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There is an old saying that says “basketball is a game of runs.” These runs can swing momentum of a game for one team and end the hopes of the opponent. My mind jumps to the Golden State Warriors dynasty of the late 2010’s where they used passing to find a wide open shooter on the court. These dominating runs would typically come in the third quarter and put games completely out of reach for their opponents. Any team in the NBA has the ability to go on a long scoring run but the way the Celtics have done it has just felt different.

Boston has been able two long scoring runs in their last four games. One was a 50-11 run between the 6:22 mark of the second quarter to the 1:39 mark of the third quarter against the Phoenix Suns on February 24th and the other was a 51-16 scoring run against the Brooklyn Nets on February 27th from the 7:07 mark of the third quarter to the 6:56 mark of the fourth quarter. In their win over the Philadelphia 76ers on March 1st, the Celtics didn’t have any 50+ point runs to end the game, but instead were able to use smaller runs to control the lead win the ball game.

I asked Jaylen Brown postgame on what he thought about this phenomena and he credited Boston’s ability to move the basketball. He said: “Just making the right play and moving the basketball…I just think that our offense just has a good flow to it right now, where it’s going from side to side, it’s not sticking too much, and then when we need to take advantage of a matchup we will, but it’s not like we’re looking for that every time.”

Brown went on to praise his teammates saying, “A lot of our guys are playing well right now. So from my standpoint, no need to force anything. Just continue to just create an advantage and just play from there and trust the game after that.”

The Celtics 11-1 run to the end the game against the 76ers is a great example of this phenomena. Although most of the points ended in Neemias Queta put-backs, Boston was able to create the original shot with the side to side motion that Brown mentioned. This was most apparent with Baylor Scheierman’s dagger three where Brown got doubled on the wing and was able to make the pass to the corner for the silencer.

Going back to the 50-11 run against the Suns. This run erased an 11-point deficit, resulted in Boston outscoring Phoenix 30-11 in the third quarter, and Sam Hauser outscored the Suns by himself with 13 points in the quarter. I wanted to focus on when Hauser was able to score 8 straight points for the Celtics towards the end of the run.

This burst by Hauser is another example of Boston’s side to side motion. The first play results in a corner three off two passes around the perimeter and the other’s come off long passes from Derrick White that leave Hauser wide open.

Prior to the 51-16 run against the Nets, Boston was in front but Brooklyn cut the lead 6 points. With the Nets’ history this season of playing the Celtics tough, this could turn into a close game in a second. However, the Celtics were able to rattle off this run that basically ended chance for the Nets to even attempt a come back.

During this run, Boston used their side to side ball movement to completely disect Brooklyn’s defense. The play that defines it for me is when Derrick White cut hard to the basket to receive a pass and fire a bullet to Nikola Vucevic for a wide open three.

In this same run, we also got an example of how the Celtics ball movement scaring their opponent. After four plays in a row where Boston passed the ball around to find a wide open basket, Jaylen Brown was setting up the pick and roll with Vucevic to do it again. Instead of passing it, Brown sped up straight towards the basket for a wide open dunk. The Nets weren’t able to respond on defense quick enough since they feared another kick out pass.

The Celtics ability to move the ball around the court is a big reason why they are ranked number 2 in offensive rating as a team at 121.2. For as much as Boston likes to pass the ball around, they do it without turning the ball over, leading the league in that category at only 12.2 turnovers per game. Joe Mazzulla is one of the best basketball minds in the game and this offense has been a work of art for Boston this season. The players have done an incredible job at knowing where to be on the court at all times and continuing to put up elite offensive performances without Jayson Tatum. This offense is a true testament to how special this Boston Celtics team really is but at the end of the day, basketball is just a game of runs.

After being the headliner in trade rumors for much of the past two months, Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready to return to the court.

According to NBA Insider Shama Charania, the Bucks star is expected to return to action Monday night against Boston.

Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to return tonight against the Boston Celtics after missing the last 5-plus weeks with a right calf strain, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 2, 2026

Antetokounmpo missed the past 5+ weeks while dealing with a right calf strain suffered on January 23 against Denver. He appeared to tweak the calf earlier in the game and headed to the locker room, before returning to action in the second half. However, he was pulled out for good with just a few minutes left in the game.

“At the end, I could not move no more, so I had to stop playing,” Antetokounmpo said at the time of the injury.

“After the MRI, they will tell me probably I popped something in my calf, or in my soleus or something, probably give me a protocol of four to six weeks I’ll be out,” Antetokounmpo said. “This is from my experience being around the NBA. After that, I’m going to work my butt off to come back. That will probably be end of February, beginning of March.”

It was the second calf strain Antetokounmpo suffered this season, missing three weeks earlier in the year.

When healthy, Antetokounmpo is still in the running for best player in the NBA alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic. He’s averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists while shooting career-highs from the field (64.5 percent) and three-point territory (39.5 percent).

Antetokounmpo’s return couldn’t come at a better time as the Bucks are floundering away.

Milwaukee sits in 11th place in the East with a record of 26-33, three games behind the Bulls for the 10th and final spot in the play-in standings.

The Bucks got the news they’ve been waiting for, as per Shams Charania, Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to return to the court from a right calf strain tonight against the Celtics. Giannis has been out since January 23, after sustaining the injury late in the fourth quarter against the Nuggets. This calf injury took much longer for Giannis to recover from, with a five-week absence, compared to his December calf injury, which kept him out for approximately three-and-a-half weeks. 

His return couldn’t have come at a better time. Despite playing their best ball this season, winning eight of 10 games at one point, they’ve stumbled in their last two. After a blowout loss to the Knicks last Friday, Milwaukee blew a 16-point lead to the Bulls yesterday, losing 120-97. The Bucks went 8-7 in this stretch without Giannis, but on the season, they are 11-18 when he doesn’t suit up. Milwaukee is also trying to chase the 10th seed in the East, and with 23 games to go, they sit three games back of the Charlotte Hornets. 

It’s been an injury-riddled season for Giannis, who’s missed 29 games due to these two calf injuries and a groin strain back in mid-November. Doc Rivers had been playing it close to the vest when it came to updates on Giannis, saying he was progressing from three-on-threes to four-on-fours without any setbacks, yet never gave a definitive date for his return. Even prior to the Bulls game, Doc trotted out the same line: that Giannis was close, but didn’t know when he would be back. 

When Giannis has played, he’s been his normal MVP-level self, averaging 28.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 5.6 APG, and shooting 64.5% from the field. We’ll likely see him on a minutes restriction tonight, as he’s been on a limit in the other times he’s come back. Whatever the rest of the season holds for the Bucks, I’m sure they’re happy no. 34 is back in the lineup.

BOSTON — The Celtics will be without Jaylen Brown and Neemias Queta when they face the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night. Brown is dealing with an illness, while Queta is getting a rest night, per the team’s official injury report.

For the Bucks, meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo will make his return from a calf injury that’s sidelined him for five weeks, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Brown has routinely been avoiding back-to-back games this season, so it’s no surprise he’s out Monday after logging 38 minutes in Sunday’s 114-98 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Queta is coming off one of the best games of the season on Sunday; he erupted for 27 points and 17 rebounds in the victory. Both Celtics players had offseason knee surgery, so it’s no surprise the Celtics are more cautiously managing their minutes.

Last month, Ron Harper Jr. started in place of Brown both times he was sidelined, so he may once again get the nod. It’s also possible that Jordan Walsh, who started 20 straight games earlier this season, could get the nod.

With Queta out, one of either Nikola Vucevic or Luka Garza will slot into the starting lineup, with Vucevic appearing to be a more likely candidate. Garza, who has mostly fallen out of the rotation since the trade deadline, should see the floor more with Queta out.

It’s also notable that Baylor Scheierman, who is playing through a fractured left thumb, is off the injury report. Scheierman had a productive game on Sunday despite playing through the hand injury that he was initially listed as questionable for.

“I got some shots in this morning, this afternoon, and I feel ready to go,” Scheierman said ahead of Sunday’s game. “We’re just kind of evaluating it as it goes, but I feel good enough to be out there, and that’s how it’s going to be. I’m not going to sit out.”

Both the Celtics and Bucks are on the second night of a back-to-back

The Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 114-98 on Sunday night, while the Bucks fell to the Chicago Bulls 120-97.

Outside of Antetokounmpo, the Bucks have been led by Kevin Porter Jr (17.8 points, 7.5 assists per game), Ryan Rollins (17 points, 5.4 assists), and, more recently, Cam Thomas (14.1 points per game since being acquired at the trade deadline). Bobby Portis, Kyle Kuzma, Myles Turner, and AJ Green all also average double-figures.

The Celtics, meanwhile, have been led by Jaylen Brown (29 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5 assists), Derrick White (17.1 points, 5.7 assists), and Payton Pritchard (17 points, 5.4 assists).

Neemias Queta (10.1 points, 8.4 rebounds) has anchored the frontcourt as the team’s starting center, but Nikola Vucevic has also been productive since being acquired by the Celtics, averaging 12 points and 8.6 rebounds in 23.9 minutes off the bench.

The Celtics have the East’s second-best record at 40-20, while the Bucks have the East’s 11th-best record at 26-33. The Celtics have the second-best net rating in the NBA (+8.3), while the Bucks have the 23rd-best (-3.7).

Celtics-Bucks tips off at 7:30pm ET in Milwaukee.

Welcome to Week in Review: a Monday feature that looks back at the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a look at the week ahead, and more. Enjoy!

Week 18: The Spurs returned from the All-Star break to sweep their Austin series and keep the train rolling. Against the shorthanded Suns, they did well enough in the first half to keep them at arm’s length before getting back into their offensive groove for a second half blowout. Then, their good friend Complacency paid a visit against the lowly Kings — who were on a 15-game losing streak — until late in the third quarter, when they finally flipped the switch and turned a close game into another blowout.

Week 19: 3-1 (43-17, 2nd in West)

114-103 win at Detroit Pistons

In the home of the team with the best record in the league, the Spurs continued to show they can adjust and win in any situation, successfully responding to the Pistons’ physicality against Victor Wembanyama by using his gravitational pull on their defense to find open shooters and driving lanes. Combined with some impressive defense on MVP candidate Cade Cunningham, particularly by Stephon Castle, it was one of the Spurs’ most impressive wins of the season and reminded the league they are much more than just Wemby.

110-107 win at Toronto Raptors

After three quarters in which Wemby couldn’t get anything going and the Spurs’ offense struggled with dry spells, they appeared in trouble after a big Raptors run had them down by 15 points late in the third quarter. However, the Spurs were able to take advantage of Toronto’s biggest weakness (poor fourth quarter play) by getting hot from three and turning up the defensive dial to get up by six late. The waning moments ended up being more interesting than they had to be thanks to poor free throw shooting — the Spurs were just 13-23 on the night and 2-6 in the final seconds to give the Raptors one last ditch shot that they fortunately missed — but what mattered is the Spurs escaped with the victory and their first double-digit winning streak since 2016.

126-110 win at Brooklyn Nets

Playing their third game in four nights, the Spurs looked a step slow at times but remained comfortably ahead of the rebuilding Nets, outside of a spurt from Michael Porter, Jr. that got them within six points midway through the third quarter. The win made them 11-0 in the month of February, marking only their third undefeated month in franchise history and making them the first team in NBA history to accomplish the feat while scoring 110 or more points in every game.

89-114 loss at New York Knicks

All good things must come to an end, and this game had all the trappings to be the perfect foil for the Spurs’ win streak. The month changed, it was a matinee game (which the Spurs never seem to win), they haven’t won in MSG since 2019, and the Knicks have strength at the one position the Spurs don’t: power forward. After a quick start to get the Spurs out to a 12-point lead, the Knicks responded with a 29-4 run to a build a lead that the Spurs could never get in a enough rhythm to overcome. Even though Wemby had his best scoring game of the week with 25 points (albeit while shooting 1-7 from three and committing 7 turnovers), the Spurs had no answers for Mikal Bridges or Mohamed Diawara and ended up suffering the first loss in over a month.

Power Rankings

John Schuhmann, NBA.com — 1 (last week: 2)

OffRtg: 116.8 (8) DefRtg: 110.5 (3) NetRtg: +6.3 (4) Pace: 100.9 (13)

The Spurs’ 11-game winning streak came to an end in New York on Sunday afternoon, but not before they got a huge win in Detroit, keeping themselves in the mix for the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs.

Three takeaways

1. The Spurs’ initial defense was good enough on Monday, when Detroit had its third-worst half-court performance of the season. And they’re still the league’s second-most-improved rebounding team from last season. But San Antonio ranks 29th in defensive rebounding percentage (64.7%) since the All-Star break, with three of their last four opponents registering more than 20 second-chance points.
2. Victor Wembanyama remains the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year, but his offense remains a work in progress and he shot just 20-for-54 (37%) over the Spurs’ four games last week. Only 24 (44%) of those 54 shots came in the paint and he was 5-for-30 (17%) from the outside. The Spurs still scored more efficiently with him on the floor, and they were outscored by 17.3 points per 100 possessions in his 67 minutes on the bench over the four games.
2. San Antonio was 19-for-31 (61%) on corner 3s over its wins in Detroit and Toronto, with Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie a combined 12-for-14. The Spurs lead the league in the percentage of their 3-point attempts (33%) that have come from the corners and Harrison Barnes is tied for second among individuals with 62 made corner 3s.

Coming up: After finishing their longest road trip of the season in Philadelphia on Tuesday, the Spurs will begin their longest homestand of the season (six games over 10 days), which includes big games against the Pistons, Rockets, Celtics and Nuggets. They’ve yet to face the Clippers, who they’ll play three times in the next month.

Law Murray, The Athletic — 2 (last week: 2)

On the last day of January, the Spurs lost in Charlotte. They proceeded to sweep the February schedule, and most of the 11 wins weren’t close. But March is here, and the Spurs had their worst offensive showing of the season in New York. Every time I consider the Spurs for the top of the rankings, they have a loss like that. But it’s a big week ahead, as San Antonio will return home from the Rodeo Trip for a rematch with the Pistons, who presumably will have added muscle with the return of Isaiah Stewart. And then the Spurs have an opportunity to clinch the regular-season series against the Rockets.

Brett Siegel, Clutch Points — 1 (last week: 1)

The Spurs were not ready to play on Sunday against the New York Knicks. Their 25-point loss was their largest of the season, and this snapped the Spurs’ 11-game win streak, which included victories over Detroit, Los Angeles, and Oklahoma City.

Still, San Antonio remains at the top of the NBA power rankings for the time being, with several important matchups in March approaching. Not only will the Spurs face the Pistons again on Thursday, but they will also see Houston, Boston, and Denver in the span of five days after Friday’s game against the LA Clippers.

This is the time for the Spurs to put their foot down and potentially take the 1-seed in the West from the Thunder.

Coming up: Tues. 3/5 at Philadelphia 76ers (33-27); Thurs. 3/5 vs. Detroit Pistons (45-14); Fri. 3/6 vs. Los Angeles Clippers (28-31); Sun. 3/8 vs. Houston Rockets (37-22)

Prediction: 3-1 — The Spurs will finish the Rodeo Road Trip against a Philly team that — surprise! — won’t have Joel Embiid (oblique strain), but after that is when things get interesting. They will then head home to for a season-high six-game homestand, but it’s a beast on paper, with the Clippers being the “easiest” team they’ll face in terms of record. That first game back after being away for so long is always a trap game, and it doesn’t help that it’s against a Pistons team that will be out for revenge. Then, anything can happen facing a healthy Kawhi Leonard (admittedly with little help) the very next night, and of course the IH-10 rivalry is always unpredictable. The Spurs have proven they have what it takes to beat all of these teams, but they will need to return to February form, and they can’t have another off week from Wemby. We’ve reached a point in the season where every single game matters.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed Payton Sandfort to a two-way contract and waived guard Buddy Boeheim, the team announced Monday.

Sandfort, a 6-foot-7 forward who played his college ball at Iowa, has played in 21 games this season with the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder's G-League affiliate. He has averaged 11.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists as a rookie.

During Sandfort’s senior year at Iowa, he averaged 16.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists.

Boeheim was signed to a two-way contract Feb. 6.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Signing Jamaree Bouyea to a standard contract earlier today left the Phoenix Suns with an empty two-way roster spot. Bouyea had been part of a three-man group on two-way deals that included Isaiah Livers and Koby Brea. His promotion created a vacancy that the team has officially filled.

The Suns decided to bring back a familiar face to occupy that role. They are signing CJ Huntley, the undrafted big man out of Appalachian State University. Huntley previously held a two-way spot with the organization earlier this season, and his return completes the roster once again.

CJ Huntley originally signed a two-way contract last July, but the team waived him on November 17 once Jamaree Bouyea became available. He successfully cleared waivers and chose to return to the Valley Suns to continue his development.

The 6’9” forward has been grinding with the affiliate ever since, appearing in a team-high 38 games. During that stretch, he averaged 26.1 minutes, 14.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game. His efficiency has been equally impressive, posting shooting splits of 62/36/65. At 24 years old, Huntley provides reliable frontcourt depth and a proven interior presence from the G League system.

With that final move, the Phoenix Suns roster is officially full. The front office has finalized the group for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.