Ime's way: Celtics' Finals run a product of coach's vision
The Celticsโ transition from a team that has gone from just outside the top tier of the Eastern Conference to one that's four wins way from the franchiseโs 18th NBA championship began the moment Ime Udoka took the microphone at his introductory news conference.
Winter Olympians champion climate, peace amid muted activism
Around the world, athletes are throwing their support behind political and social causes, part of a wave of sports activism that has flourished in the years since former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began taking a knee during games to protest police brutality against Black people.
Brown scores 50, rallies Celts to 116-111 OT win over Magic
Jaylen Brown scored a career-high 50 points, rallying the Boston Celtics from 14 points down late in the fourth quarter to a 116-111 overtime victory over the Orlando Magic.
Embiid scores 41, 76ers beat Celtics 108-103
Joel Embiid scored 17 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter, hitting three jumpers in the final minutes and three free throws in the last four seconds to ice it as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics 108-103.
Curry scores 20 of 40 points in 4th, Warriors beat Cavs
Stephen Curry scored 20 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter, hitting three straight 3-pointers, and the NBA-leading Golden State Warriors overcame a 13-point deficit to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 104-89 on Thursday night.
![After Kanter's Tibet comments, Celtics blacked out in China](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/kf5TkjSAQvcZBd36nUM4fFcdsl4=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/YR3KQX22LRGAVMVF5YPJKAQYAA.jpg)
After Kanter's Tibet comments, Celtics blacked out in China
Chinese broadcaster and NBA partner Tencent has deleted all references to the Boston Celtics from its platforms, in apparent response to comments Celtics center Enes Kanter made to advocate Tibetan independence.
![McCollum, Trail Blazers escape with 107-106 win over Spurs](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/pU0_hwrKZH5XSMJL0h7bbK3lGgU=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/CJR5MTWBAZGKLIU3YGHLN4Q2OA.jpg)
McCollum, Trail Blazers escape with 107-106 win over Spurs
CJ McCollum scored 29 points and the Portland Trail Blazers escaped with a 107-106 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, who missed three shots on their final possession.
![Lillard scores 30 as Blazers down 76ers 118-114](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/7pgZDjqtK-G-JKxmagZTgFTMTDQ=/1600x1099/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/SXMXXUVFZZAWFKNSS323ILVL5Y.jpg)
Lillard scores 30 as Blazers down 76ers 118-114
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, left, is fouled by Philadelphia 76ers guard Furkan Korkmaz during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)PORTLAND, Ore. โ Damian Lillard had 30 points and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 118-114 on Thursday night. The Eastern Conference-leading Sixers had won six of seven, with the only defeat during that span coming a week ago to the Trail Blazers, 121-105. Lillard was third in the league, averaging 29.4 points a game with 13 of 30 or more points this season. The Trail Blazers host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.
![Trent, Anthony lead undermanned Portland past 76ers 121-105](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/fx1GFUd3dyLthrcQX09Og__OAz4=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/BRIRMRPZ2VAGNNQBOTCXSZBHNU.jpg)
Trent, Anthony lead undermanned Portland past 76ers 121-105
Portland Trail Blazers' Rodney Hood, left, tries to dribble past Philadelphia 76ers' Seth Curry during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, in Philadelphia. Gary Trent Jr. scored 24 points and Enes Kanter had 17 points and 18 rebounds to lead the undermanned Trail Blazers to a 121-105 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night. Carmelo Anthony had 22 points and a Trail Blazers team with four starters missing led by as many as 29 points against the top team in the East. โBut on both ends of the floor, the other guys did an amazing job today.โJoel Embiid scored 37 points for the Sixers. Throw in four players already out with injuries -- including Jusuf Nurkic (wrist) and McCollum (left foot) -- and the Trail Blazers were down to nine players.
![Celticsโ singular goal: Stop Heat 3โs to force Game 7](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/U1JAzrn1zOQ4QV5IBsov3nsihwQ=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/CJXJU3QSRFAWFLILU5J5RFIIEU.jpg)
Celticsโ singular goal: Stop Heat 3โs to force Game 7
Boston Celtics' Kemba Walker (8) reacts to a play against the Miami Heat during the second half of an NBA conference final playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. โ There have been two undeniable truths about the Miami Heat this season. The Boston Celtics have scouting and analytics teams that undoubtedly know these trends. HEAT ON 3โSFor whatever reason, 31.1% is the magic number for Heat 3-pointers this season. BIG FINISHThe Celtics scored 103 points in the final three quarters of Game 5.
![Comeback Heat do it again, rally past Celtics for 2-0 lead](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/QCR0j0pcmmob9Zgfhf2It_5hD0c=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/UU7MUFJGLFGNHP642A2W3KNPGU.jpg)
Comeback Heat do it again, rally past Celtics for 2-0 lead
And after making the Boston Celtics lose another big lead on the court โ as well as their cool in the postgame locker room โ the unheralded Heat are two wins away from the NBA Finals. Goran Dragic scored 25 points, Bam Adebayo led a big third-quarter rally to finish with 21, and the Heat pulled off another comeback to beat the Celtics 106-101 and take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals. The Celtics went on a 15-2 run, silencing the Heat for nearly seven minutes and going up 94-89 on a 3-pointer by Walker with 4:25 left. ... Miamiโs 20-point differential in the third quarter was a Heat record for that quarter in the playoffs, and the sixth time in Heat playoff history they outscored an opponent by at least 20 in any quarter. 3โS ARE WILDCrowderโs 3-pointer with 5:43 left in the third quarter was โ fittingly โ the 33,333rd in NBA playoff history.