Sports
Raptors have Celtics' attention as Atlantic rivals meet
Jan 15, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) passes against Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) and center Jakob Poeltl (19) during the first half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images The Toronto Raptors will be out to upset the visiting Boston Celtics for the second time in less than six weeks on Tuesday night and square their season series.
For their part, the Celtics will aim to avenge their 110-97 loss to the Raptors when the teams last met at Toronto on Jan. 15. It snapped Boston’s 10-game winning streak over Toronto that included home wins on Nov. 16 and Dec. 31.
The Celtics are 13-4 since the loss in Toronto and won for the ninth time in their past 10 games on Sunday with a 118-105 home victory over the New York Knicks.
The Raptors, meanwhile, are 8-8 since beating the Celtics, including a 127-109 home win over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. Toronto has lost six of eight, however.
After some inconsistency in December and January, the Celtics have looked like they are ready to defend their NBA championship come playoff time.
The Celtics showed their poise against the Knicks on Sunday when they had a 27-point lead dwindle to four points at 89-85 with 11:32 remaining.
“We just looked at each other and knew we had to bring it,” said New York’s Kristaps Porzingis, who had 15 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots.
The Celtics responded quickly, taking a 20-point lead with 3:54 remaining.
“It’s just all about staying poised,” said Jayson Tatum, who had 25 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. “We didn’t get that lead in one play, and we’re not going to get it back in one play. Just keep building on making the right plays, understanding that no lead is necessarily safe, and they’re a good team. They’ve got good players. They’re going to make shots.”
“The goal wasn’t to win by 20; I didn’t care if we won by one,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “It was (to) execute.”
In their win over the Suns, the Raptors had 23 points each from Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and reserve Chris Boucher, who added 10 rebounds.
Scottie Barnes, who had 20 points and nine rebounds, had a significant role in helping to hold Kevin Durant to 15 points on 5-of-15 shooting in an effort that showcased his defensive skills.
“I thought that Scottie set a tone for everybody else,” Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said. “I don’t think that he is getting enough credit for how diverse he is defensively, and what he’s doing defensively for us as a team. Maybe that has something to do with our record. But if you have eyes and if you’re watching the game, you see that this guy is elite.”
Boucher provided spark off the bench. He did not play in the first quarter but emerged with 14 points in the second quarter.
When Phoenix cut the Toronto lead to two points with 5:02 remaining, Boucher responded with a 3-pointer on the next possession. He had nine points and five rebounds in the fourth quarter.
“Chris, as I’ve said many times this year, he’s the ultimate professional,” Rajakovic said. “I think he’s done a really good job.”
Center Jakob Poeltl (hip pointer) missed his seventh straight game on Sunday so Orlando Robinson has been starting at center with Boucher backing up.
“We don’t have a true backup (at center) and he’s stepping up in that role as well,” Rajakovic said. “And he really brings a lot of energy off the bench for us.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Marlins' Class A pitcher fails drug test, suspended 80 games
Sep 11, 2020; Miami, Florida, USA; A general view of a illuminated Miami Marlins logo in center field after the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies split a double header at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images Miami Marlins minor league pitcher Eiver Mosquera has received an 80-game suspension for testing positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance.
This season with Class-A Jupiter and the rookie-level Florida Complex League Marlins in 12 games (nine starts), the 19-year-old was 3-3 with a 4.50 ERA, 30 strikeouts and 16 walks in 38 innings.
Mosquera joined the organization in 2024 as a $150,000 international signing out of Venezuela.
–Field Level Media
Sports
NYCFC focusing on Fire, not player's demand, fan reaction
Sep 20, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC midfielder a(7) brings the ball up the pitch against Charlotte FC during the second half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Their leading goal scorer wants out of town and their goalkeeper is public enemy No. 1 after a costly gaffe during the World Cup played a key role in the United States losing to Belgium in the round of 16.
But New York City FC is still relying on Nicolas Fernandez Mercau and Matt Freese for big contributions Saturday night when the Chicago Fire invade Yankee Stadium.
Fernandez Mercau scored his 11th goal on a penalty kick Wednesday night during a 2-1 win at Columbus that got NYCFC (6-6-4, 22 points) to .500. It came one day after reports that the club rejected an $18 million offer for his services, leading to his demand that the team transfer him.
“You see a player that is performing for and with his team with a lot of energy,” head coach Pascal Jansen said of Fernandez Mercau. “That’s what he’s supposed to do.”
Freese, whose whiffed clearing attempt led to a third goal for Belgium in a 4-1 win on July 6, was booed on every touch Wednesday. Despite the jeers, he made three saves in the team’s first fixture after the World Cup break.
Meanwhile, Chicago (8-5-2, 26 points) sits third in the East table despite a 3-2 loss Wednesday night at Inter Miami. The result snapped the Fire’s three-match winning streak.
Chicago opted not to stand pat during the summer transfer window, adding Robert Lewandowski from Barcelona on a two-year deal. The 37-year-old Lewandowski, the captain of Poland’s national team, started at Miami and played 63 minutes.
“After just two days with my new team, I didn’t expect everything to work perfectly in my first game,” Lewandowski said.
Lewandowski’s signing led to the departure of star striker Hugo Cuypers. The Fire sold him to LIGA MX’s Monterrey for a reported $7.5 million after he scored 40 goals in 75 league matches over the past 2 1/2 seasons. Cuypers scored 13 goals in 11 matches this season, tying Dallas’ Petar Musa for the league lead.
NYCFC is 3-0-2 in its last five matches against Chicago.
–Field Level Media
Sports
CF Montreal acquire Brayan Ceballos from Revs for up to $850K GAM
Mar 15, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution forward Luca Langoni (41) congratulates defender Brayan Ceballos (3) after he scored his second goal during the first half against the FC Cincinnati at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images The New England Revolution traded defender Brayan Ceballos to CF Montreal on Friday in exchange for up to $850,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM).
The payments were divided into $500,000 in 2026 GAM, $250,000 in 2027 GAM and up to $100,000 in conditional GAM. The Revs also retained a percentage of Ceballos’ sell-on rights should he be transferred again.
“Brayan is a reliable and versatile defender who can play effectively in a variety of systems, making him an important addition to our roster,” Luca Saputo, Montreal’s managing director for recruitment and sporting methodology, said in a statement. “His strengths will complement those already present in our defensive unit. We are confident that he will contribute to our collective objectives as well as the team’s development.”
Ceballos, 25, came to the Revolution from Brazil’s Fortaleza EC in January 2025. He had three goals in 38 career games (37 starts) for the Revs, with two of those goals coming in one game this season, March 15 against Cincinnati.
“We are grateful to Brayan for all his contributions during his time in New England. We wish him all the best in Montreal,” Revolution general manager Chris Tierney said in a statement. “As we look to continue improving the first team, generating this significant amount of allocation money will allow us to continue investing in the roster in the future.”
–Field Level Media
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