
Celtics erupt for 53-point first quarter in win over Heat
Boston delivered a historic opening burst Wednesday night, hanging 53 points in the first quarter. The Celtics went on to beat the Miami Heat 147-129.
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Boston delivered a historic opening burst Wednesday night, hanging 53 points in the first quarter. The Celtics went on to beat the Miami Heat 147-129.

Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne will headline the Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 alongside former NBA standout Amar’e Stoudemire and current coach Doc Rivers. The group includes two former WNBA MVPs and champions, plus a longtime NBA coach.

LeBron James said he once broke a driveway backboard while playing against his son, Bronny James. He described the moment as a reminder that he wasn’t conceding anything, even in a family matchup.

Dartmouth has hired longtime Stanford assistant Brett MacConnell as the program’s next head coach. The school announced the move Monday as it turns to a new voice to lead its men’s basketball team.

Will Wade addressed criticism surrounding his exit from N.C. State and emphasized that his focus at LSU is on winning championships. He said his commitment is centered on pursuing national titles with the Tigers.

Nikola Jokic offered a lighthearted explanation after Caitlin Clark spoke highly of him Sunday night. The Denver star joked that their shared representation was the reason for the compliments.

With 10 teams already turning their attention to the offseason, front offices are beginning to define their top priorities. A new league-wide look outlines the biggest questions facing each NBA lottery team, including the futures of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant.

Boston secured its 50th win of the season to officially lock in a return to the playoffs. Jaylen Brown used the milestone to push back on the idea that this was supposed to be a “gap” year for the Celtics.

Toronto ripped off a 31-0 run in the first half and never looked back, rolling past Orlando 139-87 on Sunday. The stretch was the longest unanswered run in the play-by-play era.

After Michigan State’s Sweet 16 exit on Friday, Tom Izzo brushed aside questions about retirement. The longtime Spartans coach made it clear he isn’t entertaining the idea.

Jarrett Allen made an immediate impact in his return from injury, scoring 18 points in just 18 minutes. Cleveland’s offense erupted in a 149-128 win over Miami.

Iowa head coach Ben McCollum said Friday he plans to remain with the Hawkeyes for the 2026-27 season. His comments come as several prominent coaching positions could be open this offseason.

Not every NCAA tournament defeat lands the same. A new “Pain Index” sorts March Madness losses from understandable exits to the kind that linger — with Florida cited as a prime example of the latter.

A federal judge has denied the NCAA’s request for a temporary restraining order aimed at stopping DraftKings from using registered trademarks tied to the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. The ruling allows DraftKings to continue using the terms for now.

Hall of Fame guard George Gervin said he was “caught off guard” after learning Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams attempted to trademark “Iceman.” Gervin has used the nickname since his NBA playing days.

Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson is still a game-time decision for Friday night’s Sweet 16 matchup against Tennessee. Jefferson said he’s hoping to play as long as the pain from his low-ankle sprain is minimal.

Will Wade announced Thursday that he is stepping down as NC State’s coach to return to LSU. The move comes as LSU makes a coaching change, parting ways with coach McMahon.

Minnesota closed overtime with a decisive 15-0 run to erase a 13-point deficit and beat Houston 110-108 on Wednesday night. The comeback marked the largest overtime rally on record.

Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said his attention is fully on the Wildcats as they prepare for Thursday’s Sweet 16 matchup against Arkansas. Lloyd addressed recent chatter linking him to North Carolina’s coaching vacancy by emphasizing his focus on his current program.

Joel Embiid was back in the Philadelphia 76ers’ lineup Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls. The reigning MVP had missed 13 straight games with a right oblique strain.