Category: Sports News

Celtics become first NBA team to achieve this incredible playoff feat originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics eliminated the Orlando Magic from the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs Tuesday, and they did it with an emphatic statement.

After a back-and-forth, physical first half in Game 5 at TD Garden, the Celtics offense finally got rolling in the second half and cruised to a 120-89 series-clinching win.

Jayson Tatum again led the Celtics with 35 points, along with 10 assists and eight rebounds in 34 minutes. He has scored 35-plus points in three consecutive games since missing Game 2 of the series due to a bone bruise in his right wrist.

Jaylen Brown chipped in 23 points and Boston’s bench scored 39 points.

The Celtics made some impressive history, too. They became the first team ever to trail at halftime in a playoff game and win by 30-plus points.

Boston trailed 49-47 and ended up winning by 31 points, highlighted by a 36-13 scoring advantage in the third quarter.

Even though the Celtics lost only one game in this series, it was a pretty hard-fought matchup. It was a very physical series, and the Magic’s defense gave the Celtics problems throughout.

The good news for the Celtics is that they got the job done in quick fashion and bought themselves some valuable time to rest and recover before starting their Eastern Conference semifinals series.

The C’s will play the winner of the New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons first-round matchup. The Knicks lead that series 3-2 with Game 6 in Detroit scheduled for Thursday.

Giannis to Warriors? Eight potential suitors after Bucks eliminated originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Greek Freak has an uncertain future.

After a third straight first-round exit in the NBA playoffs, many are beginning to speculate about Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s next steps with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Could the team really trade away the two-time MVP and nine-time All-Star? Antetokounmpo, who ended a 50-year title drought for the Bucks in 2021, has delivered season after season since being drafted in 2013. But the team around him has slowly deteriorated, a fact that was punctuated when his co-star Damian Lillard suffered a torn Achilles on Sunday.

With that in mind, it’s time to start looking ahead. If the Bucks are going to trade Antetokounmpo, this is the offseason to do it. He still has two years left on his contract before he can opt for free agency, which should maximize the potential return for newly extended GM Jon Horst.

Here are eight teams that could trade for Antetokounmpo, plus a look at what the package could include:

Houston Rockets

Trade assets: Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore, 2025 and 2027 first-round picks via Phoenix, 2027 first-round pick swap with Brooklyn, 2029 first-round pick swaps with Phoenix and Dallas, 2028/2030/2031 own first-round picks

The Rockets surprised a lot of people this season by earning the No. 2 seed in a competitive Western Conference. But, through four playoff games, their inexperience has shown against the veteran Golden State Warriors. Antetokounmpo would bring them to another level, and they certainly have the players and picks to make this happen while keeping franchise cornerstone Amen Thompson.

San Antonio Spurs

Trade assets: Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, Keldon Johnson, Julian Champagnie, 2026 first-round pick swap with Atlanta, 2027 first-round pick via Atlanta, 2028 first-round pick swap with Boston, 2030 first-round pick swap with Dallas or Minnesota, 2031 first-round pick swap with Sacramento, 2025/2029 own first-round picks

If Victor Wembanyama returns to full strength, this could be devastating for the rest of the league. The Spurs were battling for a play-in spot before Wemby was ruled out for the season, and expectations will only be higher next season with De’Aaron Fox now in hand. It would be tough to part with the recently crowned Rookie of the Year in Castle, but it would be worth paying for Antetokounmpo to join Wemby in San Antonio.

Brooklyn Nets

Trade assets: Cam Thomas, Nic Claxton, Cameron Johnson, Ziaire Williams, Keon Johnson, 2025 first-round picks via Houston/Milwaukee/New York, 2027 first round pick via Philaedelphia (1-8 protection), 2027 first-round pick via New York, 2029 first-round pick via New York, 2031 first-round pick via New York, 2025/2026/2027/2028/2030/2031 own first-round picks

Brooklyn doesn’t have the young talent to offer like Houston and San Antonio, but it has plenty of draft picks. Plus, it has the allure of being in New York City — which could be intriguing for Antetokounmpo. He would be brought in as the first piece, with the expectation that more star power could be added around him.

New York Knicks

Trade assets: Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Miles McBride, 2026 first-round pick via Washington (1-10 protection), 2026 own first-round pick (can only trade after this year’s draft)

If the Nets are included, you have to throw in the Knicks. They surrendered five first-round picks to their cross-borough rivals in the Mikal Bridges trade, but the Knicks still have pieces to make this trade work. It could be enticing for the Bucks if they want to stay competitive — it just wouldn’t help them much if they’re looking to rebuild through the draft. Jalen Brunson is likely the only Knicks player who isn’t available in this trade.

Golden State Warriors

Trade assets: Draymond Green, Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga, Quinten Post, 2026-31 own first-round picks

Compared to the other teams listed, the Warriors don’t have nearly enough assets to pull this off. But we’ve seen that anything can happen in the NBA trade market. Golden State has long-coveted Antetokounmpo, and he would be an ideal piece alongside the aging Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler. It’s tricky to make the salary work, but it’s an exciting hypothetical.

Chicago Bulls

Trade assets: Coby White, Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Patrick Williams, 2026 first-round pick via Portland (1-14 protection), 2025-31 own first-round picks

Another big-market team that has long been linked to Antetokounmpo but probably doesn’t have the pieces to make a trade happen. Some of the Bulls’ young players took steps forward this season, but the lack of picks makes this less intriguing — unless, of course, Chicago has some lottery luck this year.

Miami Heat

Trade assets: Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, Davion Mitchell, Nikola Jovic, 2025 first-round pick via Golden State, 2026/2028/2029/2030/2031 own first-round picks

It’s time for a major pivot in South Beach following the Jimmy Butler trade and historic first-round loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Any and all assets should be on the table for Antetokounmpo, including All-Stars Adebayo and Herro. No one is untouchable if it means acquiring a player of this stature. Much like the Knicks, this could be a package Milwaukee pursues if it wants to remain somewhat competitive.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Trade assets: Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell, 15 first-round picks through 2031 from various franchises

Why break up a potential championship team? This only works if the Thunder end up falling short in the playoffs. Even if they win the title, though, it’s an idea worth exploring. GM Sam Presti has more draft picks than he knows what to do with, and this would be a way to cash them all in. It’s a move that he hasn’t made up to this point, but perhaps a player like Antetokounmpo changes his mindset.

What Draymond told ‘confused' Eason after Warriors-Rockets skirmish originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Neither the Warriors nor the Houston Rockets have been big fans of the officiating in their NBA Western Conference first-round playoff series.

While both teams have expressed their frustrations about certain calls, there was one play in Golden State’s 109-106 Game 4 win over Houston on Monday that left Rockets forward Tari Eason confused.

With the Rockets leading the Warriors 47-46 near the end of the second quarter, Eason stripped the ball from Warriors forward Draymond Green near the top of Houston’s key before Eason fell over Green after Green appeared to tug the back of his jersey after the strip.

Green then rolled over Eason and had his foot near his head as the Rockets forward stood up and shoved him, which led to both teams’ benches clearing.

Another scuffle ensues involving Draymond and Tari Eason 😬 pic.twitter.com/U9Ci1MyqfN

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 29, 2025

Both Green and Eason were assessed technical fouls, and in speaking to reporters after Rockets practice on Wednesday, Eason shared his thoughts about the incident with Green.

Tari Eason on a chippy Game 4 of Rockets-Warriors:

“I was surprised I got a technical, just because when somebody’s leg is on the back of your head, I don’t understand exactly what they wanted me to do in that situation. He (Draymond Green) then grabbed me. So, I’m confused.” pic.twitter.com/UygRupQBNo

— The Rockets Wire (@TheRocketsWire) April 30, 2025

“I was surprised I got a technical, because when somebody’s leg is on the back of your head, I don’t understand what they want me to do in that situation besides getting his leg off the back of my head,” Eason told reporters. “And once I got his leg off the back of my head, he then grabbed me. So I’m confused why I got a technical. But at the same time I’m not, they’ve been calling the game kind of like that the whole series, so it is what it is.”

Green and Eason were seen talking on the court later in the game, and Eason was asked if Green apologized to him for the incident.

“We talked, he was like, ‘If I was going to kick you in the head, I would have done it on purpose,’ I guess,” Eason said of his conversation with Green. “There’s no apologies in this situation, I’m not looking for no apology.”

Green has had his fair share of on-court incidents with opposing players over the years, some resulting in suspensions, and has been at the center of multiple altercations already in this series.

And it’s fair to assume it won’t be the last, even as the Warriors look to close out the series in Game 5 on Wednesday at Toyota Center.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo has criticized Tyrese Haliburton’s father as the aftermath of Bucks-Pacers playoff series descended into a heated confrontation.

Haliburton sealed the Pacers’ 4-1 series victory with a lay-up in overtime that gave them a 119-118 victory on Tuesday night. In the ensuing celebrations, Antetokounmpo says Haliburton’s father, John, approached him and waved a towel while shouting “this is what we fucking do.”

“I believe in being humble in victory,” Antetokounmpo said after the game. “A lot of people out there that are like, no, when you win the game, you talk shit and it’s a green light for you to be disrespectful towards somebody else. I disagree.”

Haliburton was unhappy with his father too.

“I don’t agree with what transpired there from him,” Haliburton said. “Basketball is basketball and let’s keep it on the court. I think he just got excited, saw his son make a game winner and came on the court, but we had a conversation.

“He needs to just allow me to play basketball and stay over there and I’ll come to him to celebrate. But the emotions of the game got excited there. I talked with him. I’ll talk with Giannis. I don’t think my pops was in the right at all there.”

Antetokounmpo had a 30-point, 20-rebound and 13-assist triple-double as the Bucks lost in the first round of the playoffs for the third year in a row, and for a second time in succession against the Pacers.

John Haliburton, who has been a basketball referee, later apologized on social media for the incident.

“I sincerely apologize to Giannis, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Pacers organization for my actions following tonight’s game,” he wrote. “This was not a good reflection on our sport or my son and I will not make that mistake again.”

Antetokounmpo was also involved in a fracas with the Pacers’ Bennedict Mathurin after the game. The two initially embraced before Antetokounmpo put his hand on Mathurin’s neck and the two started shoving each other.

In Tuesday night’s other games, Jamal Murray erupted for 43 points and Russell Westbrook chipped in 21 in his return from injury, sparking the Nuggets’ 131-115 win over the Los Angeles Clippers that gave Denver a 3-2 lead in their series. The Nuggets also got 23 from Game 4 hero Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokić’s 21st career playoff triple-double of 18 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.

Elsewhere, Cade Cunningham had 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, and Detroit stayed alive in their first postseason appearance since 2019 by beating New York in Game 5 of their first-round series. Ausar Thompson added 22 points and Tobias Harris had 17 for the Pistons, who will have a chance to even things up Thursday night at home in Game 6. If they win that, the deciding game would be back at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum had 35 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, and Boston pulled away after Magic star Paolo Banchero went to the bench with five fouls, beating Orlando in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals. The defending NBA champions will play either the Knicks or Pistons in the second round. Franz Wagner scored 25 points, Banchero had 19 and Wendell Carter Jr. had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Magic, who have not won a playoff series since Dwight Howard, Vince Carter and coach Stan Van Gundy led them to the Eastern Conference finals in 2010.