MUNICH, Germany (AP) — Luis Díaz scored one goal and made another as Bayern Munich beat Borussia Monchengladbach 4-1 on Friday to extend its lead at the top of the Bundesliga to 14 points over second-place Borussia Dortmund.
With Harry Kane injured, Nicolas Jackson started in the centre-forward position for Bayern, one of seven changes to the side that beat Dortmund in Der Klassiker last weekend.
But it was Colombian Díaz who started the rampage.
He opened the scoring after 33 minutes with a crashing volley and then turned provider 12 minutes later when his clever pass set up Konrad Laimer to make it 2-0.
Bayern’s task was made easier when Rocco Reitz was sent off for rugby tackling Jackson 10 minutes into the second half.
Jamal Musiala dispatched the resulting penalty to score his first goal of the season and Jackson celebrated his return to the side by adding a fourth 11 minutes from time.
Wael Mohya, 17, grabbed a consolation goal for Gladbach in the dying moments, becoming the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer.
The only disconcerting note for reigning champion Bayern was the withdrawal at halftime of Manuel Neuer. The Germany goalkeeper had returned after missing two games through injury. The extent of his complaint was not immediately apparent.
Gladbach remains in 12th place with 25 points, only three clear of the relegation zone.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Kaety L’Amoreaux scored 21 points, Meghan Andersen added 16 points and No. 25 Fairfield eased by Sacred Heart 69-53 on Friday in the quarterfinals of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament for its ninth victory in a row.
Fairfield (26-4), the No. 2 seed, continues its quest for a third straight MAAC championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. The Stags already secured their third straight regular-season title, the seventh in program history.
L’Amoreaux, the conference player of the year, and Andersen combined for 22 points in the first half to help Fairfield build a 35-24 lead. Andersen scored five points during a 12-0 second-quarter run that gave the Stags a 14-point lead.
Fairfield led by double figures the entire second half. The Stags closed the third quarter on a 9-0 run and led by as many as 27 in the fourth before Sacred Heart scored the final 11 points of the game against reserves.
L’Amoreaux and Andersen each went 7 of 11 from the field to help Fairfield shoot 46% overall, while Sacred Heart was held to 19-of-54 shooting (35%). L’Amoreaux reached 20-plus points for the sixth time this season.
Cyanne Coe added 10 points for Fairfield. Carly Thibault-DuDonis reached 100 wins during her four-year career to become the fastest coach in MAAC history to reach the mark.
Emma Kirby led Sacred Heart (13-18), the No. 7 seed, with 15 points. Amelia Wood added 11 points, Missy Nuku had 10 points and Nalyce Dudley grabbed 10 rebounds.
Up next
Sacred Heart: Season likely comes to an end.
Fairfield: Awaits the winner of Saturday's quarterfinal game between Merrimack and Mount St. Mary's — with the semifinal set for Sunday.
For the Florida Panthers, this year’s deadline was far less eventful than in recent seasons.
That’s not terribly surprising considering this is the first time in several years that Florida is not poised to enter the Stanley Cup Playoffs with an eye on competing for a championship.
The Panthers were viewed as sellers, with pending unrestricted free agents Sergei Bobrovsky and A.J. Greer garnering the most interest.
Ultimately Florida decided to stand pat on both.
Bobrovsky, who is wrapping up the seven-year, $70 million deal he signed with the Panthers in 2019, is reportedly looking to sign an extension to seemingly finish his career in South Florida.
It’s something that the Panthers would also be interested in exploring, according to GM Bill Zito.
"Sergei is a part of our franchise, a part of our core, and we want to try and keep him,” he said. “He’s a consummate professional. I want Sergei to stay. and I’m looking forward to having him back.”
Bobrovsky will be 38 years old on Opening Night next season.
As for Greer, Florida received interest right up until the 3 p.m. deadline.
That’s also not a surprise as Greer is enjoying a career season, setting new highs in goals (11) and points (22) through just 61 games played, and he’s nine shots on goal away from a new career high in that department as well.
“I think with almost any player, and I say this a lot, you always listen,” said Zito. “When the phone rings, you answer, because you don’t know what could happen.”
Now the Panthers will head into the final 20 games of the season knowing that while this season did not go anywhere near how they’d hoped, there is still plenty to be excited about beyond 2025-26.
That starts as soon as this summer’s NHL Entry Draft. Florida’s 2026 first-round pick is lottery protected, meaning if the Panthers do not make the playoffs, they’ll be entered into the NHL Draft Lottery and the pick will remain theirs.
With 20 games left, Florida is next-to-last in the Eastern Conference. They’re 10 points back of the final Wild Card spot and would have to climb over seven teams to obtain it.
Impossible? No.
Improbable? Quite.
So odds are, Florida will end up with a first-round pick for the first time since 2021. Not a bad asset for a team as set up to ‘win now’ for the foreseeable future as the Panthers are.
“You'd love to say you could be strategic, but you can’t,” Zito said of the draft pick. “The team will play as hard as they can every single night, and whatever happens, happens.”
Once the season comes to an end and Zito can assess exactly where his team and his players are, the decisions can be made regarding how to move forward with the high-end asset.
“We’ll react once the season is over, and we know (where we stand),” Zito said. “But we're playing for both scenarios.”
Photo caption: Jun 14, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Florida Panthers forward A.J. Greer (10) celebrates with goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) after the third period against the Edmonton Oilers in game five of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)
The Winnipeg Jets have activated defenseman Josh Morrissey from injured reserve as the team begins to get healthier heading into an important stretch of the season.
In addition to Morrissey’s activation, Winnipeg has recalled forwards Brad Lambert and Isak Rosen from the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.
Morrissey had been sidelined with a lower-body injury suffered while representing Canada men's national ice hockey team during the opening game of the Olympic tournament against Czechia men's national ice hockey team. The injury forced the Jets’ top defenseman out of the remainder of the event.
Since returning to Winnipeg, Morrissey has missed five consecutive games, but the Jets have managed to stay on track in his absence. During that stretch, the club posted a 3-0-2 record, including a surprising 4-1 victory Thursday over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Josh Morrissey is likely to return to the lineup Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks. Depth forwards Brad Lambert and Isak Rosen, who was acquired in the trade that sent Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn the other way, could also draw into the lineup. The two may help fill the gaps left after Tanner Pearson was dealt to the Buffalo Sabres at the trade deadline and with Nino Niederreiter still on injured reserve.
Rosen, 22, is a former 14th overall pick at the 2021 NHL Draft and has been unable to carve out a roster spot, recording eight points in 31 NHL games. The Swedish winger has spent most of his time playing in the AHL, where this season he has been a standout with 25 goals and 18 assists for 43 points in 37 games.
Lambert, 22, was hoping to be moved at the deadline after feeling stuck within the Jets organization but after being recalled on Friday, he may finally get long runway to earn a main roster spot. So far this season, Lambert has a goal in four NHL games as well as 13 points in 34 AHL games with the Manitoba Moose.
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In a final bit of business ahead of Friday's NHL trade deadline, the Rangers dealt forward Brennan Othmann to the Calgary Flames and defenseman Derrick Pouliot to the Chicago Blackhawks.
New York will add RW Jacob Battaglia in the deal with Calgary, and LW Aidan Thompson from Chicago.
Othmann, 23, appeared in 17 games with the club this season, scoring just one goal (minus-4) while averaging 9:53 time on the ice.
Selected 16th overall by the Blueshirts in 2021, Othmann tallied just three points (one goal, two assists) and a shade under 10 minutes of ice time over his 42 career games with the club.
The return will be Battaglia, a 19-year-old who Calgary took in the second round (62nd overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft. He has been with the OHL's Kingston Frontenacs for the last three seasons before being sent to the Klint Firebirds midway through this year. He had been the captain with Kingston before being dealt.
Pouliot, 32, hasn't played in the NHL since the 2023-24 campaign, and never suited up for the Blueshirts. He had signed a two-year, $1.55 million deal last July.
Thompson, 24 as of last month, was the 90th overall selection (Round 3) by the Blackhawks in 2022. He was on the Denver Pioneers when they were the collegiate champions in 2023-24.
The two moves cap a busy period for Chris Drury and the Rangers after dealing Sam Carrick to the Sabres on Thursday, Artemi Panarin to the Kings, and Carson Soucy to the Islanders. But the club held onto Vincent Trocheck.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 28: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Golden State Warriors in the first half of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on February 28, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
All of a sudden, the Lakers’ upcoming contest against the Pacers looks like a much tougher game. Los Angeles is playing on the second night of a back-to-back and will be taking on Indiana without LeBron James, Deandre Ayton and Maxi Kleber.
The trio was ruled out on Friday afternoon. The Lakers will now have to find a way to win without two of their starting players.
LeBron James, Deandre Ayton and Maxi Kleber are all out for LA’s game tonight against Indiana. pic.twitter.com/hOK6gN6xVd
While Maxi Kleber has missed the past two games with this back injury, James and Ayton are new additions to the injury report.
Ayton exited LA’s game against the Nuggets with a knee injury after playing for just five minutes. Considering that the Lakers are playing the day after he got hurt, it’s no surprise he will be unavailable.
While Ayton has been struggling as of late, he’s been an important player for the Lakers. Ayton is averaging 12.6. points and 8.2 rebounds per game while starting in all 54 games he’s participated in.
LeBron also got injured playing against the Nuggets.
He fell in the fourth quarter, hurting his elbow in the process. James was able to complete the game, but said his elbow felt “pretty sore” during his postgame media availability. Now, he’s officially been ruled out with a left elbow contusion.
LeBron’s value cannot be overstated. He continues to be one of the team’s best offensive producers, averaging 21.4 points on 50% shooting.
LA losing both LeBron and Ayton to injury in their defeat to Denver makes the result that much more painful.
Now, they’ll have to figure out a way to get back on track with two starters out.
Luckily, even though the Lakers will be shorthanded, they should still be able to beat the Pacers. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are healthy and should be able to step up in this situation, generating enough offense to overwhelm their opponent.
Indiana has the second-worst record in the NBA and has lost seven straight games. Considering that the Lakers are fighting for a playoff spot and the Pacers are tanking, even with these key players missing, LA has to find a way to win.
TAMPA, FL - MARCH 3: An general view of George M. Steinbrenner Field during a game between the New York Yankees and Team Panama at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 3, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
First pitch against the New York Yankees is at 6:35 at Steinbrenner Field and the Rays will be providing TV and radio coverage.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza provided some updates prior to Friday's game against the Marlins...
What Benge needs to do to secure spot
Carson Benge has been extremely impressive so far this spring in his bid for a roster spot.
While the right field competition is very crowded to this point, the team is simply looking for him to keep doing his thing in order to lock-up his Opening Day spot.
“There are a lot of things out of his control, but he’s having a good camp,” Mendoza said. “He’s controlling the zone, I like the quality of at-bats especially against lefties -- we saw it the other day going the other way with two strikes -- the defense, the way he’s running the bases. Still a long ways to go, but he’s having a really good camp.”
Heading into Friday’s game, Benge is hitting .312 with a homer and a .357 OBP on the spring.
He also made a diving catch and has shown off his plus-arm in right.
Ewing impressing, as well
Benge hasn’t been the only young standout earning praise early in camp.
Outfield prospect A.J. Ewing has also been very solid so far on both sides of the ball.
Asked about the 21-year-old on Friday, Mendoza simply described him as “a ball player.”
“There’s a lot of different ways he can help a team win baseball games,” the skipper said. “Whether it’s with the way he plays defense, the way he runs the bases, his good at-bats -- just putting the ball in play, driving the ball.
“He’s another kid who I don’t think people talk much about, but he’s another good one.”
Ewing didn’t crack SNY's Top 30 prospect list last season, but rose all the way up to No. 3 this year, and is already among the Top 100 prospects in the sport.
So far, the youngster looks ready to continue his rapid rise.
Feb 17, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) looks on from the field during spring training at Clover Park. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Other surprises
Along with Benge and Ewing, there have been plenty of others who have caught Mendoza’s eye thus far in camp.
That includes both young talent and the vets.
“A lot of them,” Mendoza explained. “We mentioned Ewing, [Chris] Suero, [Ryan] Lambert, and then just a lot of our established players, the way they showed up to camp.
“[Kodai] Senga, I’m really looking forward to watching him pitch. Sean Manaea put in a lot of work, Luis Robert on the backfield continues to crush pitching, and just the professionalism from some of the new players -- there are a lot of good things we’re seeing in camp.”
LuBob leaves the yard
Speaking of Robert's backfield appearances, the skipper said he successfully completed another on Friday.
The slugger again appeared in center, and he lifted a homer.
Following the plan put together by the training staff, he’ll get back out there on Sunday, and play on alternate days leading up to the off day next Wednesday.
If he continues checking boxes leading up to that point, Mendoza said that there’s a pretty good chance he’ll be set to make his Grapefruit League debut.
Robert could be a difference-maker for this lineup, if they can keep him healthy.
Stock down at the WBC
Robert Stock will no longer pitch for Team Israel in the WBC.
The right-hander is officially back with the Mets after reporting right shoulder discomfort following his exhibition appearance against the Marlins earlier this week.
He was set to undergo a series of tests on Friday so that the training staff can see what they are dealing with.
Stock faced an uphill battle for a roster spot in camp, but he’d gotten off to a relatively strong start, putting together back-to-back scoreless appearances.
The 36-year-old was throwing noticeably harder, touching 98 on his fastball.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Elsa Lemmila had 17 points and 11 rebounds, Jaloni Cambridge also scored 17, and No. 11 Ohio State beat No. 19 Minnesota 60-55 on Friday in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament.
Fourth-seeded Ohio State (26-6) plays No. 1 seed and second-ranked UCLA — which beat the Buckeyes 82-75 on Dec. 28 — in the semifinals Saturday.
Cambridge added six assists, five rebounds and three steals. Chance Gray hit three 3-pointers and finished with 13 points.
Mara Braun hit a 3-pointer that cut Minnesota's deficit to 58-55 with 1:32 left in the game. Neither team scored again until Cambridge made a jumper with 16 seconds left.
Grace Grocholski led No. 5 seed Minnesota (22-9) with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Sophie Hart had 12 points and a career-high 19 rebounds and Amaya Battle added 10 points. Hart has 1,000 career points, 966 for the Gophers. Tori McKinney had two points on 1-for-4 shooting in just 16 foul-plagued minutes.
Kennedy Cambridge had six of Ohio State's 12 steals and added five points, four assists and three rebounds.
Ohio State, which lost 71-64 at Minnesota on Feb. 18, has won 10 of 11 against the Gophers and leads the series 66-17, 11-2 at neutral sites.
British No 1 snaps losing streak with 6-1, 6-3 victory
Former coach Mark Petchey returns to her corner
Emma Raducanu enjoyed a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Anastasia Zakharova to reach the last 32 in Indian Wells.
Raducanu arrived at the WTA 1000 tournament on a three-match losing streak and eager to rediscover form after her January split from coach Francisco Roig.
The Calgary Flames have traded the 35-year-old center back to the Colorado Avalanche, TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston reports.
In exchange for Kadri, Colorado gave up forward Victor Olofsson, prospect Max Curran, a conditional 2028 first-round pick, and a conditional 2027 second-round pick. The Avalanche also receive a 2027 fourth-round pick.
Calgary is retaining 20% of Kadri’s contract, meaning Colorado will carry a $5.6 million cap hit for him through the end of the 2029 season.
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reported that the Flames and Avalanche had previously explored a Kadri deal and revisited talks Friday, ultimately finalizing the trade.
The biggest goal of Nazem Kadri's career that put the Avs within one win of a Stanley Cup championship. Broken thumb? No problem.
Kadri, who played three seasons with Colorado from 2019 to 2022, was a key contributor to the Avalanche’s first Stanley Cup in 21 years in 2022, recording seven goals and 15 points during the playoff run. This season, he has 12 goals and 41 points in 61 games with Calgary.
“Super excited. The team at the very top of my list. Man, I can’t wait,” Kadri told TSN after the news broke.
Nazem Kadri becomes the first Muslim-born player to hoist the Stanley Cup — which makes it an emotional day for me. pic.twitter.com/MrUfSzuHRZ
The 6-foot center is in the fourth season of a seven-year, $49 million contract, carrying an annual cap hit of $7 million. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2028-29 campaign.
Drafted seventh overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2009, Kadri has 319 goals and 751 points in 1,046 career games, split between Toronto, Colorado, and Calgary. He has represented the Avalanche and Flames at the NHL All-Star Games in 2022 and 2023, respectively, and played for Canada at the 2014 World Hockey Championship, where the team finished fifth.
Flames Add Strome
Earlier on Friday, Calgary acquired forward Ryan Strome from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a fourth-round pick.
Strome, 32, has struggled to stay in Anaheim’s lineup this season, posting three goals and nine points in 33 games. The 6-foot-1 centre, on the fourth season of a five-year, $25 million contract with a $5 million cap hit, has recorded 41 points in each of the past three seasons. He will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this campaign.
MILWAUKEE, WI - March 2: The sneakers worn by Pete Nance #35 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the game against the Boston Celtics on March 2, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) shoots the puck against Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson.
LOS ANGELES — The Islanders announced a three-year extension with pending free agent Jean-Gabriel Pageau minutes after the trade deadline passed on Friday.
The deal carries a $4.85 million AAV, per a source. It has a full no-trade clause for the first two seasons and a 16-team no-trade clause for the last year, according to PuckPedia.
Mathieu Darche held off on engaging Pageau’s camp in extension talks earlier in the season, but evidently did so recently.
Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) shoots the puck against Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson. David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Pageau will be 34 next season when the extension kicks in, but has shown little sign of slowing down with age. He has 29 points this year and has been a key part of the penalty kill.
He also regularly takes on a mentorship role in the dressing room, and has excellent chemistry alongside Simon Holmstrom.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau #44 of the New York Islanders celebrates his goal against the Minnesota Wild. NHLI via Getty Images
The Islanders’ desire to re-sign him even after trading for Brayden Schenn, a similar player who is a year older than Pageau, shows that he is still viewed as a key part of the core.
Boston stumbled badly against Charlotte on Wednesday, getting blown out 118–89 in one of their roughest games of the season. Turnovers piled up, the shots never fell, and the defense didn’t really settle in. It was the type of performance that could linger for a couple days. Friday night at TD Garden won’t allow it. The return of Jayson Tatum and the arrival of Cooper Flagg give this one serious juice.
Here are three questions that could shape it.
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 2: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics shows his jersey to fans before their game against the Denver Nuggets at TD Garden on March 2, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What does Tatum’s return actually look like?
The moment Celtics fans have been waiting for is finally here. Tatum will officially make his season debut tonight at TD Garden, fulfilling the promise he made months ago that his first game back would be at home. After a ruptured Achilles and nearly ten months of rehab, he’ll reportedly be on a 20-minute restriction. It’s a meaningful first step, and a chance to begin the reintegration process ahead of the playoffs.
The early minutes will say more about Tatum’s conditioning and comfort level than the box score. There should be zero expectation that he jumps immediately back into a high usage role and dominates, but how they use him is worth tracking. Will he spend more time off the ball, or do they let him create to find a rhythm? How involved is he as a screener or ball-handler in the pick-and-roll? Do they give him isolation or post-up opportunities? The play type distribution should give a glimpse at how much of a load he’s ready to take on.
The same goes on the defensive end. It’ll be worth noting if he’s switching onto Mavericks bigs and guards, regardless of how he holds up in those matchups right away.
He’s stated that he’s not coming back to be a role player, but in the short term, he’ll be perfectly comfortable filling the gaps until his conditioning is where it needs to be. There’s no reason to overwork him, but there is a balance to hit that ramps him back up while sticking to what’s made the team successfully already. The good news is that he’s one of the most versatile stars in the league.
Joe Mazzulla will manage his role and minutes with care. The goal tonight isn’t a vintage Tatum performance. Seeing him absorb contact, and find confidence in his movements is an important part in the mental aspect of the rehabilitation process. You can’t replicate the value that real game reps provides.
He could have a thrilling 20+ point comeback, or an inefficient emotional game. Either way, it’ll be good to have him back. Even in limited minutes, he tends to find ways to impact the game.
Can Boston slow down Cooper Flagg on his homecoming?
If Tatum’s return is the story on one side, Cooper Flagg is the draw on the other.
The Maine native plays his only game of the season at TD Garden tonight, and the moment won’t be lost on him. Before a foot injury sidelined him, Flagg had been on a tear, averaging 32 points, 7.7 rebounds, four assists, and 1.2 blocks over a six-game stretch while shooting 52.6%. He returned Thursday against Orlando on a minutes restriction and looked like someone shaking off rust — 18 points on 7-for-22 shooting.
ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 5: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Orlando Magic on March 5, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Now comes the second night of a back-to-back, in front of a crowd that watched his rise up close. Despite the loss, he was masterful in the previous matchup with the Celtics. Boston threw different looks at him, and he handled the pressure with the poise of a veteran.
Dallas sits at 21–40 and firmly in lottery territory. But that record doesn’t really describe the challenge Flagg presents. His size, pace, and confidence give him a well-rounded impact that’s reminiscent of Tatum in flashes.
Dallas may be playing out the schedule, but Flagg isn’t. He’ll have a ton of family, friends and fans in the building. If Boston can’t slow him early, he might be the only thing capable of pushing Tatum lower in the postgame headlines.
Has Mazzulla been quietly building toward this moment all season?
All season, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and Hugo Gonzalez have cycled through Boston’s wing rotation. Some nights one starts. Other nights another closes. The roles have shifted constantly, and the team has kept functioning anyway.
The simplest explanation is merit. Each player has had stretches where they’ve earned more time, and Mazzulla has rewarded it. He’s building confidence in his young players, and making development a priority.
The fluidity of the rotation has also made the team more flexible. No single role has been rigid, as minutes can move without the offense or defense collapsing around them. That matters deeply now.
Boston, MA – January 28 – Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) lets the ball get loose as Boston Celtics guards Jordan Walsh (27), Hugo Gonzalez (28) and Baylor Scheierman (55) surround during the second half of a NBA game at the Garden. (Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images). | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Reintegrating a star forward who hasn’t played since last playoffs inevitably changes the rotation. But Boston has treated that fifth starting spot like a season-long revolving door. This group has been used to adapting night to night. Nobody was asked to be a Tatum placeholder, but to impact the game in the ways that they could. You can’t recreate what Tatum brings, and maybe this allows him focus more easily on being what he can.
Whether Mazzulla designed it this way or it was simply a product of his developmental approach, the result is the same. Boston enters one of the more anticipated nights of its season with a rotation already used to adjusting.
Tonight is the first look at what that adjustment actually looks like with a superstar back in the mix.
