Sports
Facing Bucks, Celtics look for another fast start
Oct 24, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) argues a call with referee Jenna Reneau (93) against the Washington Wizards in the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images The Boston Celtics will attempt to remain unbeaten when they meet the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night.
Strong starts have carried Boston to a 3-0 record this season.
The Celtics have scored 118 points in the first quarter of their three games, including 42 in a 124-118 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday. That number puts the team ahead of the 1991-92 Golden State Warriors (114 points) and 2013-14 Minnesota Timberwolves (112 points) for most points scored in the first quarter in the first three games of the NBA regular season.
Boston’s 42-point first quarter almost wasn’t enough against the Pistons, who erased a 23-point first-half deficit and used an 18-3 run to take an 88-86 late in the third quarter. The Celtics shot 35.9 percent from the floor in the second half, when they were held to 51 points.
Boston trailed by six points with 5:12 to play, but closed the game on an 18-6 run.
“I thought their physicality dictated the pace of the second half on both ends,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “They were more physical on their offense, running their stuff harder, running it faster, putting us in difficult spots, creating separation. And I thought on the defensive end they took away our rhythm because of their physicality. So, credit to them.”
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 37 points in the victory.
“It’s not always going to be a blowout,” Boston guard Derrick White said. “Understand that there are going to be so many different ways we can win games, and so many different people are going to have to step up for us. Each game is different. Each game is a learning opportunity so we’re going to learn from this game. I think it’s good for us to be challenged. It’s good for us to stick together in moments like that and just find ways to win.”
Milwaukee is coming off a 115-102 loss at Brooklyn on Sunday. The Bucks were within five points through three quarters, but were outscored 32-24 in the fourth. The Bucks trailed 89-85 early in the fourth, but the Nets scored the next 10 points to take a 99-85 lead with 7:04 to play.
Milwaukee has lost two in a row since opening the season with a victory over Philadelphia.
“We have to do something to free guys up better offensively,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. “We’re forced into taking a lot of tough shots, the ball’s not moving and we don’t have enough space. Our execution was poor. That’s all on me. I gotta figure it out.
“The last two games have been very disappointing. It’s the third game still. You still gotta keep fighting, but these are games you should win.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo was 7 of 11 from the field and led Milwaukee with 22 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. Antetokounmpo has made 30 of his 45 field goal attempts this season.
Damian Lillard added 21 points for Milwaukee, but was 1 of 7 from 3-point territory. Bobby Portis came off the bench to collect 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Bucks committed 18 turnovers in the loss.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Timbers signing Dutch F Vincent Janssen
Apr 3, 2022; Portland, Oregon, USA; A view of the Portland Timbers logo before the game against the LA Galaxy at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images The Portland Timbers are finalizing a deal to sign Dutch forward Vincent Janssen, The Athletic reported on Monday.
Janssen, 32, is a free agent after departing Belgium’s Royal Antwerp earlier this summer.
He reportedly will not occupy a designated roster slot in Portland, where he could fill the vacancy opened by Felipe Mora’s recent departure to Liga MX side Atletico San Luis.
Janssen had 13 goals and seven assists in 40 appearances across all competitions last season with Royal Antwerp.
He previously played in North America with Mexico’s Monterrey from 2019-22, tallying 24 goals, in addition to stints with Turkey’s Fenerbahce, England’s Tottenham Hotspur and the Netherlands’ AZ and Almere City.
Internationally, he scored seven goals in 22 caps with the Netherlands and participated in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reds place Spencer Steer (wrist) on 10-day IL
Jul 26, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Cincinnati Reds second baseman Spencer Steer (7) is checked on by Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona (77) and training staff during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals in the fifth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images The Cincinnati Reds placed versatile infielder/outfielder Spencer Steer on the 10-day injured list Monday due to a right wrist sprain.
Steer was injured while making an awkward swing on Sunday when facing St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Kyle Leahy in the fifth inning. He fouled off the pitch and began shaking the hand.
A trainer and Reds manager Terry Francona had a conversation with Steer before the decision was made to have Edwin Arroyo finish the at-bat. Arroyo lined out and replaced Steer in the field at second base.
Steer, 28, is batting .238 with 16 homers and 40 RBIs in 98 games. He has started 27 games at first base, 26 in left field, 23 in right field, 14 at second base and two in center field.
Steer is in his fifth season with the Reds. He has 82 homers, 301 RBIs and a .242/.327/.739 slash line in 586 career games.
Steer has been rumored to be a possible trade candidate ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline.
Cincinnati recalled infielder/outfielder Ivan Johnson from Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move. He went 0-for-5 in four games with the Reds earlier this season.
The Reds host the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night in the first of a three-game set.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Sixers give 'King James' royal welcome to Philadelphia
Feb 5, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives past Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images After the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated in the second round of the 2026 postseason, superstar LeBron James wrote that he was “done,” but on Monday, the Philadelphia 76ers officially welcomed the four-time MVP and four-time NBA champion into the fold.
James, who turns 42 in December, signed a two-year deal worth $8 million to join a star-studded Sixers roster that includes former MVP Joel Embiid, former NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, All-Star Tyrese Maxey and Rookie of the Year runner-up VJ Edgecombe.
The NBA’s all-time scoring leader, James will enter his 24th season with the goal of helping the Sixers win their first title since 1983. Like the Lakers, the Sixers were bounced in the second round, falling to the eventual champion New York Knicks. Philadelphia has not advanced past the second round since 2001.
“I cannot wait to see LeBron alongside Jaylen Brown, VJ Edgecombe, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and our talented roster as we work to deliver a championship for Philly,” team owner Josh Harris said.
Despite his age, James remains one of the league’s best players, coming off a season when he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds over 60 games. Over his 23 seasons, the 22-time All-Star has averaged 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists in 1,622 games.
“There is no doubt LeBron is one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball and there are no words to measure the impact he’ll have on this organization,” team president Mike Gansey said.
Among James’ numerous accolades, he is a four-time NBA Finals MVP, a 21-time All-NBA selection, a three-time All-Star Game MVP and a member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team. He is also the first player to earn NBA Finals MVP honors with three teams (Lakers, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers).
Drafted No. 1 overall by the Cavaliers in 2003, James played seven seasons before taking his talents to South Beach with the Heat, winning his first two NBA titles in Miami. He went back home to Cleveland and helped end a 56-year title drought in 2016. In 2018, he joined the Lakers and led them to a championship in 2020.
James and Gansey, who have ties going back to their Ohio high school basketball days in 2001, will reunite in Philadelphia. Gansery took over GM duties after Daryl Morley was fired in May.
Gansey, who starred at Olmsted Falls High School, was runner-up for Ohio’s Mr. Basketball in 2001 to James, who won the award three times at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School before going straight to the NBA in 2003.
“I have had the pleasure of knowing LeBron since high school and have seen the high-level impact he’s produced at every stop of his basketball journey,” Gansey said. “He is a consummate professional, the ultimate competitor and a tireless worker. But he is also an incredible person with natural leadership traits, a family man, and someone who possesses unwavering commitment to community and those around him.”
–Field Level Media
Report: Timbers signing Dutch F Vincent Janssen
Are brain waves the next unlock for physical AI?
