic Meter: Which of four home teams trailing in series should panic?

For the first time in NBA history, the four higher-seeded home teams lost Game 1 in their second-round series. Home teams are 0-5 so far in the postseason, which feels strange.

But is it reason to panic? Which fan base should be reaching for the panic button? Let’s rank all four home teams on our 2025 NBA Playoffs Panic Meter, with teams ranked on a scale of 1-5 sirens going off.

1) Cleveland Cavaliers

Where are the Cavaliers on the panic meter?

spongebob-panic.gif

It’s not simply that Cleveland is down 0-2 to Indiana, dropping both home games, or that the second loss was a gut-punch where the Cavaliers led by seven with 48 seconds left and found a way to blow it. No, the bigger concern is injuries.

Darius Garland’s value to the Cavaliers has never been more evident than when watching them struggle just to get the ball up the court under pressure and set up their offense. Everything has fallen to Donovan Mitchell, and while he scored 48 points in Game 2, it wasn’t enough. Garland has turf toe (a sprained big toe), which is painful, has already cost him the last four games, and usually lasts at least 10 days and sometimes weeks beyond this.

Evan Mobley would help with shot creation, especially in the half court, but he is fighting through a sprained ankle suffered in Game 1. De’Andre Hunter is out with what the team has diagnosed as a sprained finger, which it first described as a dislocation — he won’t be able to play until he can grip a ball.

The Cavaliers have to win Game 3 on the road, if they fall to 0-3 in the series it’s over. Cleveland needs Garland back at close to 100% to knock off an Indiana team that will be energized at home, but it doesn’t sound like he (or Mobley) are close to a return.

That’s reason to panic in Cleveland.

2) Boston Celtics

The level of panic drops considerably here — it’s just one game. Boston is not going to miss 45 3-pointers again this series.

The Knicks tried to employ some of the tactics the Magic used in their first-round series to chase the Celtics off the arc, but New York doesn’t have the personnel to pull it off. It only "worked" because Boston missed open shot after open shot.

Two little reasons for Celtics fans to at least know where the panic button is located, just in case. One is the health of Kristaps Porzingis, if the big man can’t play it makes life easier for the Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns, and it asks too much of Al Horford. Second, if the Knicks can just keep games close at the end (as they did in Game 1) they have Jalen Brunson. New York’s late-game execution has just been better.

3) Oklahoma City Thunder

No need to panic here, it’s just one loss, but that game raised this question: Are Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren ready for this moment? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 but had to play in a crowd as the Nuggets tilted their defense toward him. As they should. Which means Williams and Holmgren have to make them pay as the secondary scorers and shot creators, but Williams shot 5-of-20 and Holmgren had a rough night late. If they struggle again in the next couple of games, then more sirens come into play.

4) Minnesota Timberwolves

No reason to panic. There can be mild concern about losing Game 1, but there are two reasons to remain optimistic. First, Stephen Curry is out for the next week and Golden State can’t replicate that offensive performance without him (Draymond Green isn’t hitting four 3-pointers again). Second, and more importantly, Anthony Edwards isn’t going to be that bad again. If he wants to be a top-five player in the league, a guy who gets MVP ballot votes, if he wants to be the face of the league (even if he says he doesn’t) that is all earned in the playoffs.

Minnesota isn’t going to score 88 points again. Game 2 will look very different.

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Basketball world reacts to Knicks' second-straight comeback win over Celtics

Basketball world reacts to Knicks' second-straight comeback win over Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Knicks-Celtics sequel was very similar to the original.

Same cast. Same plot. Same ending.

The Celtics go up by 20 in the third quarter, the Knicks chip away and take a late lead, Mikal Bridges makes a defensive stop to seal the win, the Knicks celebrate on Boston’s home court, and Knicks fans celebrate in the streets of Manhattan.

History repeated itself on Wednesday as the Knicks erased a 20-point deficit and defeated the Celtics 91-90 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. New York, which also erased a 20-point third quarter deficit in Game 1 en route to a 108-105 win, return to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon with a 2-0 series lead over the heavily-favored defending champions.

Jalen Brunson made two free throws with 12.7 seconds left for a 91-90 lead. Jayson Tatum was then unable to get a shot off after being stifled by OG Anunoby and Bridges, who batted the ball away just before the buzzer.

That made the Knicks the first team to comeback from a 20-point deficit and win in consecutive postseason games, per TNT, and the first team to do so in any two games within a single series since at least 1998, according to ESPN.

The historic comebacks for New York and collapses for Boston caused an uproar on social media….

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NBA Playoff Ratings Up 6% Through First Round

The Minnesota Timberwolves may have robbed the NBA’s media partners of a quarterfinals collision between perennial ratings champs LeBron James and Steph Curry, but the league has momentum on its side as the second round of the playoffs begins to heat up.

According to Nielsen live-plus-same-day data, the opening salvo of the NBA postseason averaged 3.71 million viewers across ABC, ESPN and TNT/truTV, which marks a 6% increase versus the year-ago 3.49 million. The Disney networks did much of the heavy lifting in the first round, as deliveries across the 12 ABC/ESPN games were up 14% year-to-year, while the TNT Sports channels saw a more modest 4% lift as their long association with the NBA nears an end.

As expected, big-reach broadcaster ABC has put up the biggest audience numbers, averaging 5.55 million viewers for its half-dozen weekend airings, up 13% from last year’s analogous stretch (4.9 million). ABC carried the most-watched playoff outing thus far, as Minnesota’s 116-113 win over Los Angeles on April 27 averaged 7.35 million viewers in the Sunday matinee (3:30 p.m. ET) slot.

ABC also was the beneficiary of an opening weekend that coincided with the Easter holiday, a date that has proven to be a boon for out-of-home viewing. With an average draw of 5.57 million viewers, deliveries for the network’s April 20 doubleheader were up a massive 32%, as ABC reaped the benefit of all those additional impressions that were captured via brunches and family celebrations. TNT’s own Easter two-fer also enjoyed a considerable boost, as its evening and primetime telecasts were up 23% to 4.13 million viewers.

Bear in mind that there’s been a distinct uptick in out-of-home impressions since Nielsen expanded coverage of its OOH panel earlier this year. The combination of the more inclusive metric and the Easter lift conspired to help boost the opening weekend’s deliveries by 17%.

While the NBA didn’t maintain that big year-over-year surge for long—after the second weekend of the playoffs, the rate-of-change was +4%—the first round finished on a strong note, as TNT averaged 6.63 million viewers for Game 7 of the Warriors-Rockets series. With an average draw of 4.51 million viewers per game, that maxed-out set stands as the playoffs’ second-biggest attraction, trailing only the truncated Wolves-Lakers series (5.1 million).

From a ratings standpoint, the Lakers’ early exit is less than ideal, as it dashed hopes for a second-round showdown with Golden State. When James and Curry crossed swords in the 2023 playoffs, that six-game slate averaged 7.8 million viewers, peaking with 8.64 million for the deciding telecast on ESPN.

While there won’t be a Lakers-Warriors juggernaut to help boost the NBA’s numbers this time around—the 2023 series was the most-watched conference semifinals in 27 years—a lengthy Knicks-Celtics duel could go a long way toward staving off a letdown. While the ratings for Game 1 of the New York-Boston tilt have yet to be issued, the rekindled rivalry between these two major-market franchises guarantees that at least one high-profile team will punch its ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Together, the combined reach of the nation’s largest media market (New York boasts 7.49 million TV households) and the No. 9 DMA (2.58 million) translates into a hometown rooting interest for 8% of all U.S. TV homes. All told, the Eastern time zone is home to 48% of all TV users.

Out West, any best-case scenario involves Curry and the Warriors advancing to the Finals. The rest of the field is littered with smaller-market clubs, with top seed Oklahoma repping a market with 762,700 TV homes, giving the Thunder 40% of the local reach of the Nuggets and Timberwolves.

Coverage of the NBA playoffs continues Wednesday night with Game 2 of Knicks-Celtics tipping off at 7 p.m. ET, followed by Nuggets-Thunder in the 9:30 p.m. slot. Both games will be carried by TNT/truTV.

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Former Lakers star Byron Scott is accused of sexually assaulting a girl 38 years ago

LOS ANGELES, CA, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2016 - Lakers head coach Byron Scott seems to ponder his next move during action against the Timberwolves at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Former Lakers star Byron Scott, shown coaching the Lakers in 2016, has been accused of a sexual assault that allegedly took place 38 years ago. (Los Angeles Times)

Former Lakers player and head coach Byron Scott is accused in a lawsuit obtained by The Times of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old student at Studio City Campbell Hall High School in 1987.

The former student alleges that Scott escorted her into a janitor's closet and that according to the lawsuit he "began kissing her on the mouth as she repeatedly asked 'what are you doing?'

"Then, despite her clear protests, Scott pushed [her] to her knees, and, against her will, pulled off her top. Scott then pulled down his shorts, exposed his erect penis, and tried to force [her] to perform oral sex on him."

The lawsuit originally was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Dec. 30, 2022, but Scott was referred to as "John Doe," the Lakers as "one of the most popular NBA franchise teams" and Campbell Hall as "Private School Doe." An amended complaint filed May 1 named Scott, the Lakers and Campbell Hall after a judge denied objections by Scott that he shouldn't be identified because he is a public figure and that there wasn't evidence to corroborate the woman's claims.

The plaintiff is named in her lawsuit but The Times doesn't publish the names of alleged sexual assault victims. She came forward after the California Child Victim's Act took effect in 2020, extending the statute of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file civil claims against their abusers.

"Like many victims of childhood sexual assault, [she] was resigned to deal with the trauma privately, with only few close to her and a handful of mental professionals knowing what occurred on that summer day," the lawsuit states.

Read more:An older and wiser Byron Scott is still all business

"Then, Governor Newsom passed the California Child Victim’s Act, which revived [her] claims against the former professional athlete and the elite Los Angeles private school, and perhaps others. And while still a difficult decision to come forward now and relive the trauma, [she] is bravely doing so to shine a light and to seek some amount of justice and hopefully closure for the significant psychological trauma and emotional distress that she has experienced every day since the sexual assault."

Scott's attorney, Linda Bauermeister, issued a statement to The Times: "Our client is devastated by this complaint, a basketball event that took place in 1987. Our client believed the plaintiff to be over 18 and had no idea she would claim otherwise until 35 years later. He respects girls and women, and the claims have blindsided him and his family."

Scott was 26 when a handful of Lakers players and officials filmed an instructional training video in the Campbell Hall gym. According to the complaint, the alleged victim was left alone with adults during a break and struck up a conversation with Scott. They ate lunch together and she gave him a tour of school facilities.

They soon were alone and, according to the complaint, Scott "forcefully grabbed [her] by the arm and pulled her inside the room." The complaint says she had "never kissed a boy."

The complaint blames the school for creating the circumstances for the sexual assault, saying, "Campbell Hall faculty and staff failed to take any steps or implement any safeguards to supervise or otherwise protect Plaintiff from anything that could, and eventually would, happen to her."

"… she continues to suffer, severe psychological and emotional distress, as well as feelings of embarrassment, loss of self-esteem, shame, and humiliation," the lawsuit states.

Read more:How Byron Scott found out he got fired from the Lakers and what he plans to do next

Scott, who grew up in Los Angeles and attended Inglewood Morningside High, began his fifth season with the Lakers, with whom he spent 11 of his 14 NBA seasons and won three championships, in 1987. He went on to coach five NBA teams over 15 seasons, including the Lakers from 2014 to 2016.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Cavaliers vs. Pacers Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for May 9

It’s Friday, May 9, and the Cleveland Cavaliers (64-18) and Indiana Pacers (50-32) are all set to square off from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The Pacers grabbed a Game 2 victory after erasing a 20-point deficit and a Tyrese Haliburton game-winner with 1.1 seconds remaining for a 120-119 win. Donovan Mitchell posted 48 points and 9 assists in a tiring all-out performance as Cleveland was without Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, and Deandre Hunter. All three players are questionable for Game 3.

The Cavaliers are currently 30-11 on the road with a point differential of 10, while the Pacers have an 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Cavaliers vs. Pacers live today

  • Date: Friday, May 9, 2025
  • Time: 7:30 PM EST
  • Site: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
  • City: Indianapolis, IN
  • Network/Streaming: ESPN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Cavaliers vs. Pacers

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Odds: Cavaliers (-132), Pacers (+111)
  • Spread:  Cavaliers -2
  • Over/Under: 229 points

That gives the Cavaliers an implied team point total of 115.07, and the Pacers 114.03.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Friday’s Cavaliers vs. Pacers game

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Cavaliers on the ML:

"Cleveland is in an all-out motivational and must-win spot. We know the stats that teams down 3-0 are basically burnt toast, so the Cavaliers will have to do everything possible to avoid that at Indiana. While the odds are against them, Cleveland is the slight favorite and I expect that number to grow if Mobley or Hunter are ruled in. At -120 to -135 odds right now, Cleveland is the best bet as I think they close past -175."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Cavaliers & Pacers game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Indiana Pacers at +2.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 229.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Cavaliers vs. Pacers on Friday

  • The Pacers have an average winning margin of +7 in their 5 wins against the Cavaliers this season
  • 5 of the Pacers' last 7 matchups with the Cavaliers have gone over the Total
  • The Pacers have covered as an underdog 3 times in a row
  • The Cavaliers have failed to cover the Spread in 3 straight matchups against Eastern Conference Central Division teams

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Knicks vs. Celtics – Game 2 Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for May 7

It’s Wednesday, May 7, and the New York Knicks (51-31) and Boston Celtics (61-21) are all set to square off from TD Garden in Boston for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The Knicks stole Game 1 in Boston, 108-105 in OT behind Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby's 29 points each. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum both scored 23 points to lead Boston, but they could not survive the Knicks 33-21 run from the start of the fourth quarter. Kristaps Porzingis exited Game 1 with an illness after 13 minutes, so his status (questionable) is important entering Game 2 for Boston, while Jrue Holiday returned after missing three games (16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists).

The Knicks are currently 24-17 on the road with a point differential of 4, while the Celtics have an 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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Game details & how to watch Knicks vs. Celtics live today

  • Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
  • Time: 7:00 PM EST
  • Site: TD Garden
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: TNT / TruTV / Max

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Knicks vs. Celtics

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Odds: Knicks (+409), Celtics (-552)
  • Spread:  Celtics -10.5
  • Over/Under: 211 points

That gives the Knicks an implied team point total of 104.47, and the Celtics 109.94.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Wednesday’s Knicks vs. Celtics game

Rotoworld Best Bet Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Celtics 1Q Team Total Over 28.5 and Josh Hart Under 11.5 Points:

"In Game 1, I was on Josh Hart's Over 11.5 Points and that cashed with 14, thanks to an early four-point start during the first few minutes and an efficient 5-for-9 shooting. However, Hart's numbers in Game 2 dip slightly compared to Game 1's when it comes to points and field goal attempts, which I expect to happen here. Hart has scored at least 10 points in all six Game 1's of his career, but that's not the case in Game 2's.

For the spread, I like Boston at -10 and -10.5m, but I like a quick start at home even more. The Celtics first quarter team total is set at 28.5 and I believe that's a number they can hit. New York has averaged 31.0 points per game in the first quarter of their four road games this postseason, so Boston will have to match that. While Orlando stifled them in the first round, Boston put up 32 first-quarter points in the following game off a loss — something I can see happening again."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Knicks & Celtics game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Boston Celtics on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New York Knicks at +10.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 211.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Knicks vs. Celtics on Wednesday

  • The Knicks have won their last 3 games as a road underdog
  • The Over is 10-7 in the Celtics' matchups against Eastern Conference Atlantic Division teams this season
  • The Celtics have failed to cover in 4 of their last 5 matchups against Eastern Conference Atlantic Division teams

Expect a high-scoring Game Two clash. The Boston Celtics had the second-most efficient offense in the NBA during the regular season, averaging 116.3 points per game, while the Knicks weren’t far behind, averaging 115.8 per game. The over landed in Game One and can do so again.

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Celtics injury updates: Porzingis in, Hauser out for Game 2 vs. Knicks

Celtics injury updates: Porzingis in, Hauser out for Game 2 vs. Knicks originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics got mixed results on the injury front Tuesday entering Game 2 of their second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks.

Big man Kristaps Porzingis (non-Covid illness) has been upgraded from probable to available for Wednesday night’s Game 2 at TD Garden, while forward Sam Hauser (right ankle sprain) has been downgraded from doubtful to out.

Porzingis’ availability is great news for the Celtics after he exited Game 1 early in the second quarter due to an illness. The 29-year-old went scoreless in 13 minutes of action and didn’t look like himself before heading to the locker room for the rest of the first half.

While the nature of Porzingis’ illness is unclear, head coach Joe Mazzulla suggested Tuesday it could be related to the viral illness that caused Porzingis to miss eight consecutive games in late February and early March.

“Since he came back, I think he’s been kind of dealing with it on and off, fighting through it, working through it, doing the best he can,” Mazzulla said of Porzingis.

Porzingis has struggled offensively in the 2025 playoffs, shooting 32.8 percent from the floor and just 11.8 percent from 3-point range (2 for 17) through six games. He’s had plenty of success against the Knicks, however, averaging 22.4 points per game versus his former team since coming to Boston while making 50 percent of his 3-pointers (26 for 52).

If Porzingis can play significant minutes in Wednesday’s Game 2 while returning to his shooting form, that would be a massive boost for the Celtics’ offense.

Hauser, meanwhile, sprained his ankle late in the third quarter of Game 1 while closing out an OG Anunoby 3-pointer. He played just four minutes prior to his injury while missing both of his 3-point attempts and has averaged just 2.7 points per game this postseason.

Game 2 of Celtics-Knicks is set for Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET at TD Garden, with NBC Sports Boston’s coverage beginning at 6 p.m. ET with Celtics Pregame Live.

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Draymond Green joins elite NBA playoff club with 1,000th assist vs. Timberwolves

Draymond Green joins elite NBA playoff club with 1,000th assist vs. Timberwolves originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors forward Draymond Green is an elite NBA playoff performer, despite what his critics believe.

The four-time NBA champion’s latest feature shows just how dominant he has been during the Warriors’ dynastic run, which began when they made the playoffs in Green’s rookie 2012-13 season.

With six assists in the Warriors’ Western Conference semifinal Game 1 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night, Green now has 1,003 career playoff dimes.

Combined with his 1,438 career playoff rebounds, Green became the eighth player in NBA history to have at least 1,000 postseason boards and assists.

Green joins LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Scottie Pippen and Jason Kidd as the only players to accomplish the feat.

The 35-year-old enters Tuesday’s Game 2 No. 25 on the NBA’s postseason rebound list, with a good chance to move into the top 20 all-time by the end of the series against the Timberwolves.

As for assists, Green is No. 15 on the all-time postseason list, and he sits just 19 helpers away from matching Jordan’s 1,022. If the Warriors advance to the Western Conference finals, the four-time NBA All-Star has a chance to catch Bryant at 1,040 and Pippen at 1,048.

Green has put his stamp on the NBA postseason record books and has no intention of stopping now.

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Stephen Curry suffers Grade 1 left hamstring strain, officially out for Game 2 in Minnesota

Stephen Curry is out for Game 2 of the Warriors series against the Timberwolves — and likely will be out at least a week — after an MRI confirmed a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, something first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN.

That initial report tried to put a positive spin on things, saying there is no timetable for Curry's return because he has not suffered this injury previously. While Curry hasn't, countless other NBA players have, which gives us a pretty accurate timeline of at least a week out and usually closer to 10 days, as Jeff Stotts of In Street Clothes noted.

Curry injured his hamstring midway through the second quarter of Game 1, apparently when trying to make a sharp cut to defend Mike Conley. Curry checked out of the game soon after, went straight to the locker room, and did not return.

The Warriors went on to win Game 1 99-88 behind a strong defensive performance (and an awful offensive one by Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves), plus 24 points from Buddy Hield and Draymond Green knocking down four 3-pointers. It's a level of play that is not sustainable.

Golden State had a -1.4 net rating this season when Curry was off the court, as its offense struggled to generate good looks without his ball handling and gravity. That said, the Warriors did have a +12.8 net rating in the limited minutes they had Jimmy Butler III on the court and Curry off — Butler is going to have to put on a heroic performance for the Warriors to have a chance in this series.