The trade deadline acquisition was among Brooklyn’s lone bright spots, posting nine points and two rebounds on 4-of-7 shooting in 16 minutes off the bench.

“It’s just me trying to play basketball to the best of my ability,” Minott said postgame. “I know somewhat about quote-on-quote enemy tactics from being here, but overall it’s just me trying to play as hard as I can for my team, my coaches, and trying to play the Brooklyn way.”

Minott flashed his athleticism and two-way versatility against his former teammates. The 6-foot-8 forward was comfortable creating off the dribble, breaking down Boston’s defense on a pair of possessions leading to easy Brooklyn buckets. He also threw down a poster dunk over Celtics rookie Hugo Gonzalez in transition early in the game.

Josh Minott looks very comfortable creating off the bounce. pic.twitter.com/WiPrHfWV3B

— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) February 28, 2026

Josh Minott looks very comfortable creating off the bounce. pic.twitter.com/WiPrHfWV3B

— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) February 28, 2026

Minott impressed for the Celtics earlier this season.

Josh Minott impresses during first extended minutes with Nets after trade from Celtics

The 23-year-old averaged 6.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.8 steals in 18.5 minutes per game over his first 27 appearances with Boston. He shot 50.8 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three on 7.1 attempts per 100 possessions during that span.

However, he fell out of Boston’s rotation as the team got healthy. The Celtics salary-dumped Minott to the Nets in exchange for $110,000 at the deadline to duck under the luxury tax.

Minott played in three games with Brooklyn’s G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, before being called up on Thursday. Jordi Fernandez hinted that the fourth-year forward could be in line for an extended NBA audition.

“He played in Long Island, did a great job. We needed him to be in game shape, and I think he took advantage of those minutes, and now he’s ready to play here. So, very happy with him and trying to help him develop and see what we got,” Fernandez said. “[Josh is a] great personality. You could say that he’s been a teammate in the group for a long time, the way he’s just blended in right away. He knew what we were about. I sat down with him in my office, and sometimes you feel like it’s going to be a quick conversation, and all of a sudden, we’re talking for like 20-30 minutes, and it was good to get to know these guys. The reality of the NBA, sometimes there are trades, and it may be weird, but it’s part of it. And he’s done a great job just trying to be part of it [here] right away.”

With the Nets tanking, Minott should continue to see heavier minutes as the season progresses. He has a $2.6 million team option for 2026-27.

The post Nets trade acquisition turns heads against former team during debut appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Vucevic is going through the 15th year of his NBA career, his first with the Celtics. He started the 2025-26 campaign with the Chicago Bulls before they traded him to Boston in exchange for Anfernee Simons. He is eight games into his stint with the 18-time NBA champions.

Brown and Mazzulla reflected on Vucevic’s improvement in the system over time after the game against Brooklyn, via Celtics on CNLS. The former likes seeing the veteran center get more comfortable with the team, while the latter is looking forward to seeing the fit fully flourish.

“Allow him to feel more comfortable is big time for our team. Today was a great step forward. I like to see him aggressive,” Brown said.

Jaylen Brown on Nikola Vucevic getting more comfortable with the offense:

“Allow him to feel more comfortable is big time for our team. Today was a great step forward. I like to see him aggressive.”
–@CLNSMedia pic.twitter.com/6uH6NC4tES

— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) February 28, 2026

“Well, I hope that he’s never completely comfortable, because that would mean we don’t get better…,” Mazzulla remarked.

Joe Mazzulla on how the Celtics have worked to get Nikola Vucevic more comfortable with the offense:

“Well, I hope that he’s never completely comfortable, because that would mean we don’t get better…”
–@CLNSMedia pic.twitter.com/2rALNmkM5e

— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) February 28, 2026

How Jaylen Brown, Celtics played against Nets

It’s clear that the Celtics will only get better as long as Nikola Vucevic continues making strides with his production on the court. For Jaylen Brown and Joe Mazzulla, they believe the sky is the limit for the team’s ceiling when Vucevic accomplishes his goals.

In the meantime, the Celtics torched the Nets in a convincing 148-111 blowout win at home. Boston took control in the second half and never looked back, outscoring Brooklyn 82-54 in the last 24 minutes of regulation.

Six players scored in double-digits for Boston in the win. Brown led the way with 28 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, two steals, and one block. Vucevic came next with 28 points and 11 rebounds, Payton Pritchard had 22 points and five assists, Sam Hauser put up 13 points, while Derrick White provided 12 points and seven assists.

Boston improved to a 39-20 record on the season, holding the second spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the New York Knicks by 1.5 games and the Cleveland Cavaliers by three games while trailing the Detroit Pistons by 5.5 games.

The Celtics will look forward to their next matchup, remaining at home. They host the Philadelphia 76ers as tip-off will take place on March 1 at 8 p.m. ET.

The post Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla, Jaylen Brown reveal how Nikola Vucevic became more comfortable on offense appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Since the Celtics failed to abide by Jackson’s almost foolproof rule, are they doomed? History says probably, but there’s some important context that should earn the Green Team a pass this season.

The Jayson Tatum factor

It took the Celtics 58 games to reach 20 losses, and star forward Jayson Tatum suited up for zero of those contests. The six-time All-Star and 2024 NBA champion is still rehabbing from a ruptured Achilles he suffered back in May, yet there’s reason to believe he could return to play before the regular season wraps up.

Shams on Jayson Tatum’s recovery:

“It’s about him putting together a number of practices and scrimmages to build up…the strength in his calves.”

“(Tatum is) in the driver's seat. He's going to be the one to make the decision. The team has not put any pressure on him.” https://t.co/f3zdRJiQ0b

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) February 26, 2026

Without one of their franchise cornerstones, the Celtics still nearly managed to appease Jackson’s 40-20 rule. That’s a feat in itself, as the C’s were left for dead by many pundits and preseason projections.

Instead of snoozing through a gap year, the Celtics have fully recovered from their offseason losses — including centers Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, and Luke Kornet as well as guard Jrue Holiday — and continued to develop homegrown talent.

Almost every young Celtic, ranging from rookie Hugo Gonzalez to third-year wing Jordan Walsh, has improved, and most of the veterans have done the same. While reigning Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard and starting guard Derrick White haven’t had career years (although, they’re still producing at a high level), Celtics star Jaylen Brown is playing some of the best basketball of his life.

In his 10th year in the NBA, Brown is setting new career-highs in points, rebounds, and assists per game. His increase in usage in Tatum’s absence has undoubtedly boosted his numbers, but, statistics aside, the 2026 Eastern Conference All-Star starter is playing winning basketball.

So, even without Tatum, the rest of the Celtics have stepped up and captured an impressive 38-20 record almost 60 games into the season. If they beat the Nuggets, they could’ve hit the 40-20 rule with an easier matchup against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.

And while that hypothetical no longer matters, what the Celtics could look like with Tatum does. The rehabbing star has been “a full go” in 5-on-5 team scrimmages per NBA insider Shams Charania, meaning a comeback in March isn’t out of the question. His presence on an already overachieving Celtics squad would undoubtedly help them contend in a tough, but winnable East.

If Tatum was healthy, it’s pretty safe to say the Celtics would’ve been eligible for the 40-20 rule this season alongside the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, and Detroit Pistons. Moreover, a championship team winning without their best player isn’t unheard of.

What the Milwaukee Bucks did without Giannis Antetokounmpo

During the shortened 2020-21 campaign, the Milwaukee Bucks did not meet the 40-20 rule. Like the Celtics, they were a few games shy, yet that didn’t stop them from defeating the Phoenix Suns in six games to win the 2021 NBA Finals.

Prior to the Bucks’ first championship in 50 years, star center Giannis Antetokounmpo injured his knee in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals and was forced to exit the blowout loss early. Fortunately, he didn’t sustain a major injury, however, he did sit for Games 5 and 6 of the ECF versus the Atlanta Hawks with the series tied 2-2.

That doesn’t mean the Bucks buckled, though. They won both games by double digits without their star player, which is somewhat reminiscent of how the Celtics have been able to operate sans Tatum.

Bucks win game 5 over the Hawks without Giannis

Lopez: 33 PTS (playoff career-high) | 7 REB

Portis: 22 PTS (playoff career-high) | 8 REB

MIL leads 3-2. pic.twitter.com/aOfI7GiGXq

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 2, 2021

Of course, Antetokounmpo wasn’t injured as seriously or for as long as Tatum, but this example does prove that a team that comes up short of the 40-20 threshold can still win it all without having their go-to guy at full strength.

Seeding and the eye test

Despite the 2020-21 Bucks losing 24 times before earning 40 wins, they did meet another potential championship qualifier. They were the no. 3 seed, and NBA history shows that nearly every champion has been a three-seed or higher.

The only exceptions are the 1968-1969 Celtics, who were the no. 4 seed, and the 1994-1995 Houston Rockets, who were a no. 6 seed. Both of those teams were fresh off a championship from the seasons prior, and if there’s a team with championship pedigree in the East, it’s the Celtics.

They may not be defending a title like the aforementioned teams, but they did capture a championship in 2024 with Tatum, Brown, and head coach Joe Mazzulla at the helm. Those pieces haven’t left and although the Celtics violated the 40-20 law, they do comply with the seeding stipulation.

NBA STANDINGS UPDATE

DET reclaims NBA's best record
SAS wins their 10th in a row

Download the NBA App for more: https://t.co/pBKIAWNToa pic.twitter.com/xb3B7EAMKB

— NBA (@NBA) February 26, 2026

Boston is currently in second place in the East with a 2.5 game lead over the third-place New York Knicks. The Celtics aren’t cemented in that spot, but they have resided there a lot recently. Plus, more importantly, they’ve played some of their best basketball as of late, winning nine of their last 10 games before falling to the Nuggets on the second night of a back-to-back.

Regardless of unofficial championship prerequisites, the 2025-26 Celtics simply pass the eye test. They’re fourth in net rating and survived some early struggles to become a top-five team in the NBA this season. They crash the boards hard, defend well, and can’t be taken lightly, especially when Brown has it going.

Add Tatum into the mix and the Celtics are legitimate contenders. Not quite title favorites, but contenders — no matter what Jackson posits.

The post Why Celtics deserve asterisk after falling short of almost 100% foolproof 40-20 NBA championship rule appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Even when Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard withdrew to focus on recovering from his knee issues, Team USA picked Celtics guard Derrick White over Brown as a replacement.

Brown did not hide his displeasure at being snubbed. Now, he has a good chance to make the roster and vindicate himself. But is he still willing to play for Team USA?

In discussing Team USA’s possible roster for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on “Run It Back,” former NBA player Chandler Parsons said Brown should be a shoo-in.

“Jaylen Brown is the biggest thing. They have to figure out Jaylen Brown. Let it go. Let it go and put him on the team,” said Parsons.

He, however, noted that the 29-year-old Brown might want to play for a different country simply out of spite.

“He’s the type of dude I feel like is going to go get some citizenship somewhere else though and really stick it to us,” added Parsons.

“Go to France. Do you have any French anywhere?” responded co-host Michelle Beadle.

It is unknown whether Brown, who grew up in Marietta, Georgia, has another lineage aside from being an American, so it might be too difficult for him to get a different citizenship before the next Olympics.

If ever Brown does surprisingly end up suiting up for France, as Beadle suggested, he would make Les Bleus even more stacked, joining San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher, and Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr, among others.

France lost to Team USA in the gold medal match of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The post Could Celtics’ Jaylen Brown join France after Team USA snub? appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Vucevic was the reliable stretch five that, on paper, was supposed to take the Celtics offense to an even higher level. And the Celtics have been playing well since acquiring Vucevic, having won five of their six games with the Montenegrin big man in town heading into their Wednesday night contest against the Denver Nuggets.

A game against the Nuggets was a prime opportunity for Vucevic to prove his worth to the Celtics. He tends to raise his game when he comes up against Nikola Jokic, after all. However, Vucevic has done the exact opposite, prompting some major clowning to come his way on social media.

Nikola Vucevic bears the brunt of Celtics fans’ ire

Vucevic, at the time of writing, has two points on 1-7 shooting from the field in 23 minutes of play, with the Celtics trailing the Nuggets by double digits approaching the fourth quarter. And to make matters worse, Jokic has 28 points and is controlling the game for the Nuggets, prompting fans to point out the Montenegrin big man’s shortcomings.

“If we had Simons instead of vucevic we win this game,” X user @AdrianTroplini wrote.

“Do we have a Vucevic problem?” @John_Zannis added.

“Bro vucevic is killing me right now man lol,” @_Njay3 expressed.

“WHERE IS LUKA GARZA BRUH NO MORE VUCEVIC,” @DMVCoop301 furthered.

“Vucevic giving me last year KP flashbacks,” @lockedupjb pointed out.

“I’m becoming extremely underwhelmed by Nikola Vucevic’s lack of confidence in his role on offense Almost like he’s trying too hard to the point he’s not being the player the team traded him to be ,” @Johng_c mused.

“VUCEVIC IS ACTUALLY SO A** LIKE DOES HE F**KING PLAY DEFENSE!? GET HIM OFF YHE CELTICS HOLY S**T,” @KaydensXSports ranted.

The post Celtics’ Nikola Vucevic trashed by fans amid struggles vs. Nuggets appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Tatum has been out since the 2025 NBA Playoffs, when he suffered a torn Achilles tendon on May 12 in Game 4 of the Celtics semifinal series against the New York Knicks. Boston’s star has attacked his rehab from the very beginning, and now appears to be on pace to make a miraculously early return to the NBA hardwood.

According to ESPN’s Sham Charania, Jayson Tatum could indeed be nearing a return to the Boston Celtics lineup as soon as March.

“Jayson Tatum has been a full go in 5-on-5 scrimmages with the Celtics,” he said of Tatum on ESPN’s NBA Today. “Right now, it’s about him continuing to put in the time, continuing to get his conditioning up and that comes through a number of practices and scrimmages. And there are two elements at play. One is increasing the strength in both of his calves off of that Achilles tendon injury and the big hurdle of all of this is getting 100 percent there on the mental side, getting the confidence in his leg fully when he’s back.

“The common theme that I’ve gotten from people around Jayson Tatum is he will be back on the floor, “when JT feels like JT.” The Celtics have continued to let him lead that, he’s in the driver’s seat, they will take Jayson Tatum’s lead as far as when he feels ready and cleared and then eventually, a dozen people here from doctors, Celtics officials, Jayson Tatum’s side, Jayson Tatum himself, they’re going to gather in a room and get him to a point where he wants to be which is in March, and awe get closer and closer to the playoffs, make a decision about whether he’s able to make it back out on the floor.”

Jayson Tatum has missed the entire 2025-26 season thus far, but the Celtics have not lost any ground in the East. In fact, it’s safe to say Boston has surprised almost everyone in the league with how they’ve played despite losing Tatum to the Achilles injury and trading Jrue Holiday as well as Kristaps Porzingis in the same offseason.

At 38-19, the Celtics currently sit just 4.5 games back of the Detroit Pistons for the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. They also currently sit two games ahead of both the third seed New York Knicks and fourth seed Cleveland Cavaliers.

In 72 appearances last season, Jayson Tatum averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from three.

The post Jayson Tatum might be nearing return after latest injury update appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Earlier in the season, it was Josh Minott who stood out as a multi-positional defensive pest for the Celtics. There was a time where Jordan Walsh was turning everyone’s heads. Hugo Gonzalez is a spark-plug who even had one of the most memorable clutch moments of the season for Boston.

But now, a different unheralded player is stepping up for the Celtics in Baylor Scheierman. Scheierman is emerging as a key piece for Boston especially with the way he helps the team command the glass. On Tuesday night, in a convincing 97-81 win over the Phoenix Suns on the road, Scheierman recorded another double-double, an 11-point, 11-rebound effort.

The Celtics have been dominant on the glass over the past month, and Scheierman has been a huge reason for that. In fact, he now has three career points-rebounds double-doubles, and all three of them have come within the past three weeks, as pointed out by Celtics Stats on X (formerly Twitter).

It certainly feels as though the Celtics are producing quality contributors on a factory line with the way they’ve gotten so many contributions from unlikely sources.

Celtics are rolling

The Celtics have won nine of their past 10 games, and they now somehow have the third-best record in the NBA despite Tatum’s absence. Jaylen Brown’s stellar play as well as Derrick White and Payton Pritchard’s consistency have played a huge part in that, but head coach Joe Mazzulla has managed to squeeze so much out of a core that wasn’t very inspiring heading into the season.

Just to make matters better for the Celtics, Tatum appears to be nearing a return, which should only elevate the team even further.

The post Celtics’ Jaylen Brown, Derrick White get new secret double-double weapon appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“The Celtics are the scariest team in the Eastern Conference, and the reason being is there’s no expectations because people thought this was going to be a gap year. Yeah. About Tatum and the way that Jaylen Brown, he, his name certainly should be in the MVP discussion along with Cade Cunningham.”

He added, “With the Celtics, with or without Tatum coming back, the Celtics are a real threat to win the Easter conference…They’re well coached by Coach Mazzulla. They’re deep. They can play a number of ways. They can play big, small, and I think the pickup of Vucevic down low. You can play with this back to the basket. He could knock down threes. They play a certain way. They’re gonna jack up a lot of threes. Most of their shots come from uh, 16 feet out. Or further and they get after you. Defensively, I’m just telling people I know they’re high on the Knicks and they’re high on Detroit and rightfully so. I give the, and Cleveland’s on their way up as well. But people pay attention to Boston.”

The Boston Celtics are currently second in the East behind the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. They are up two games in the loss column over the third-seed New York Knicks. The Celtics have emerged as one of the biggest stories of the season, as many NBA fans and prognosticators believed that they would suffer a setback without Tatum in the lineup.

But Jaylen Brown has stepped up. He’s averaging 29.2 points per game, 7 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game with 1 steal. Brown has also received help from Payton Pritchard, who’s averaging $17.6$ points per game, and Derrick White, who’s averaging 17 points per game. Additionally, a sharpshooter such as Sam Hauser has emerged as one of the best high-volume shooters in the league, as he shoots 39% from the three-point line. The Celtics also recently acquired Nikola Vucevic, who is averaging 11 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. The Celtics are heading to Phoenix to play the Suns tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern.

The post Reggie Miller calls Celtics Eastern Conference’s ‘scariest team’ with or without Jayson Tatum appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Brown was initially listed as questionable with a right knee contusion, per the official injury report, as the Celtics continue to navigate multiple absences, including that of Jayson Tatum. However, the Celtics star has since been downgraded to out.

The Suns meanwhile, remain heavily shorthanded with multiple players sidelined, including Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks.

*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)*

Jaylen Brown injury status vs. Suns

Jaylen Brown being out introduces some uncertainty for a Celtics team that has leaned heavily on his elite two-way production throughout the season. The All-Star wing is averaging 29.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game, all career highs. The injury doesn’t seem to be too serious, but Boston is playing it safe with a showdown against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night. Expect Brown to suit up for that one after missing Tuesday’s game in Phoenix.

Elsewhere on the injury report, two-way guard Max Shulga is unavailable due to G League assignment, while rookie big Amari Williams is considered doubtful while on assignment. Regardless, the Celtics have won eight of their last nine games and sit at 37-19.

The Suns produced just 77 points in their most recent loss to Portland, their lowest total since 2017. Grayson Allen is questionable with knee and ankle injury management, while key scorers Devin Booker (hip strain) and Dillon Brooks (left hand fracture) are out, removing over 45 combined points per game from the lineup.

Jordan Goodwin is sidelined with a calf strain, Haywood Highsmith is out due to knee injury management, and Cole Anthony is unavailable while away from the team.

Celtics injury report

Jaylen Brown: out (right knee contusion)

Jayson Tatum: out (right Achilles repair)

Max Shulga: out (G League two-way)

Amari Williams: doubtful (G League assignment)

Suns injury report

Grayson Allen: questionable (right knee and ankle injury management)

Devin Booker: out (right hip strain)

Dillon Brooks: out (left hand fracture)

Jordan Goodwin: out (left calf strain)

Haywood Highsmith: out (right knee injury management)

Cole Anthony: out (not with team)

The post Celtics’ Jaylen Brown ruled out for Suns showdown appeared first on ClutchPoints.

That potential insider information didn’t help the Lakers when they hosted the Celtics on Sunday afternoon, as Boston left L.A. with a 111-89 blowout win over its hated rival. However, it did help Smart reach a conclusion that others are finally starting to catch on to: Mazzulla is one of the top minds in the Association.

“Joe’s a great coach,” Smart said in the locker room ahead of the second meeting of the season between the Celtics and Lakers. “And he’s been on the team, he’s seen these teams in the past, and he got to take notes from there, and make his own adjustments. So, Joe’s been doing a really good job. ”

Before Mazzulla was a head coach with a ring and multiple 60-plus-win seasons, he was an assistant coach with the Celtics. And while he was largely unknown in the basketball world prior to becoming the head coach of the Green Team in 2022, Smart isn’t shocked by what he’s been able to accomplish in Boston, especially this season when the Celtics were expected to struggle without star forward Jayson Tatum.

“I mean, for me personally, I’m not surprised,” Smart said. “They got a lot of great players over there. These guys been playing together for a while…I definitely think they’re doing what I expected them to do, but it is fun to watch.”

The Celtics continued their winning ways shortly after Smart’s comments, completing a season sweep of the Lakers for the first time since the 2022-23 campaign (Smart’s final season with the C’s) and holding their historic foes to their worst offensive output of 2026.

Following the 22-point victory, the Celtics are 37-19 overall, an impressive 19-10 on the road, and in second place in the Eastern Conference. What they’ve been able to do with Tatum rehabbing from a ruptured Achilles and multiple starters missing from last season is quite impressive.

What JJ Redick had to say about Joe Mazzulla’s ‘phenomenal’ season

Even Lakers head coach JJ Redick said as much, pointing out Mazzulla’s role in the success.

“I think Joe is — there’s a handful of coaches that I think are doing a tier-one job this year,” Redick stated during his pregame press conference. “And Joe’s in that group of coaches, he’s really doing a phenomenal job.”

JJ Redick on the job Joe Mazzulla has done this season with the Celtics:

“I think Joe is — there's a handful of coaches that I think are doing a tier-one job this year. And Joe's in that group of coaches, he's really doing a phenomenal job.” pic.twitter.com/1c66auE6A1

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) February 22, 2026

While Smart and Redick, who Mazzulla tried to hire in Boston multiple times, both share a relationship with the Celtics skipper, their praise is genuine and not swayed by personal connection. They’re simply two basketball experts with an understanding of why Mazzulla is a true Coach of the Year candidate.

But, in Mazzulla’s mind, the Celtics haven’t achieved much.

“The story is the story is not done,” he said postgame when asked how to summarize the Celtics’ 2025-26 season. “We’re only a product of what we do tomorrow and what we do the next day…We haven’t done anything. All we’ve done is stick to the process of winning on both ends of the floor.”

Joe Mazzulla on whether he was offended, tired, or flattered about all the praise the Celtics have received for overachieving:

“The season's 82 not 55…you can't get caught up in what you've done in the past, whether it was good or bad.” pic.twitter.com/9lOWZNxzhg

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) February 22, 2026

The next chapter of the Celtics’ unfinished story will feature a Tuesday night showdown with the Phoenix Suns, who are in some ways Boston’s Western Conference counterparts, given their surprising 33-25 record.

As always, Mazzulla will use this matchup as an opportunity for improvement, regardless of the result.

“Don’t overreact to a good win or a bad loss, and get better the next game,” Mazzulla reiterated.

The post Marcus Smart, JJ Redick praise Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla amid COTY campaign appeared first on ClutchPoints.

However, one person who thinks that the Celtics can reach their goals this season regardless of whether Tatum is in the lineup is former Boston big man Kendrick Perkins of ESPN, who recently took to First Take to relay his thoughts.

“They can go to the NBA Finals without [Jayson] Tatum. … They are the most dangerous team in the NBA because they have zero expectations,” said Perkins, via First Take on X, formerly Twitter.

Perkins also opined that Boston has “the best two-way player in the game in Jaylen Brown, because no other player in the league is doing what he’s doing as far as being top five in scoring, and top five defensively in opponent field goal percentage.”

Indeed, Brown has been getting it done on both ends of the floor this year, although fans of Kawhi Leonard, Victor Wembanyama, and several other players would likely strongly disagree with Perkins’ assessment.

Still, at this juncture, the Celtics are starting to look like a real threat even without Tatum in the lineup. There is one school of thought that a rushed Tatum return this season could actually work against Boston’s plans for 2025-26, considering the way that the team’s rhythm would at least temporarily be disrupted, and the fact that the star would have a great deal of rust to shake off. Tatum has also not exactly distinguished himself as a good postseason performer in his career thus far, which continued last year vs the New York Knicks.

In any case, the Celtics’ road trip will continue on Tuesday vs the Phoenix Suns.

The post Jayson Tatum injury doesn’t kill Celtics’ NBA Finals hopes, according to Kendrick Perkins appeared first on ClutchPoints.

However, with the game going the other way, the Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla had a hilarious reaction when he found out exactly what Riley had said.

“Did he really? That’s awesome,” Mazzulla responded with a grin on his face, clearly happy with his team’s day of work, per a clip on X posted by ClutchPoints’ Daniel Donabedian.

Joe Mazzulla was upset that he missed Pat Riley say he wanted to beat the hell out of the Celtics:

“That’s awesome.” pic.twitter.com/hzfBgwPgBw

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) February 23, 2026

“The time has come to kick some Boston ass,” Riley had initially said, per a clip on X by Oh No He Didn’t.

Pat Riley: "The time has come to kick some Boston ass"

Celtics vs Lakers tonight lolpic.twitter.com/VdjsW50kbL

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) February 22, 2026

Of course, it was the Celtics who did the deed instead of the Lakers. The 111-89 victory was defined by a two-man offensive explosion from Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard, who combined for 62 points and 16 assists.

Brown, who even earned an MVP endorsement from LeBron James after his performance, returned with 32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while Pritchard returned with 30 points on 10-14 shooting with a total of six three-pointers. The Celtics held the Lakers to 39.1% shooting and just 30% from three, which happened despite the Lakers’ Big 3 of LeBron, Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic all starting.

And while the game was heavily lopsided, it did result in some historic positivity for James. The 41-year-old became the first player in NBA history to surpass 43,000 regular-season points in what was his 1600th career game.

Still, it was Luka Doncic who top-scored for the Lakers, producing 25 points and five rebounds, while Reaves finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. Regardless, the Lakers suffered due to an all-around poor shooting night, going just 66.6% from the free throw line, and only have themselves to blame for the loss.

The post Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla’s priceless reaction to Pat Riley’s ‘kicking some Boston a**’ quote appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Brown led the way with 32 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in 36 minutes. He came close to a triple-double while guiding a Boston team that has been without Jayson Tatum since Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on May 12, 2025, due to a torn Achilles.

After the game, James questioned why Brown’s name is not mentioned more often in MVP talks. He pointed out that Brown is averaging around 30 points per game and suggested that MVP discussions can sometimes turn into a popularity contest.

“This whole MVP thing, I don’t understand why his name is not getting talked about as well,” James said of Brown after Sunday’s game. “Like, nobody gave them a shot to start the season. And he’s averaging what, 30? Just under 30? It’s a popularity contest sometimes, I tell you.”

Brown later responded to the praise after the game as he spoke to the reporters. He insisted he tunes out both criticism and praise, though he made his case for the award in his own way.

“I feel like I’m the best two-way player in the world,” Brown said. “I play both ends on the court. Night to night, I’m available, which is hard to do. I’m a leader. I help lead my team, empower my team to come out and play confidently, stuff that doesn’t always show up on the analytics. And I’m a winner. I come out and try to win every single night. So I’m grateful.”

Jaylen Brown to @ramonashelburne on LeBron James talking about Brown’s MVP case after the Celtics’ win over the Lakers:

“Just come with the same mentality as I have from day one. Don't let the praise or the warmth or the criticism make or break you. Just come out and be Jaylen… pic.twitter.com/bCN0IofO70

— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) February 23, 2026

He called it an honor to receive recognition from James, whom he described as arguably the best player ever. Brown, who won Finals MVP in 2024 after averaging 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game, said he feels grateful every day.

“It’s an honor to play the Celtics-Lakers rivalry. It’s an honor for LeBron, who’s arguably the best player to ever play the game, giving me some high praise. So, I’m just grateful. I wake up every morning grateful (and) humbled.”

Even without Tatum and after trading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in the offseason, Boston is 37-19 and second in the East. What many thought would be a reset has turned into a serious run at the conference crown.

Brown is a big reason for that. He ranks fourth in the NBA in scoring at 29.2 points per game while also averaging career highs of 7.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists. Brown sits fourth in the league in scoring this season.

Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, the last two MVP winners, have largely controlled the MVP conversation.

Plenty of games remain, and the MVP race is anything but decided. The door isn’t closed, but Brown still has ground to cover if he wants to kick it open.

The post Celtics’ Jaylen Brown reacts to LeBron James making his MVP case for him appeared first on ClutchPoints.

After the game, Brown shared a story of what James told him in his first start of his career.

“But when I first got into the league, my first start was against the Cleveland Cavaliers,” Brown said. “After the game, he came up to me and told me in my ear, ‘You’re going to be an All-Star one day. You’re going to be a great player.’ And he also said, ‘You’re playing for a great coach—just keep your head up and keep doing what you’re doing.’

“That was my first start in the NBA—back in 2017, I think, or 2016. He told me that, so we talked about it at the All-Star Game. He smiled like, ‘Of course—I’m not surprised at anything you’re doing right now.’ He was like: just keep proving people wrong, keep doing what you’ve got to do, keep leading your team, and people will take notice.”

Fast forward to now, and Brown is a multi-time All-Star, and this season, he’s in MVP talks. He has so much more to accomplish as well, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him keep elevating in his career.

Brown also noted that he wouldn’t tell everything that he and James talked about, and some suspect it may be about what he said about Bronny James during the Summer League last season. James spoke about his and Brown’s relationship in his presser.

“Our relationship has been pretty respectful. Besides the s— he said about Bronny in Summer League. But other than that, we’ve been all right,” James said with a smile.

The post Celtics’ Jaylen Brown reveals what LeBron James told him at All-Star Game appeared first on ClutchPoints.

With 32 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and three steals, Jaylen Brown carried Boston behind his back as the team shot 48.2% from the floor. Through 51 games this season, Brown is averaging 29.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game on 48.1% shooting, all career highs in scoring and rebounding.

Following the game, four-time MVP LeBron James publicly endorsed Brown’s MVP candidacy.

“This whole MVP thing, I don’t understand why his name is not getting talked about some as well,” James said. “Like, nobody gave them a shot to start the season. And he’s averaging what, 30? Just under 30? It’s a popularity contest sometimes, I tell you.”

The Celtics have been without Jayson Tatum all season due to a torn Achilles, with Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis no longer on the roster. Tatum is not expected back until at least March.

James praised Brown for providing stability to the revamped roster while simultaneously improving his own output.

“I think he just used the motivation of a lot of people just saying that they’re going to have a down year,” said James. “The whole championship team pretty much is kind of revamped, and he used it as motivation to keep them afloat. They’re playing great basketball, and it’s because of him and the rest of those guys. He’s taken that next step.”

Brown has taken on an expanded leadership role, helping keep Boston among the conference’s elite despite the overhaul. Additions such as Nikola Vucevic have supported the rotation, but Brown’s production has driven the results.

Earlier this month, Brown and James were All-Star teammates on the USA Stripes squad, where they revisited a rookie-year exchange in which James told Brown he would become an All-Star.

Their relationship previously drew attention during the 2024 Las Vegas Summer League, when Brown questioned Bronny James’ pro readiness.

“Our relationship has been pretty respectful, besides the s— he said about Bronny at summer league,” James remarked about Brown on Sunday. “But other than that, other than that we’ve been all right.”

Brown later spoke about Bronny in a social media post.

“It’s a flex to have your son alongside you in the NBA. … Bronny has all the tools around him to be successful. I look forward to watching his growth.”

James said he and Brown “will be all right.”

“I think he went on social media and said something about it,” James said. “It’s all good, but Bronny’s got a long way to go, but that’s another story. But the kid, I mean, listen, JB is doing [great]. S—, he’s playing great basketball, man.”

Before Sunday’s matchup, former NBA star Tracy McGrady also weighed in, asserting that as currently constructed, the Celtics can reach the Eastern Conference Finals with Brown leading at an MVP level. While it might sound daring from McGrady, Boston has stayed competitive despite roster changes. The Celtics are undoubtedly a threat in the East and a contender for the title.

Use code CLUTCHPOINTS to get $5 of free coins when you sign up at Novig, America’s #1 Sports Prediction market.

The post Celtics star Jaylen Brown’s MVP candidacy gets big LeBron James endorsement appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Multiple reports have stated that Tatum is on the right track and ahead of schedule. He has hit multiple milestones, including participating in controlled 5‑on‑5 scrimmages and working out alongside teammates.

The 27-year-old Tatum has touted his progress, but he also recently flip-flopped on his previous view that he might suit up this season, saying he needs to reevaluate his situation.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla confirmed that Tatum was at practice before their game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. But when asked if the six-time All-Star participated, Mazzulla had an all-time reaction, as shown in the video posted by CLNS.

Did Jayson Tatum practice yesterday?

"He was at practice?"

Did he participate?

*Stares*@CLNSMedia | Q: @RealBobManning pic.twitter.com/SOLMYuzu4J

— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) February 22, 2026

Usually, silence means yes. But Mazzulla is as difficult to read as Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” in Latin, so it is hard to say if he really hinted at anything.

Why waste energy on words when you can always stare deeply into someone’s soul and make him question his existence?

If anything, Mazzulla seems tired of answering questions about Tatum, who suffered the debilitating injury against the New York Knicks in last season’s playoffs.

Whatever his wordless response really meant, it is clear that the Celtics have been doing well without Tatum. They beat the Lakers, 111-89, to improve to 37-19, including 8-2 in their last 10 games.

Jaylen Brown has been playing at an MVP level, even earning his flowers from LeBron James. Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and Neemias Queta have been consistent contributors, while the addition of Nikola Vucevic has only made them even more formidable.

The Celtics will be staring down the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

The post Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla issues intriguing hint on Jayson Tatum’s status after practice appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Brown finished with a game-high 32 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and four steals, as the Celtics improved to 37-19. The Lakers fell to 34-22.

No less than LeBron James has lauded Brown’s performance this season, carrying the cudgels for Boston amid the continued absence of Jayson Tatum due to an Achilles injury.

“He’s using the motivation of a lot of people saying they’re going to have a down year because obviously, JT being out, them losing Jrue (Holiday), Al (Horford) leaves, (Kristaps) Porzingis leaves, their whole championship team pretty much revamped. He’s using that as motivation to keep them afloat. They’re playing great basketball because of him and the rest of those other guys. He’s taking that next step,” said James in a video posted by CLNS.

James maintained that he and Brown have remained civil, even if the latter criticized the former’s son, Bronny James, last year.

“Our relationship has been pretty respectful. Besides the s*** he said about Bronny in Summer League. But other than that, we’ve been all right,” said the four-time MVP with a smile.

“It’s all good. Bronny has a long way to go, but that’s another story.”

LeBron James on his relationship with Jaylen Brown:

“Our relationship has been pretty respectful. Besides the sh*t he said about Bronny in Summer League. But other than that we’ve been all right.”

(via @CelticsCLNS)

pic.twitter.com/rV9KrpCj4q

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 23, 2026

While watching the Summer League at courtside, Brown was caught on video muttering, “I don’t think Bronny James is a pro.” It quickly went viral, and obviously, James took note of it.

The younger James has been widely criticized, with many fans sharing Brown’s view. He, however, has shown improvements in his second season.

The elder James, meanwhile, maintained that Brown has been playing “great basketball,” adding that the Celtics star is not being talked about enough for the MVP award.

The post Lakers’ LeBron James addresses Jaylen Brown’s harsh take on Bronny James appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Jaylen Brown drove hard to the lane to take the last shot, but was met by multiple defenders. With the game clock winding down, he kicked the ball out to Pritchard, who shook off Luka Doncic and buried the stepback three-pointer from near the logo to give the Celtics a nine-point lead, 59-50, at the break.

PAYTON PRITCHARD AGAIN

Pritchard beats the 2nd quarter buzzer to give the Celtics a double-digit lead over the Lakers heading into halftime

pic.twitter.com/FBzvQndpWO

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 23, 2026

Pritchard has a knack for making buzzer-beaters, so it was not a surprise that he hit it. Remember his two half-court heaves in the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks? Doncic probably does.

Many thought Boston would just sacrifice the season, given Jayson Tatum was out due to an Achilles injury and the retooling of the roster. But with Brown, Pritchard, and Derrick White leading the way, the Celtics have been a surprising threat in the Eastern Conference.

The 28-year-old Pritchard, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, has become even better with his scoring, averaging a career-best 17.4 points entering their game against the Lakers. With the additional touches he has had in Tatum’s absence, he has only grown more confident with his game.

As of writing, the Celtics are leading the Lakers by double digits in the fourth quarter.

Pritchard has 19 points, including five three-pointers, four rebounds, and six assists off the bench.

Boston is looking for its third straight win.

The post Celtics’ Payton Pritchard burns Luka Doncic to beat buzzer vs. Lakers appeared first on ClutchPoints.

PAYTON PRITCHARD DROPPED JARRED VANDERBILT WITH A STEPBACK pic.twitter.com/bbsuPu0Ora

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 23, 2026

The Celtics have built the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, behind the Detroit Pistons, and they have won 10 of their last 13. The Celtics are hoping to continue their winning ways against the Lakers on the night that franchise honors legendary head coach Pat Riley.

The Celtics were not distracted in the first half. They took a 60-50 lead into the locker room at halftime, and they had huge performances from starters Jaylen Brown (13 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists), Derrick White (10 points, 5 assists), and Payton Pritchard off the bench (11 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists).

Pritchard made an unbelievable move when he hit a step-back 3-point shot midway through the second quarter. On the play, he feinted as if he was going inside, and Laker defender Jarred Vanderbilt headed to the paint. Instead, Pritchard dropped back a step and hit a 3-pointer. As the shot fluttered through the net, Vanderbilt lost his balance and his composure and fell to the floor in the lane, 20 feet away from Pritchard.

If that wasn’t enough, Pritchard had the ball as the clock drained in the final moments of the second quarter. He hit a long 3-pointer over Luka Doncic just as the horn sounded, giving the Celtics their 10-point lead midway through the game.

The post Celtics’ Payton Pritchard breaks Jarred Vanderbilt ankles with nasty stepback appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Well, one should not jump to conclusions quite yet. Despite making progress in his rehab for a ruptured Achilles, which he suffered during the playoffs last year, Tatum is not ready to commit to anything.

“I do not have a {return} date {in mind},” he told Bobby Manning of Celtics on CLNS. “I just take it one day at a time. I feel better than I did yesterday, and that’s most important.”

.@RealBobManning asked Jayson Tatum if he has a return date in mind:

"I do not have a date… I just take it one day at a time. I feel better than I did yesterday."
–@CLNSMedia pic.twitter.com/67bsMB4ubj

— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) February 21, 2026

The four-time All-NBA First-Team selection continues to stay grounded during his lengthy recovery. While it is probably tempting to look ahead toward the playoffs, he realizes the dangers that come from rushing through this process. Tatum will be of no help to Boston if he comes back at well below full strength. Nevertheless, the 2024 NBA champion is still doing what he can to rejoin his teammates before the end of the campaign.

Tatum, by his own admission, has participated in “a little 5-on-5,” giving fans some hope that he can get on the floor this spring. If the 27-year-old is able to suit up before the playoffs, the Celtics will instantly become a popular NBA Finals pick. But they are getting by just fine without the franchise pillar for the time being.

Boston has done a great job of staying focused on the task at hand, as it continues to stockpile wins. Speculation will not serve anyone well. C’s head coach Joe Mazzulla said it himself: “I don’t operate on feel. I live by principle.”

Here is what we know. The Celtics are one of the hottest teams in the NBA, and Jayson Tatum is seemingly getting stronger every day. Fans will take it.

The post Celtics’ Jayson Tatum confirms he doesn’t currently have an injury return date set appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Celtics won their first game after the All-Star break as they secured a 121-110 road victory over the Golden State Warriors. The Celtics have a 36-19 record and they have been on a recent hot streak, winning 8 of their last 10 games. They are on a 4-game road trip and that journey continues Sunday with a nationally televised game against the Los Angeles Lakers, their historic rivals.

The success of the Celtics this season has been something of a surprise since they have been playing without superstar Jayson Tatum. He tore his Achilles in last year’s playoffs against the New York Knicks. They also parted company with several key veterans including Jrue Holiday, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis. As a result, most expected the Celtics to tumble in the Eastern Conference.

However, the Celtics have gotten brilliant play and leadership from Jaylen Brown, and he has gotten excellent support from Payton Pritchard and Derrick White. Pritchard is averaging 29.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Pritchard is contributing 17.4 points and 5.4 assists per game, while White is averaging 17.1 points 5.6 assists per night.

Tatum has been making a strong recovery from his injury and there have been several stories hinting at his possible return later this year. If that happens, he would be able to participate in the playoffs.

Mazzulla refused to offer any significant information and would not provide an update. “I don’t operate on feel,” Mazzulla said. “I live by principle.”

Despite the coach’s failure to shed light on Tatum’s status, Celtics observers believe he will return if he is mentally ready to compete at the highest level.

The post Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla gives 9-word response to Jayson Tatum injury return question appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Tatum has been working his way back from his Achilles tendon injury. These injuries are occurring more often, but not many have been able to come back as better players. Tatum is looking to defy those odds.

On Saturday, the Celtics posted some pictures of Tatum at practice, and an image of him going viral as he was being defended by Luka Garza.

Another day of work pic.twitter.com/EJD0iT58rP

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 21, 2026

There have not been many images or videos at all of Tatum playing against contact. He’s present at games and has been at practice for a long time now, but the superstar is still progressing. There have been zero legit reports of him returning this regular season, but if the Celtics do, in fact, want him back this season, then making a debut before the playoffs makes sense.

Chris Haynes revealed what Tatum told him recently. “I’m trying to come back … I don’t know if that’s the case,” Tatum told Haynes.

Tatum tore his Achilles tendon in May of 2025, so a return in under a year would be incredible for him. The playoffs don’t begin until mid-April, so there is plenty of time still for Tatum to work his way back and make a final decision on whether he will return this season or next.

The post Why Celtics’ Jayson Tatum picture is going viral amid injury recovery appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Horford’s decision to join Golden State, his fifth different organization, came as a surprise to many, especially those in Boston.

He had been the veteran leader of the Celtics over the years, and Horford played a pivotal role in the team’s success both during and before their championship run. Although leaving Boston was obviously a tough decision for Horford and his family, he felt as if it was time to move on and finish his career elsewhere.

As for the reason why this was Horford’s decision, the Warriors’ big man shed some light on the subject for the first time since making his decision to join Golden State over the summer. However, the exact reason as to why Horford left, that’s something that is still up in the air.

“The decision, it’s something that’s deeper than just the basketball stuff. And it’s something that at some point I’ll share with people, but for me, it felt like it was the time for me to go elsewhere,” Horford told reporters in the Warriors’ locker room, via CLNS’ Bobby Manning. “As far as the end of my career, I don’t know. I always keep that open, and it would definitely be a privilege to do that (return to Boston).

“I’m just focused on trying to finish out this year.”

The Celtics had made it a point of emphasis to cut salary in the offseason, which is why they traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks and Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers over the summer. This philosophy continued at the trade deadline, as the Celtics went from being a second-apron team over the summer to moving below the luxury tax at the deadline.

Whether or not money played a factor in Horford leaving Boston is unknown, but his tone and reasoning for departure sure sound like there was something going on behind the scenes that bothered the veteran. Although he would not shut the door on a potential return to finish his career with the Celtics, Horford made it clear that his decision was impacted by something “deeper than basketball.”

In his first game against the Celtics since signing with the Warriors, Horford recorded five points, eight rebounds, and four assists in 28 minutes off the bench. The Celtics went on to defeat the Warriors 121-110 on Thursday night.

The post Warriors’ Al Horford shares ominous, unclear reason for leaving Celtics appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Now, Brown is seemingly prepared to take further action. In a recent interview with Andscape, the Celtics guard said that he’s considering taking legal action against Beverley Hills PD after the incident during All-Star Weekend.

“I’m not a legality type of pursuing guy, but you embarrassed my brand and my team. And I think that is unfair,” Brown told Marc J. Spears and Andscape. “And for you to continue to tell untruths in your apology statement, I feel offended by it. I will circle back with my team this weekend, and we will make a decision.”

The event, which was done to promote Brown’s performance brand 741Performance, was shut down after an event permit for said gathering was rejected. However, the Celtics star reiterated that the event did not require a permit, as it was a private, invitation-only event instead of a public event. Brown expressed his frustration at the aftermath of the event, saying that the Beverley Hills PD lied about some parts of the incident.

“I wanted to enjoy myself, and I felt that got taken away,” Brown told reporters. “I was embarrassed. If it happened to me, I’m sure it happened to a bunch of people in the past. I look at it like that. There are probably a bunch of people that don’t scream, falls on deaf fears, which is unfortunate. I’m not sure what the conclusion is. … Even the statement that they put out, they included some stuff that wasn’t true, even in the apology.

Brown was selected for his fifth All-Star Game this year, all with the Celtics. The star forward is averaging 29.3 points per game as he’s propelled Boston to second place in the Eastern Conference. Even without Jayson Tatum, Boston is gearing up for another postseason appearance.

The post Celtics star Jaylen Brown now considering legal action against Beverly Hills appeared first on ClutchPoints.

However, just because Brown enjoyed his time with Horford and Porzingis doesn’t mean he was going to go easy on them when the Celtics faced the Dubs in San Francisco on Thursday night. Brown, who officially became a five-time All-Star last weekend, torched the Warriors with 23 points, 15 rebounds, and 13 assists — enough for his third triple-double of the season.

His impressive performance helped the Celtics go up by as many as 34 points and secure a 121-110 win at Chase Center. Following the double-digit victory, he simultaneously thanked and teased his former teammates, via the NBA on Prime Video broadcast.

“Well, those guys helped us win a championship in 2024, so no better way to give respect to them than by giving them the belt tonight,” Brown said with a smirk.

Jaylen Brown on playing against Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis tonight:

“Well those guys helped us win a championship in 2024, so no better way to give respect to them than by giving them the belt tonight.” pic.twitter.com/O084Hq0kIf

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) February 20, 2026

Despite a winning effort from the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, the Celtics didn’t totally dismantle the Warriors on Thursday evening. Golden State cut Boston’s lead all the way down to 11 points in the fourth quarter and won the final frame 37-19.

However, time was not on Golden State’s side, and Porzingis’ seven points in the last 12 minutes of the game were not enough to complete the comeback. In his Warriors debut (and first game since Jan. 7th), the Latvian big man recorded 12 points and one block in 17 minutes off the bench.

As for the other ex-Celtic on the floor, Horford struggled offensively, missing eight of his 10 shots en route to a five-point outing. He was far from the worst Warriors center to take the court though, as veteran big Draymond Green went scoreless in 18 minutes of play and posted a team-worst plus-minus rating of minus-28.

Very wholesome postgame scene as Al Horford and his son Ean made their way to say hi to almost everyone on the Celtics — almost like they both were former Celtics pic.twitter.com/iWUdN2or5H

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) February 20, 2026

Without true size and, most importantly, the presence of star shooting guard Stephen Curry due to a knee injury, the Warriors couldn’t keep up with the overachieving Celtics. Brown and company will now move on from their successful reunion in the Bay Area and look forward to a Sunday afternoon showdown with the rival Los Angeles Lakers.

The post Celtics’ Jaylen Brown pays championship respect to Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis after Warriors beatdown appeared first on ClutchPoints.

However, they find themselves 2nd in the Eastern Conference thus far with a 36-19 record, and have only improved with the addition of Nikola Vucevic. Their commanding run has even led to some high praise from an unlikely source, with Blake Griffin naming Boston when asked about the team with the fewest weaknesses in the East.

Blake Griffin, when asked on @NBAonPrime which East team has the fewest weakness, points to the Celtics: “That might be the team with the least amount of questions.”

Udonis Haslem feels similarly: “To me, the Boston Celtics have the best habits of any team in the NBA.”

Rudy…

— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) February 20, 2026

“That might be the team with the least amount of questions,” Griffin said on Amazon Prime, with the rest of the crew also naming the Celtics in the segment, according to a post on X by insider Taylor Snow.

“To me, the Boston Celtics have the best habits of any team in the NBA,” Udonis Haslem claimed, before Rudy Gay pointed out how Vucevic has singlehandedly solved their ‘problems.’

And even that praise is well-deserved. Despite having played just three games thus far, the Montenegrin big man has averaged 15.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists, with the Celtics immediately relying on his interior scoring and floor spacing.

Of course, much of the credit also goes to Joe Mazzulla. Despite the wholesale changes to personnel, the Celtics have employed the same high-velocity playing style that continues to reap results.

With Jaylen Brown (29.3 ppg) leading the offense and still a possibility of Tatum playing a role in the business end of the season, the Celtics look capable of emerging as title contenders once again. Both Derrick White and Payton Pritchard are averaging 17.2 points per game, and Vucevic’s addition give this team another offensive outlet and solution in games where they have struggled to score from inside, instead relying too much on distance shooting.

There is little doubt that this new-look Celtics team is still capable of producing some huge results.

The post Celtics get eye-opening praise from Amazon Prime crew that Pistons won’t love appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Pritchard moved up on the franchise’s all-time 3-pointers list, surpassing the legendary Ray Allen for the No. 6 spot, via Boston coverage manager Taylor Snow.

The former Oregon Ducks star Pritchard entered the Warriors game with 797 3-pointers in his NBA career with Boston, needing just one to tie Allen on the franchise list.

The 28-year-old Prichard has played all his years in the NBA in Celtics colors, and he’s developed into one of the more reliable offensive weapons of the team.

With Jayson Tatum still out with an injury, Pritchard has seen increased playing time and rewarded Boston with it by providing consistent scoring, mostly as a starter. Through his first 53 games in the 2025-26 NBA season, Prichard averaged 17.2 points (career-high), 4.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists, while knocking down 2.6 3-pointers per outing.

Opposing defense has given more attention to Pritchard amid the absence of Tatum. Bbut he’s still coming through with consistent numbers on offense for the Celtics, who remain one of the best teams in the league despite Tatum’s injury.

Pritchard, whose current contract with Boston will not expire until the summer of 2028, can continue compiling more 3-point shots. Right above him on the list is Marcus Smart, who drained a total of 911 3-pointers as a Celtic.

Paul Pierce is the Boston franchise’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made with 1,823 to his name.

The post Payton Pritchard passes Ray Allen on Celtics’ all-time 3-pointers list appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Boston Celtics turned the Chase Center into a personal playground Thursday night, dismantling the Golden State Warriors in a performance that felt less like a basketball game and more like a statement. Heading into the fourth quarter with a massive 102-75 lead, the Celtics proved that even without superstar Jayson Tatum, they are still the most serious threat in the league.

With Tatum sidelined due to Achilles surgery recovery, other members of the Boston Celtics stepped up in a big way. Jaylen Brown led the charge with a blazing 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting, while Payton Prichard followed closely with 18 points. Sam Hauser also added to the mix with a 14-point game.

The internet, as expected, had zero chill as the lead ballooned.

JB TRIPLE-DOUBLE ALERT pic.twitter.com/DSLYlNjyNq

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 20, 2026

Great 2nd quarter! Keep attacking!

MORE!!!!! pic.twitter.com/6prevwyjzq

— Fritz (@fritzglc) February 20, 2026

THE NBA MVP IS JAYLEN BROWN @FCHWPO! pic.twitter.com/0RLFhfiWx6

— Fritz (@fritzglc) February 20, 2026

Nah, forever 19! pic.twitter.com/J4FQ6CPtni

— Fritz (@fritzglc) February 20, 2026

“Ever since that finals loss in 22 they’re taking every game against the Warriors personal. Beat them by 52 Then 40 Now this,” one fan noted on X. Another pointed out the historical trend: “For the third consecutive season, the Celtics have opened up a 30+ point lead against the Warriors.”

The lack of gravity on the floor for the Golden State Warriors was glaring. Without Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, the Warriors’ offense looked stagnant and overmatched. One fan summed up the misery perfectly: “The Warriors are terrible. It’s very funny to watch the Celtics run them out of the building. Obviously they’re missing Curry and Butler, but if this is what they have around them, they were not going on a run.”

I hope Steve Kerr knows it’s his fault that for the rest of his tenure as a Warriors coach, the Boston Celtics will do everything in their power to embarrass him. pic.twitter.com/bSKgwlkBbZ

— CelticsUnite (@CelticsUnite18) February 20, 2026

Beautiful basketball from the Boston Celtics. @CLNSMedia pic.twitter.com/vzaGyhJ5LY

— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) February 20, 2026

Through three quarters:

– 102 points
– 29 team assists (6 from season-high)
– Jaylen Brown triple double
– 10 players with 5+ points
– 29-point lead

And this team is adding Jayson Tatum in a couple of weeks

Be afraid @NBA pic.twitter.com/Z5x6BR7xKg

— SleeperCeltics (@SleeperCeltics) February 20, 2026

As the Celtics began pulling their starters early, the disrespect was palpable. “Celtics are embarrassing the Warriors so bad they’re throwing OFF THE HEEZY passes,” joked another user.

The Boston Celtics (36-19) continue to look like the class of the Eastern Conference. For the Warriors, it’s back to the drawing board as they struggle to stay in the Play-In mix.

The post Celtics’ beatdown of Warriors has fans going wild on social media appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Kristaps Porzingis made his Golden State debut on Thursday.

Upon checking into the game and being announced over the PA, Porzingis received an ovation from the home Warriors crowd.

Kristaps Porzingis checks in for the first time with the Warriors

(via @kenzofuku) pic.twitter.com/7QVLufl6Ym

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 20, 2026

The Warriors traded with the Atlanta Hawks for Porzingis ahead of the NBA trade deadline. It was an interesting move, especially considering Golden State’s positioning in the stacked Western Conference. Curry’s knee injury sustained after that certainly has made the move look a bit worse.

Nevertheless, the big man from Latvia is sure to make a positive impact.

Thursday night, the Warriors hosted the Celtics team that Porzingis won his lone championship with. Boston won the NBA title two seasons ago, with Porzingis making a big impact, despite missing time via injury.

Injuries have wreaked havoc throughout his career. The 10-year veteran has only played 18 games this season, having missed time for several reasons. He has missed between 16 and 39 games in each of the last nine seasons of his career.

But Warriors coach Steve Kerr is highly optimistic that Porzingis will be able to make a solid contribution the rest of the season. Unfortunately for the Dubs, the Celtics are getting the best of Golden State.

Boston jumped out to a 23-point halftime lead, as of this writing. Porzingis has five points in seven minutes played.

The post Kristaps Porzingis checks in for first Warriors minutes to huge ovation appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Things are about to get even better for the Celtics; there has been nothing but positivity when it comes to the progression of Tatum in his rehab from the ruptured Achilles that ended Boston’s title hopes in the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs, and some are even theorizing that he could be back on the court for Boston as soon as early March.

If Tatum were to become fully healthy come postseason time, then the Celtics become a legitimate threat to win it all. That is unlikely considering that it hasn’t even been a year since Tatum went down with the gruesome injury, but he’s just that good of a player that if he plays his way back into form, then Boston immediately becomes a legitimate threat to make it out of the East.

In preparation for a playoff push, the Celtics pulled off a blockbuster trade prior to the deadline. It’s not quite clear, however, if this is one that would benefit Boston on the interim, although one could easily see where they were coming from when they made this trade.

Nikola Vucevic’s playoff viability is about to be tested for the Celtics

For years, Nikola Vucevic has been on the trade block amid the Chicago Bulls’ decline from being a playoff team in 2022 to struggling in the play-in picture for three consecutive seasons. Time has passed by rather quickly; Vucevic is already 35 years of age, and what struggles he had on the defensive end have only become more pronounced the more his athleticism has declined with age.

This did not prevent the Celtics, however, from going out of their way to acquire Vucevic in a trade with the Bulls, sending Anfernee Simons to the Windy City, along with the most favorable of the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, and Portland Trailblazers’ second-round pick in 2026, in exchange for the Montenegrin big man.

The Celtics also received a 2027 Denver Nuggets second-round pick from the Bulls in the process, so it’s not like anyone can fault Boston for making the trade due to how little this cost them. Now, the second-round pick they traded should fall in the early 30s considering how bad the Pelicans have been this season, but even then, that is not a steep price to pay whatsoever since they truly believe that Vucevic was a frontcourt upgrade they needed to bring in.

The merits of bringing Vucevic in are clear. He’s a well-rounded offense-oriented big man, and he’s a huge upgrade over their current options at the five, at least on the offensive end. He can pop out for threes (he’s shooting over 41 percent from deep in his few games thus far with Boston), and he can punish mismatches with his soft touch on the interior.

The Celtics, despite being without Tatum, somehow have the second-best offensive rating in the association, and adding Vucevic would further fuel this explosive offense of theirs that rarely turns the ball over and often creates plenty of shot attempts from beyond the arc.

Vucevic is a perennial double-double threat who’s become somewhat underrated over his time grinding away for a mediocre Bulls team. And it’s not like the Celtics are committed to him for the long haul. He is in the final year of his contract making a total of $21.5 million, and the Celtics can simply cut ties with him if things don’t work out.

The Celtics have brought Vucevic off the bench to start out his career in Beantown, and it looks as though this will be his role with the team moving forward. Some of their best heavy minute five-man lineups have Queta at the five (their lineup of Queta-Brown-Derrick White-Payton Pritchard-Sam Hauser has an incredible net rating of +17.2 in 186 minutes), and there’s no point in messing with what’s working.

But trading Simons away has forced the Celtics to bring Pritchard off the bench to try and balance the roster. Simons allowed the Celtics to be confident in staggering the minutes of their guards, but head coach Joe Mazzulla has to be more aggressive in making sure that one of Pritchard and White are on the court at all times with Simons gone.

That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But the Celtics knew that this was going to be a gap year anyway, so perhaps trying to fix what wasn’t broken would not be for the team’s betterment.

And then there’s the matter of Vucevic running into some matchup problems come postseason time. He has struggles when it comes to defending in space, and he will be put to the test in the playoffs once every team decides to force him to defend every action.

Simons would have been in a similar predicament, so the Celtics chose to roll with the potential defensive liability who at least had size. This is why the Simons for Vucevic swap is so complicated, as there was a case to be made for the Celtics to either stick with Simons or roll the dice on Vucevic.

This is not a mistake per se for the Celtics. But among the moves they made, this was the one that invites the most criticism. There’s also the matter of them having to re-sign Vucevic next season, although given that he’ll be 36 years of age next season, this should not cause Boston to break the bank anyway.

Only time will tell if the Celtics’ decision to choose Vucevic over Simons is the right one. It’s hard to doubt the Celtics front office at this point as they’ve been masterful in their handling of their delicate cap situation over the summer. They’ve also drafted well in recent years.

This could easily work out for the Celtics, and to that end, the few hundred words written in this space will have to be served up on a platter for the author to eat.

The post Celtics’ biggest 2026 NBA trade deadline mistake appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Brown took to social media to vent his frustrations, tagging the department while highlighting the lasting impact of the incident.

“Thank you for apology @BeverlyHillsPD but Damage is already done and I can’t recreate that moment again,” Brown posted. “And what about resources / partners lost? In a moment that was supposed to be celebrated you embarrassed me and my brand.”

Thank you for apology @BeverlyHillsPD but Damage is already done and I can’t recreate that moment again and what about resources / partners lost ? in a moment that was supposed to be celebrated you embarrassed me and my brand @741Performance https://t.co/608Iy8jcZD

— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) February 20, 2026

The confrontation occurred on Feb. 14, when officers arrived at the luxury retail corridor to disperse a crowd gathered for Brown’s event. The department cited safety concerns and a lack of proper permitting, but the move immediately drew backlash from fans and Brown’s camp, who viewed it as an overreach.

While the off-court drama simmered, the reigning Finals MVP tried to keep his focus on the hardwood. During the 2026 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles, the Boston Celtics cornerstone put up a respectable line, though the distraction of the weekend clearly loomed large. Brown finished the mid-season classic with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, shooting 7-of-13 from the field in 22 minutes of action.

For Brown, this isn’t just about a party getting crashed; it’s about business. The “741” brand represents his latest venture into the performance and wellness space, and the All-Star platform was supposed to be its massive coming-out party. By shutting it down, Brown argues, the city didn’t just kill the vibe; they killed potential revenue and partnership opportunities.

The NBA All-Star Weekend is typically a time for celebration, but for Jaylen Brown, it’s leaving a bitter taste. As the Celtics gear up for a deep playoff run, Brown seems intent on holding the BHPD accountable for more than just a ruined Saturday night.

The post Celtics’ Jaylen Brown issues strong response to Beverly Hills’ apology appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“I’m trying to come back … I don't know if that's the case."@ChrisBHaynes has the latest from injured Celtics star Jayson Tatum about if he'll return this season. pic.twitter.com/mAYfrbpcux

— NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) February 20, 2026

While they are 5.5 games behind the first-place Detroit Pistons, the Celtics look like they could be a dangerous team in the postseason. Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard and Derrick White have been leading the offense for head coach Joe Mazzulla and the team defense has been solid most nights. The fact that they are playing so well without All-Star Jayson Tatum has been something of a shocker to many basketball observers.

Tatum has been out all year after suffering an Achilles injury in last year’s playoff loss to the New York Knicks. His rehab has gone well and he has returned to practice. However, he is not sure if or when he will be able to return. There has been some talk that Tatum will be able to return to the Celtics at some point during the season and give the team a boost in the playoffs, but Tatum does not want to rush into anything before he is ready.

He spoke with NBA insider Chris Haynes, and said he is making every effort he can to return. “I’m trying to come back and I am doing everything I can to come back,” Tatum said, per Haynes. “I just don’t know if I can.”

If Tatum can return to the Celtics and take part in the playoffs, that would improve Boston’s chances for making a long run in the postseason.

The post Chris Haynes reveals Jayson Tatum’s latest injury update for Celtics appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“If somebody said while we’re in Boston, that this was going to be the scenario,” Porzingis said. “Who would believe this? But this is how it works out. And obviously, you know, we expected Boston to have some changes with the money stuff. But yeah, it’s gonna be weird, especially this first game back against Boston.”

With the Celtics in town, Porzingis and Horford will be reunited with the team they helped lead to an NBA title only two years ago. For two players who loved the city, loved their teammates, and loved their time in the iconic green and white jerseys, it will be an emotional affair, not only for themselves but also for their families.

After the Warriors’ first full scrimmage since the All-Star break, Horford expressed how excited he is to see all of his former teammates and coaches.

“For me, it’s a lot of excitement,” Horford said. And, you know, my son Ian’s been raving about seeing a lot of the guys and seeing a lot of the coaches.  The whole thing is just, you know, it’ll be cool… It’s been different for us, but it’s been good. It’s been good for him, and it’s been good for us as a family.”

How the Celtics have fared since Horford and Porzingis’ departure

Like Horford and Porzingis’ unlikely reunion in Golden State, the Celtics’ season thus far has also been quite the surprise. With Jayson Tatum rehabbing his torn Achilles, the Celtics sacrificing Porzingis and Jrue Holiday by trading their massive salaries to get under the second apron, and the steady veteran Horford departing in free agency, this year was supposed to be a gap year for Boston to lick its wounds and reset.

Instead, the C’s sit at 35-19 on the season, near the top of the East at second in the conference. Just where they were a year ago. And the year before that. This is a surprise to all the pundits and analysts who predicted a semi-tank. But for Horford, the Celtics’ unexpected success isn’t much of a surprise.

“No,” Horford answered when asked if Boston’s success this season has surprised him. “Because of Joe [Mazzulla] and the culture that has been established in Boston. Probably the most surprising part has been the growth of Mimi [Neemias Queta] and Jordan Walsh. They have really taken huge steps in their development, and how they’re playing and how they’re impacting winning.”

In Tatum’s absence, Jaylen Brown has emerged as a true number-one option, averaging a career-high 29.3 points per game. And in the holes left behind by Porzingis, Horford, and Holiday, their youth has stepped up. Queta, Walsh, Payton Pritchard, Baylor Scheierman, Luka Garza, the guys who’d watch their powerhouse team thunder on as they sat on the bench, have become the backbone of the Celtics’ depth.

“But overall, it is kind of expected,” Horford continued, pointing to the expectation of winning inherent for one of the NBA’s most historic franchises. “I just think that Brad [Stevens] and Joe have done such a good job over there. And it’s something that’s consistent, so I am not surprised.”

Al Horford talked about what it’ll be like to face his old Boston Celtics tomorrow tonight:

“It’s a lot of excitement. My son Ian's been raving about, seeing a lot of the guys and seeing a lot of the coaches.”

Emphasized he’s not surprised about their success this season. pic.twitter.com/LjdZPwIjmK

— Kenzo Fukuda (@kenzofuku) February 19, 2026

The emotions of the Celtics reunion

Reunions in the NBA aren’t always heartfelt. But for players like Horford and Porzingis, who did as much as they did for a team like Boston, this particular reunion will be special for both sides. As they prepare for the many hugs and daps and high-fives and conversations they’ll have with their old team tomorrow, Porzingis reflected on his short but fruitful time in Boston.

“I knew… going to Boston. It was going to be like championship expectations,” Porzingis said, explaining the pressure of playing for a franchise as historic as Boston’s. “It’s something every player strives [for], to be in that position…  and we did it once. The second year didn’t work out perfectly, but yeah, we had our time out there and enjoyed every moment of it. And at the end, we accomplished the big objective.

“And you know how much I love playing there. Just everything. The organization, the front office, playing in the TD Garden, the floor, the color. It’s an iconic franchise, so it will always be a part of my memory as a special time.”

It’s only part one of the Celtics reunion, as the Warriors will still have to travel to Boston later this season, where they will get their due from the rambunctious Celtic fanbase. Not to mention, this matchup could be Porzingis’ debut in a Golden State uniform as he’s been rehabbing his Achilles tendenitis all through the break. Porzingis is listed as questionable but feels optimistic about his chances to get on the floor.

Nonetheless, it’s an exciting moment for the two big men.

“It’s exciting for me, just from the standpoint that I used to see a lot of people that I care about and will compete on the court,” Horford said. “And that goes on. And then, after being able to catch up in a way with a lot of people. It’s just very special to me.”

The post Warriors’ Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis drop emotional thoughts on Celtics clash appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Celtics have performed well above expectations this year, and recently, former NBA guard Lou Williams took to FanDuel’s “Run It Back” show to heap praise on what Boston has been able to accomplish in 2025-26.

“I still think Boston is the most dangerous team in the East,” said Williams, per Run It Back on X, formerly Twitter.

“They’ve exceeded everyone’s expectations… Jaylen Brown should be in these MVP talks,” added co-host Chandler Parsons.

Indeed, most pundits expected the Celtics to be a fringe playoff team at best this year, considering that the team was playing without injured superstar Jayson Tatum, and also parted ways with Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis via trades over the summer, moves that were mostly financially motivated.

However, as Parsons noted, Brown has been playing at a borderline MVP level for the Celtics this year, more than replicating the production of Tatum, and has also gotten some help from players like Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, who have rounded into form after rough starts to the year.

Looming over it all is the prospect of Tatum’s eventual return, which is looking more likely to happen at some point this season by the day. If Tatum can look even somewhat like his usual self during Boston’s upcoming playoff run, the Celtics would likely be the clear favorites to come out of the East this year.

In any case, the Celtics will next hit the floor vs the Warriors on Thursday at 10:00 pm ET as they begin a West Coast trip.

The post Celtics draw ‘most dangerous team in East’ take after All-Star break appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“The Boston Celtics plan to sign Dalano Banton to a 10-day deal, sources told Hoopshype. Banton just completed a 10-day deal with the Clippers. The 26-year-old guard has averaged 6.7 points in 14.5 minutes in five seasons combined with the Raptors, Celtics, Blazers, and Clippers,” Scotto wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Banton played with the Celtics during the 2023-24 season, and only appeared in 24 games where he averaged 2.3 points and 1.5 rebounds in seven minutes.

Since Banton already knows the Celtics’ system, it shouldn’t be hard for him to adjust, and the hope is that he gets signed for the remainder of the season. The one that has helped the Celtics this season is their depth, and it’s a reason why they’ve played so well.

Many didn’t expect the Celtics to be this good, especially with most of the moves they made in the offseason, plus Jayson Tatum not playing because of his Achilles injury. Nonetheless, Jaylen Brown has stepped up in a major way, and it’s almost as if they haven’t missed a bit.

Now, everyone is waiting to see if Tatum will return sometime during the season, and before the All-Star break, he practiced with the G League affiliate, Maine Celtics. After that practice, he noted that it didn’t mean he would be returning, but just a step in the right direction for his rehab.

“Still trying to figure it out. Still just going through the progressions of rehab,” Tatum said. “Not saying that I’m coming back or not. It’s all about being healthy and going through the plan.”

The post Celtics reunites with veteran guard who was just with Clippers appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Nets acquired Minott and Agbaji from the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors, respectively, at the trade deadline. While the pair of salary dump acquisitions flew under the radar, Brooklyn brought both players in for a reason.

“We know they’re very good players. That’s why they’re here,” Jordi Fernandez said. “Show me what you can bring to the group, and if you can be part of this group, you can be a future Net… Ball pressure is our first staple. Every time you can apply ball pressure — full-court or half-court — you can create turnovers and deflections and make the other team uncomfortable late in the clock. We believe those guys can do that, and I’m excited to watch them play.”

The Nets acquired Minott as a salary dump from the Celtics, who needed to move off his minimum contract to dip below the luxury tax. Brooklyn sent $110,000 in cash to Boston and did not receive a draft pick in exchange for taking on the forward’s contract, indicating the team sees value in his skill set.

Minott has a non-guaranteed $2.58 million contract for 2026-27.

Josh Minott, Ochai Agbaji auditioning for Nets after joining team at trade deadline

Brooklyn’s intrigue in Minott shouldn’t be surprising given his performance early this season. The 23-year-old averaged 6.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.8 steals in 18.5 minutes per game over his first 27 appearances before falling out of Boston’s rotation. He was highly efficient offensively during that span, shooting 50.8 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three on 7.1 attempts per 100 possessions.

“For me, it’s about staying true to the values I’ve learned over my three and a half years in the league, especially the work ethic. I’ve been around some winning organizations. Understanding what we did right and what it takes to make those playoff pushes, it’s about bringing that over,” Minott said. “Defensively, I line up with the core values here: pressure and being disruptive. My shooting has come a long way, too. I can confidently say that’s a strength, and I believe in taking the right, open shots.”

Welcome to Brooklyn Josh Minott!

Only 23 y/o

3.4 Stocks per 100 (93%tile)
5.7 Deflections p100 (93%tile)
-3.6 contest FG DIFF, -8 rim FG DIFF
Career 62% TS

his .14 dunk rate and 8% Oreb rank 3rd on the Nets, 1st among non-bigs. A huge injection of athleticism pic.twitter.com/Hb0w5KXtLK

— Nets Film Room (@NetsFilm) February 5, 2026

At 6-foot-8 with a seven-foot wingspan and above-average athleticism, Minott fits into the Nets’ defensive vision. His offensive development early this season turned heads across the league.

“It was the hunger I was playing with,” Minott said of his improved play with Boston. “That’s something I’m definitely bringing here [to Brooklyn], the hunger and desperation. I know this organization values that mindset of disruption. I saw we’re near the top of the league in pickup points, so it’s not just talk. I’m bringing that drive and determination.”

Meanwhile, the Nets received a 2032 Raptors second-round pick in exchange for taking on Agbaji’s $6.4 million expiring contract. The 6-foot-5 guard fell out of Toronto’s rotation this season amid a career-worst shooting slump.

However, he averaged 10.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists on 50/40/71 shooting splits across 64 appearances (45 starts) last season.

“For me, it’s about getting back to myself and who I know I can be,” Agbaji said. “That’s super important in this league, and it’s what I work for and what I’m trying to show again. First, my defense and the intensity I play with every single night. I’m always trying to win every possession. That’s who I am as a player. I know I have a lot more to show. I had a great season last year and I’m trying to build on that. My time in Toronto was great, but I’m looking forward to what I can do here.”

The post 2 Nets trade acquisitions who can earn new contracts during second half of season appeared first on ClutchPoints.

White declined, but admits that if Vucevic had doubled the initial $5 million offer, he’d agreed to give up his No. 9, he said, per the White Noise Podcast.

“$5 million’s not enough. If he said $10 [million], yeah — that’s fine,” White said. “[No.] 9 is my favorite number. When I see people wearing number 9 at the Garden, and it’s a Nike jersey, I’m like oh, I know that’s mine. If there was a special reason he wanted to be [No.] 9, maybe I would consider it… I’m willing to switch for $10 million.”

View this post on Instagram

Nikola Vucevic settled for No. 4 instead of Derrick White’s No. 9 with the Celtics. Vucevic also recorded a double-double (12 rebounds, 11 points) with four assists, and two steals in a 98-96 win against the Miami Heat in his Celtics debut.

Nikola Vucevic receives a standing ovation in Celtics debut

Celtics center Nikola Vucevic received a stading ovation at TD Garden. In his first game with the Celtics, Vucevic came off the bench to fans on their feet welcoming him to his new home.

Nikola Vucevic gets a huge ovation from the TD Garden crowd as he checks into the game for the first time as a Celtic

(via @danield1214) pic.twitter.com/c3eHpYk1BI

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 7, 2026

Vucevic followed up his double-double performance with another (19 points, 11 rebounds) against his former team, the Bulls. The Celtics cruised to a 124-105 victory before the All-Star break. Vucevic went 7-for-12, including 4-for-5 from deep, three assists, two blocks, and one steal.

The Celtics will face the Warriors on Thursday.

The post Celtics guard Derrick White’s demand for No. 9 jersey after Nikola Vucevic’s $5 million offer appeared first on ClutchPoints.

There has been immense speculation in recent weeks that Tatum could return as soon as this season, which would be one of the quickest Achilles recoveries that the league has ever seen, which was further fueled when the league moved an upcoming Celtics home game against the Philadelphia 76ers onto national TV without explanation.

Now, Tatum has taken to X, formerly Twitter, to mark a new milestone in his recovery process.

“40 weeks,” wrote Tatum alongside a prayer emoji on the social media platform. “I’ve really grown to appreciate this journey I’ve been on and allow time for me to pat myself on the back for showing up everyday!”

Tatum suffered his Achilles injury during Game 4 of last year’s semifinals series against the New York Knicks, which Boston wound up losing in six games, already on the verge of going down 3-1 by the time Tatum was sidelined.

This year, Jaylen Brown has been playing at a borderline MVP level for the Celtics, and Derrick White and Payton Pritchard have shaken off rough starts to the year to help provide some explosive scoring for the team.

Meanwhile, the Boston brass recently made a win-now move by sending Anfernee Simons to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Nikola Vucevic at the NBA trade deadline, shoring up the team’s biggest weakness in the process.

If Tatum is indeed able to come back this year, many would likely view the Celtics as the favorites to come out of the East in the spring.

Boston’s season is set to resume on Thursday with a road game against the Golden State Warriors.

The post Jayson Tatum catches Celtics fans’ attention with 40-week injury rehab message appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“I’m offended by Beverly Hills by the statement they put out, like we applied for something and didn’t get it, and we did it anyway [and] we were insubordinate,” Brown said after the NBA All-Star Game. “I know how to follow the rules. I’m smart enough to follow the guidelines. It just seemed like somebody didn’t want whatever we had going on to go on because out of everybody that was doing something, it seemed like I was the only one that gets shut down.”

Brown claims the event was a quiet one, filled with fans, social media influencers, and NBA players, such as the Celtics All-Star forward.

Brown didn’t hold back while calling out Beverly Hills’ police on his X, formerly Twitter.

“Beverly Hills is so trash I’m offended had a great panel about the future of culture with great guest people worked hard for this how dare yall,” he wrote.

“For a little more context, the police came to shut down Jaylen Brown’s panel in Beverly Hills around 7 PM, claiming he didn’t file the proper permit,” reported Daniel Donabedian of ClutchPoints on X.

“I know I play for the Celtics, and I know we’re in LA. But hey, I didn’t think y’all would do me like this,” said Brown, via a video he posted on social media of himself interacting with the police who were sent to the event.

Beverly Hills PD’s statement regarding Celtics’ Jaylen Brown

Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown revealed plenty at All-Star weekend, including a potential career opportunity with UFC, and how his event was unexpectedly shut down by Beverly Hills police. The following statement about Brown’s event was issued by BHPD, per The Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn.

“On Saturday, February 14, the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) responded to an event taking place at a private residence in the Trousdale neighborhood of the City. An event permit had been applied for and denied by the City due to previous violations associated with events at the address,” the statement read.

“Despite the fact that the permit was denied, organizers still chose to proceed with inviting hundreds of guests, knowing that it was not allowed to occur. BHPD responded and shut down the unpermitted event.”

Brown denied this account by the Beverly Hills police department, and maintains that he feels he was targeted by the city’s police.

The post Celtics’ Jaylen Brown ‘offended’ by Beverly Hills statement after event shutdown appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“I don’t know if you saw this over the weekend. Celtics and Sixers on Sunday night March 1st. Moved from six to eight PM. That got a hmm,” Simmons said.

“I had been hearing first week of March for a while. That it was going to be somewhere around that March 4th, March 6th game. Conspiracy Bill has also noted that if you go on any ticket resale site for the Dallas March 6th game, the prices are way out of whack. And it can’t just be that Cooper Flagg is coming to town.”

“So it’s really starting to look like March 1st or March 6th, but my money would be on March 1st now for him.”

Celtics are ready to assume place atop the East

The Celtics have emerged as one of the biggest surprises of the 2025-26 NBA season; despite being without Tatum, they’ve managed to hold down the fort thanks in large parts to Jaylen Brown’s steadiness and head coach Joe Mazzulla’s brilliance.

But the Celtics know that their dreams of competing for the Larry O’Brien trophy come June will depend on Tatum and his health, and whether he’d be ready to make an impact for the team not even a year after rupturing his Achilles in the playoffs.

It will be a tall ask for Tatum to try and get the Celtics over the hump when he’s surely not yet going to be 100 percent this early in his return from a torn Achilles. But the fact that there are signs pointing to an earlier return than expected is incredible for Boston and is incredible for the league as a whole.

The post Bill Simmons connects dots on Celtics’ Jayson Tatum March 1st return date appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Brown has also found a way to leverage other things this season outside of basketball, with one of them being live streaming. Through that, he’s shown people a different side of himself, while also enjoying other things in his life.

During All-Star weekend, Brown was asked about the idea of getting into MMA, and apparently, he’s already spoken to Dana White about the opportunity, according to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto.

“To be honest, I’ve toyed with this and I’ve talked to some people,” Brown said. “Maybe post part of my career, I’d love to partake in something like UFC or even boxing. I’ve talked to Dana White about some stuff, but we’ll see as things go on. We’ll see.”

Brown has Muay Thai training, so he’s not too far from MMA. It would not be a surprise at some point if Brown finds his way in the ring in some capacity, whether it’s for one of his streams or an actual match.

As of now, that may not be the best move during the season, and it’s obvious he has bigger goals to chase on the court. The Celtics are in good standing before the second half of the season, and they could find themselves making a run in the playoffs.

There is also the possibility that Jayson Tatum returns, as he continues to check off the boxes for his rehab. He recently took part in the Maine Celtics’ practice, and it will be interesting to see what other steps he has to take in order to return to play.

The post Celtics’ Jaylen Brown reveals he has talked with Dana White about UFC career opportunities appeared first on ClutchPoints.

One idea that has been proposed to spice up the All-Star weekend is the implementation of a one-on-one tournament between the players, and recently, Brown got 100% real on his excitement for that hypothetical event.

“There’s some people that’s here this weekend that I would love to challenge. All of them. Luka (Doncic), Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander), (Jalen) Brunson, Donovan (Mitchell). I’d challenge all them guys one-on-one,” said Brown, per Noa Dalzell of CelticsBlog on X, formerly Twitter.

While Brown might be excited for that challenge, it wouldn’t appear that enough players are in order for the NBA to seriously consider making the one-on-one tournament a reality, as players are increasingly concerned about their brands, as well as the damage that a potential loss to a fellow star might do.

Still, Brown has long been known as a true competitor in the NBA today, having tried to help resurrect the dunk contest a couple of years ago by becoming the lone All-Star in recent memory to take part in the event.

The Celtics star has been playing at a borderline MVP level for Boston so far this year, helping the team perform far above expectations in the Eastern Conference despite playing without injured superstar Jayson Tatum, although there are rumblings that a Tatum return could come sooner rather than later.

In any case, the first of the four 12-minute All-Star games is slated to tip off on Sunday at 5:00 pm ET from the Intuit Dome.

The post Celtics’ Jaylen Brown giddy about challenging ‘Luka, Shai, Brunson, Donovan’ at potential 1-on-1 All-Star tourney appeared first on ClutchPoints.

On Saturday evening, Brown was hosting a panel in the Beverly Hills neighborhood, but things ended earlier than expected when the local police department showed up and shut the event down.

Brown then took to X, formerly Twitter, with a stern message for the cops.

“Beverly Hills is so trash I’m offended had a great panel about the future of culture with great guest people worked hard for this how dare yall,” he wrote.

“For a little more context, the police came to shut down Jaylen Brown’s panel in Beverly Hills around 7 PM, claiming he didn’t file the proper permit,” reported Daniel Donabedian of ClutchPoints on X.

“I know I play for the Celtics, and I know we’re in LA. But hey, I didn’t think y’all would do me like this,” said Brown, via a video he posted on social media of himself interacting with the police who were sent to the event.

Brown has long been known for his work in the community and willingness to speak up on certain issues, and he certainly didn’t seem to appreciate his event being shut down early over the weekend.

On Sunday, the star will have a chance to put his talents on full display as part of the NBA All-Star game. Fans have long been complaining about players’ lack of effort in this event, so it will be interesting to see how much intensity the game has this time around.

The big game is slated to tip off on Sunday at 5:00 pm ET from Los Angeles.

The post Celtics’ Jaylen Brown blasts ‘trash’ Beverly Hills after police shut down panel appeared first on ClutchPoints.

For Brown, Tatum is looking better as he approaches the final stages of recovering from last year’s ruptured Achilles tendon in the Celtics’ second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks. Brown addressed Tatum’s rehab during his media availability on Saturday, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

“In terms of what I’ve seen, he looks pretty damn good,” Brown said, as Tatum’s potential return for this season nears.

While Tatum’s recent practice with Celtics’ G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics, was an encouraging update, Jayson says it’s not a guarantee that he’s coming back this season, which is a decision that will probably be made in the upcoming weeks.

Nikola Vucevic trade signals return for Celtics’ Jayson Tatum

The Celtics added to their frontcourt at the deadline in trading for Nikola Vucevic with the Bulls for Anfernee Simons. Despite the guard leading the NBA in points off the bench, the Celtics added a stretch big to complement their All-Star tandem in Jaylen Brown, and hopefully, Jayson Tatum, amid his looming return.

Celtics trading for Vucevic adds to the front office’s belief that Tatum will return before the end of the regular season, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

“The Celtics’ decision to acquire Nikola Vučević from Chicago before the trade deadline, in exchange for Anfernee Simons’ expiring contract, was a clear indicator that Boston believes Tatum will indeed return for a postseason run,” Stein reported.

The Celtics enter the All-Star break with the second-best record — 35-19 — in the Eastern Conference.

The post Celtics’ Jaylen Brown shares intriguing Jayson Tatum update amid possible 2025-26 return appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Speaking Friday on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Harper described Tatum’s participation with the Maine Celtics as encouraging as the 27-year-old continues to rehab from an Achilles tear.

“He looked like Jayson Tatum. I’ll say that much.”

Harper added that the team is eager about the possibility of reintegrating Tatum into the rotation.

“We’re real excited… we’re real excited for the potential of him coming back. We don’t know for sure if or not he’s going to come back. But we’re real excited to see him progress during his rehab.”

Jayson Tatum looked like Jayson Tatum. Ron Harper Jr explains the excitement in the Celtics locker room following Jayson Tatum’s G-League practice. Can the Boston Celtics win it all with Tatum back in the lineup?

Click the link for NBA All-Star coverage – https://t.co/j3RPgmmeWM pic.twitter.com/rP6ED5DeYQ

— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) February 13, 2026

On Monday, the organization announced via X that Tatum would be assigned to participate in portions of Maine’s practice at the Auerbach Center before being immediately recalled to Boston.

“Jayson Tatum will be assigned to participate in portions of the @MaineCeltics practice at the Auerbach Center this afternoon.

Following this practice, Tatum will be immediately recalled to the Boston Celtics, where he will continue his rehab process.”

Tatum averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, six assists and 1.1 steals per game last season while shooting 45.2% from the field and 34.3% from 3-point range across 72 games. He suffered the Achilles injury during Boston’s second-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks.

Brad Stevens reiterates Celtics’ confidence in Jayson Tatum’s return timeline

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said last week that Tatum’s impact remains undeniable.

“Obviously, any team with Jayson Tatum’s going to be better,” Stevens said Friday, via ESPN. “If he needs it, I’ll tell him every day. Because every team — all 30 of us — would be way, way better with him on the team.”

Stevens emphasized that there is no pressure placed on Tatum as he works through his recovery timeline.

“Those are just things that go through everybody’s minds. In all of our conversations, he’s confident he can make the team better, too… He’s hit a lot of the thresholds, he’s doing more and more, and will continue to do more and more. There’s no pressure from us. But there’s also not going to be any of us saying, ‘Well, why don’t you just take another week?’ It’s going to be: When he’s ready, he’s ready.”

Boston enters All-Star Weekend at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles with a 35-19 record, holding the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Guard Jaylen Brown has anchored the roster in Tatum’s absence with an MVP-caliber campaign, but Harper’s comments underscore the lift the Celtics expect once their franchise cornerstone is fully cleared.

For now, Tatum’s G League showing represents another step in a measured rehabilitation process — one that has teammates encouraged about what lies ahead.

The post Celtics star Jayson Tatum’s G-League showing has Ron Harper Jr. hyped appeared first on ClutchPoints.

However, the 37-year-old should be known for more than just his eccentricities. While his “Psycho Joe” persona is genuine, it’s not what truly defines him as a coach. Rather, his unique appreciation for everyone around him does.

For the past few games at TD Garden, Mazzulla has shown up to pregame press conferences wearing a “Boston Bull Gang” sweatshirt. Ahead of a meeting with the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night, he said his attire was a gift from the members of the “Bull Gang” — the workers that switch the Garden parquet over to a rink, and vice versa, when the Boston Bruins are slated to play at home next.

These employees are probably not considered by many. The Garden floor, or ice, is simply there when fans arrive. No reason to think twice about it.

Yet, Mazzulla isn’t like most people.

Joe Mazzulla on his “Boston Bullgang” sweatshirt and how he appreciates the people who build the parquet (and turn it into a rink):

“There's a lot of people that make sure by the time it gets to game time…everything is going smooth on and off the court.” pic.twitter.com/OYpwmLCLwh

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) February 11, 2026

“It’s an opportunity to appreciate what those guys do,” Mazzulla said of his sweatshirt. “I walk my pregame walk there, and being around people, there’s a lot of people that make sure by the time it gets to gametime…everything’s going smooth on and off the court. And we’ve had a few game this year that have had both [the Bruins and Celtics play], and watching that process is — [I’m] very appreciative of that. So, just thankful for the gift and thankful for what they do.”

Joe Mazzulla’s gratitude extends to workers, fans, and his predecessors

This is far from the first time Mazzulla has shown gratitude towards the employees who make Celtics’ games and practices possible. In fact, the five-time Eastern Conference Coach of the Month even argued that the aforementioned personnel outweigh him in terms of influence.

“The people in the building are actually much more important than I am, because they see the players first,” he said during Celtics Media Day in September. “Whether it’s the kitchen, whether it’s security, whether it’s medical or strength and conditioning. Those interactions play a huge part in making sure that by the time we get to the court, we’re ready to go. So, that’s kind of how you build it. It’s the empowerment and the ownership to understand that everyone plays a part in winning. And you go about that every day.”

Joe Mazzulla said the staff around the facility is more important than him:

“The people in the building are actually much more important than I am, because they see the players first. You know, whether it's kitchen, whether it's security…they make sure we're ready to go.” pic.twitter.com/BV5DXGgGCC

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) September 29, 2025

Although Mazzulla runs one of the NBA’s most prestigious franchises, he’s remained humble. Not even capturing banner no. 18 in 2024 and becoming the youngest head coach to win the NBA Finals since the legendary Bill Russell in 1969 inflated his ego.

The very first answer he gave to the media after securing a title was all about others, not himself.

“Something that’s really been going through my mind throughout this process, is you can’t lose sight of the people that came before us,” he stated after the Celtics’ championship-clinching victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the Finals. “I want to make sure every person that’s worked for the Celtics, that’s played for the Celtics that didn’t win, knows that their work and what they have done has not gone unnoticed.”

To understand Mazzulla’s appreciative perspective, it’s important to note his professional beginnings.

The Rhode Island native coached at Glenville State and Fairmont State — two Division II programs based in tiny towns in West Virginia — from 2011 to 2016 before joining the Celtics’ old G League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws, as an assistant for the 2016-17 season.

Mazzulla dreamt of being a head coach in the NBA and was confident that it would happen one day, he just didn’t think he’d step out of relative anonymity so quickly and have the good fortune of leading the historic franchise he grew up rooting for, per Marc J. Spears of Andscape.

“I’ve always had faith that I was going to be an NBA head coach,” he told Spears in December of 2022. “I believed in myself, but I didn’t know it was going to happen this fast. I didn’t know it was going to happen in Boston.”

After former Celtics head coach Ime Udoka was dismissed from the team due to an improper relationship ahead of the 2022-23 season, Mazzulla was offered the opportunity of a lifetime by Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens and the rest of Boston’s higher-ups. He accepted the interim head coaching job and eventually had that temporary title removed in February of 2023, officially making him the 19th man to manage the C’s.

“When I first got here, the staff, Brad’s coaching, the staff that they had, the foundation that they built with these [players] when they were young, the foundation of what we have, is one of the reasons why we’re here today,” Mazzulla said minutes after hoisting the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. “Just because we won this doesn’t mean what the people have done before us isn’t just as important.”

Why Mazzulla deserves a return of appreciation

When it comes to taking credit, Mazzulla will always direct attention to those around him. Whether it’s a cook at the Auerbach Center (the Celtics practice facility) or a fellow member of his coaching staff, he always prefers to thank others rather than pat himself on the back.

If there was ever a time for Mazzulla to take a bow, though, it’d be this season. The Celtics are 35-19 overall and in second place in the East heading into the All-Star break. He probably won’t say it, but the young skipper has been an integral part of an overachieving Celtics squad that hasn’t missed a beat despite star forward Jayson Tatum being sidelined for every game of the 2025-26 campaign so far due to injury.

“One thing where I truly do appreciate Joe, aside from being an excellent coach, is that I truly do believe that he cares about us, our team as individuals, obviously myself, and the conversations that we have,” Tatum said during the 2024 NBA Finals.

With Tatum sidelined indefinitely and multiple starters gone from last season, many outsiders expected the Celtics to fail — and possibly tank. Instead, they have the fourth-best net rating and the fourth-best record in the NBA.

Mazzulla, unsurprisingly, credited the fans for contributing to the Green Team’s winning ways, explaining that their unwavering support and expectation of greatness motivate the Celtics to do better.

“I think that’s what makes the job so special of being here, and you always feel like you have a chance because of (the fans),” he told ClutchPoints following an exciting home win over the Miami Heat in December. “And you do have a responsibility to them. So I want to say thanks to that.”

Before Joe Mazzulla answered my whole question, he wanted to thank Celtics fans:

"Even when we were 0-3…I always turned to Sam Cassell and I'm like, 'Man, this place is still packed.' So people just appreciate really good basketball.”
pic.twitter.com/ncLxHEGXCd

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) December 20, 2025

Given Mazzulla’s constant uplifting of others and his gratitude for everybody who is a part of the Celtics experience, perhaps he can lose the “Psycho Joe” moniker and embrace a “Grateful Joe” nickname. Admittedly, that doesn’t roll off the tongue very well, but it seems to be much more indicative of who he is as a player’s coach, as a leader, and as a human being.

The post How Joe Mazzulla’s gratitude has fostered Celtics’ winning culture appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Unfortunately for the team and the 26-year-old guard, he was a casualty of the Celtics’ cap problems. As a result of being in the final year of his contract, Simons ended up being moved by Boston at the trade deadline to the Chicago Bulls for veteran center Nikola Vucevic.

Not only did such a move lessen the Celtics’ tax burden, but it also addressed a key need in their frontcourt, making a real championship push this season possible. Simons will now finish out the 2025-26 season on a team with no direction or path to the playoffs before becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Could that mean that Simons will seriously entertain the thought of returning to Boston in the near future?

“For sure. Obviously got to finish our season here first and then see what happens there. But, you know, for sure down the line,” Simons told reporters before the Celtics defeated the Bulls 124-105 on Wednesday night, via CLNS Media. “Like I said, I enjoyed my time here and built great relationships here. And so, yeah, I see it for sure.”

In his return to Boston since being traded to the Bulls, Simons scored just seven points on 3-of-9 shooting from the floor in 28 minutes. He has started in all four games he’s played for Chicago since the trade deadline deal.

What the future holds for Simons this upcoming offseason is uncertain. In a weaker free agent market, Simons will stand out as one of the better, established young backcourt talents, but many teams won’t have the ability to offer him a long-term, high-paying contract in the summer.

That is why it’s realistic to believe Simons could opt to return to the Celtics on a team-friendly deal, especially since he was valued by the organization and embraced his role as their sixth man off the bench.

It will be interesting to see what level of interest Simons can generate across the league entering the offseason.

The post Anfernee Simons teases potential Celtics return after Bulls trade appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Recently, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported on how the Vucevic trade related to the Celtics’ confidence in Tatum’s potential return, noting that “The Celtics’ decision to acquire Nikola Vučević from Chicago before the trade deadline, in exchange for Anfernee Simons’ expiring contract, was a clear indicator that Boston believes Tatum will indeed return for a postseason run,” via Marc Stein’s Substack.

Tatum was recently cleared to practice with the G League’s Maine Celtics, and has spoken on several occasions about his desire to return this season.

The star suffered a torn Achilles in early May last year against the New York Knicks in the NBA playoffs, in a series that the Celtics were already on their way to losing in shocking fashion prior to the injury.

This year, Boston has blown away expectations, generating the number one offense in the NBA up to this point thanks in large part to the play of Jaylen Brown, as well as contributions from role players like Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, among others.

Still, the head of the snake remains Tatum, and if he were to miraculously return before the playoffs, many would likely view the Celtics as the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference, even with teams like the upstart Detroit Pistons and the new-look Cleveland Cavaliers looming.

Tatum and his teammates will get a chance to rest some more over the coming week as NBA All-Star weekend approaches.

Before that, the Celtics will next take the floor on Wednesday evening for a home game against the Chicago Bulls. Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm ET from the TD Garden.

The post Celtics rumors: How Nikola Vucevic trade signals ‘clear’ Jayson Tatum injury return belief appeared first on ClutchPoints.

*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)*

Josh Giddey injury status vs. Celtics

Given that Josh Giddey is listed as doubtful on the injury list, the assumption is he will not be suiting up against the Celtics. Lately, Giddey has been a fixture on the NBA Injury Report. He has missed the last seven games due to his hamstring injury.

Giddey’s last apperance was on Jan. 28 against the Indiana Pacers. Altogether, he scored 10 points and dished out seven assists as the Bulls lost 113-110. Giddey has played in 34 games and is averaging 18.6 points, 8.8 assists, and 8.6 rebounds per game.

Meanwhile, the Bulls are in the midst of a six game losiong streak. They are currently 24-30 and lost on Monday to the Brooklyn Nets 123-115.

So when it comes to the question if Josh Giddey is playing tonight vs. the Celtics, the answer is likely no.

Bulls injury report

Josh Giddey (left hamstring strain)-Doubtful

Tre Jones (left hamstring strain)-Doubtful

Jalen Smith (right calf strain)-Doubtful

Zach Collins (right 1st toe strain)-Out

Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery)-Out

Celtics injury report

Sam Houser (low back spasms)-Probable

Neemias Queta (right ankle sprain)-Probable

Jayson Tatum (right achilles repair)-Out

The post Are Josh Giddey, Tre Jones, Jalen Smith playing in final game before All-Star break? Bulls vs. Celtics injury report appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Simmons believes it isn’t a coincidence that the same coach who’s helped Tatum and Haliburton throughout their respective careers has seen two of his clients sustain ruptured Achilles injuries, he said on The Ringer’s Bill Simmons podcast.

“How about like the footwork shooting coaches, and I don’t have to name them, but how come certain clients of certain shooting coaches seem to have lower leg injuries all the time? “It’s because they’re putting too much stress on their lower legs,” Simmons said. “Tyrese Hailiburton and Jayson Tatum shouldn’t be blowing out their Achilles at age 26, 27, it’s ridiculous.”

Without Bill Simmons wanting to name names, he clearly is pointing to Drew Hanlen as the culprit. Hanlen has worked with NBA players such as Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers’ Bradley Beal, Sacramento Kings’ Zach LaVine, and Miami Heat’s Tyler Herro.

While Tyrese Haliburton is expected to sit for the entire 2025-26 season, Tatum could return before the end of the regular season.

Jayson Tatum hasn’t yet decided on his return to Celtics

Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum hasn’t decided if he’s coming back this season. Despite the encouraging update of Tatum joining the Maine Celtics, Boston’s G League affiliate, he revealed that it doesn’t mean his return this season is final.

“It doesn’t mean I’m coming back or not,” Tatum said.

In his first time speaking to the media since October, Tatum says nothing’s promised as he’s still trying to figure out what’s next in his road to recovery.

“Still trying to figure it out. Still just going through the progressions of rehab,” Tatum added. “Not saying that I’m coming back or not. It’s all about being healthy and going through the plan.”

“I feel a little bit better today than I did yesterday – the physical, conditioning, trusting it, every day I feel a little bit better,” Tatum continued. “More conditioning, more live things. Getting acclimated to playing 5-on-5 and contact.”

The Celtics will host the Bulls on Wednesday.

The post Bill Simmons blames coach for Celtics’ Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton injuries appeared first on ClutchPoints.

While talking with media members, the soon-to-be 28-year-old forward expressed how excited he and his teammates are to have Vucevic on the roster, according to Noa Dalzell of the Celtics Blog. Tatum seems to believe it’s a good fit, as Vucevic brings a unique style of play to Boston’s front court.

“Vooch is a hell of a player,” said Tatum. “Obviously, I’ve competed against him for the last eight years, and [I’m] excited about the things that he brings to this team, different dynamics. We’re all excited to have him.”

Vucevic, who is 35 years old, has been a reliable center in the NBA since joining the league in 2011. He’s the type of center that will improve the Celtics’ scoring in the paint, along with consistent rebounding. However, his defensive skills are about average with the rest of the centers in the league.

Through 50 games played so far this season (two with the Celtics), Nikola Vucevic is averaging 16.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per contest while shooting 50.2% from the floor and 36.9% from beyond the three-point line.

He should be a major help for the Celtics for the rest of this season, as the club hopes to reach the playoffs and go on another potential championship run. However, Vucevic is in the final season of his three-year, $60 million contract and is due to enter free agency next offseason.

The post What Jayson Tatum said about Celtics’ Nikola Vucevic trade appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Despite a brief moment of on-court frustration caught on a hot mic, Brown silenced any talk of tension by offering glowing praise for the 19-year-old phenom during a subsequent livestream.

Describing Flagg’s poise and skill as “spectacular,” Brown acknowledged the rookie’s rise while reinforcing the mutual respect that exists between the league’s established stars and its newest talents.

Talking about Brown’s also, according to Noa Dalzell on X, Jayson Tatum shared his own perspective on how the roster has stepped up.

Jayson Tatum on how Jaylen Brown has responded to shouldering more responsibility this season:

“It’s been great. Even before the season, there was no doubt in my mind that he, and P [Payton Pritchard] and D-White and all these guys, I knew what they were capable of. Whenever… pic.twitter.com/4awZixNoOH

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) February 10, 2026

Regarding Jaylen’s massive season, Tatum remarked:

“It’s been great. Even before the season, there was no doubt in my mind that he, and P [Payton Pritchard] and D-White and all these guys, I knew what they were capable of. Whenever somebody that loves the game that much, and works as hard as they do, gain more opportunity, I’m not surprised [by] what they’ve been able to accomplish. It’s been really fun to see.”

Tatum also spoke to Celtics Blog about the team’s enduring status at the top of the conference, asserting:

“We’ve been one of the best teams all season. And we’ll continue being one of the best teams.”

This team’s success provides a stable backdrop for Tatums own recovery process. Currently rehabilitating a ruptured Achilles, Tatum has officially progressed to controlled 5-on-5 scrimmaging with the coaching staff.

While he is aggressively attacking his rehab, the organization remains cautious, ensuring he only returns when he is 100% healthy and capable of playing at his usual elite level.

With the Celtics firmly holding the number two seed in the Eastern Conference, the roster has proven it can maintain championship-level basketball, allowing their superstar the necessary time to check every medical box before making his highly anticipated return to the hardwood.

The post Celtics’ Jayson Tatum drops truth bomb on Jaylen Brown leveling up in his absence appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“It doesn’t mean I’m coming back or not,” Tatum said after speaking to the media for the first time this season.

And in an interesting piece of news, it wasn’t just G League players whom Tatum practiced against on Monday,  as per Shams Charania of ESPN. The Celtics’ two-way contract players took part in the practice session as did some of the team’s standard contract players as well.

Jayson Tatum has been sidelined after suffering an Achilles injury last season during the Celtics’ Eastern Conference Semifinal series against the New York Knicks. While he drew speculation about a potential return following a workout video that circulated last month, as well his recent G League practice assignment, it appears as if Celtics fans are going to have wonder a little while longer.

“Still trying to figure it out. Still just going through the progressions of rehab,” Tatum said. “Not saying that I’m coming back or not. It’s all about being healthy and going through the plan.”

“I feel a little bit better today than I did yesterday – the physical, conditioning, trusting it, every day I feel a little bit better,” Tatum continued. “More conditioning, more live things. Getting acclimated to playing 5-on-5 and contact.”

During last season’s playoff run, Tatum was averaging 28.1 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.1 steals with splits of 42.3 percent shooting from the field, 37.2 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 88.9 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

In Tatum’s absence, the Celtics have actually surprised many as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Jaylen Brown is having an MVP-caliber season, and the Celtics recently addressed their big man concerns in trading for Nikola Vucevic. The team is currently 34-19 and in the No. 3 spot in the East standings.

The post Jayson Tatum dumps cold water on imminent injury return after G League practice appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The game turned chaotic midway through the third quarter when Duren, after being fouled by Moussa Diabate, confronted the Hornets forward face-to-face. Jaylen brown, watching the game on livestream, had a hilarious response to the fight.

Jaylen Brown reaction to Pistons and Hornets getting into it:

“If a dude takes his hand and mush your face like that..I ain’t gon lie somebody gotta ***”

pic.twitter.com/oONlgVWHQ6

— Riley (@rileysbetter) February 10, 2026

“Ohh he pushed him. That’s disrespectful. If a dude takes his hand and mush your face like that..I ain’t gon lie somebody gotta die,” he was heard saying in the clip, posted on X by Riley.

What began as a brief exchange escalated quickly into a full-blown brawl, with Duren striking Diabate and igniting a 30-second confrontation that spilled across the floor.

Multiple players joined the fray, including Miles Bridges and Isaiah Stewart, and at one point security and police briefly entered the court as benches cleared and tempers flared.

Officials ultimately ejected Duren and Stewart for Detroit and Diabate and Bridges for Charlotte, citing fighting during a dead ball. The game eventually finished 110-104, as Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 33 points and nine rebounds. Duncan Robinson and Jalen Duren scored 27 and 15 points, respectively.

The Hornets coach Charles Lee was ejected after angrily disputing a no-call, underscoring how emotional the night had become. Brandon Miller was once again the star man for the Hornets, as he finished with 24 points and three assists, with LaMelo Ball and Kon Kneuppel each scoring 20 points.

Grant Williams added 12 off the bench as the Pistons fended off late pressure to see off a comfortable win. Cunningham took control late game with two made free throws with ten seconds on the clock.

The Pistons will now take on the Toronto Raptors, with the Hornets set to host the Atlanta Hawks.

The post Celtics’ Jaylen Brown declares ‘somebody gotta die’ while watching Pistons-Hornets fight appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“I don’t anticipate Josh or Tre [Jones] playing Wednesday against Boston, but both guys are ramping up,” Donovan said before Monday’s 123-115 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. “They’re playing three-on-three, and they’re running up the court. I think the medical guys just want them to be in a place where there’s at least enough of a buildup and all that tightness has kind of subsided.”

Giddey missed three weeks in January due to a hamstring strain. He reaggravated the injury during a Jan. 28 loss to the Indiana Pacers.

Josh Giddey progressing toward return after All-Star break for Bulls

The Bulls star has averaged a career-high 18.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.8 assists on .462/.366/.775 shooting splits. He, Nikola Jokic and Jalen Johnson are the NBA’s only players averaging 18-8-8 or higher this season.

Chicago’s offense has struggled to stay afloat during Giddey’s absences. Donovan’s squad is 17-17 when Giddey plays and 7-13 when he sits.

A hamstring ailment has also sidelined Jones since Jan. 22. The sixth-year guard has averaged 12.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists on .550/.328/.848 shooting splits across 38 appearances with 20 starts.

The Bulls have been integrating several new guard additions following the trade deadline, with Giddey and Jones sidelined. Anfernee Simons, Jaden Ivey and Colin Sexton have all seen featured roles in Chicago’s backcourt over the last two games, a 136-120 loss to the Denver Nuggets and Monday’s loss to the Nets.

Giddey and Jones should be ready to return after the All-Star break, leaving Donovan to find minutes for five rotation-level guards.

The post Bulls’ Billy Donovan provides Josh Giddey injury update amid second hamstring injury appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“Jayson Tatum will be assigned to participate in portions of the [Maine Celtics] practice at the Auerbach Center this afternoon,” the Celtics announced. “Following this practice, Tatum will be immediately recalled to the Boston Celtics, where he will continue his rehab process.”

Tatum isn’t expected to play in a game for the Celtics’ G League squad. At least not yet, but it’s an encouraging step ahead of his return.

Brad Stevens on Celtics’ no-pressure approach with Jayson Tatum

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens says there’s no pressure for Jayson Tatum to return from injury. After Tatum was reportedly undecided on whether he should come back this season, amid the Celtics’ successful year, it appears he’s decided on coming back before the end of the regular season.

Still, Stevens reminds Tatum there is no rush, he said, per ESPN.

“Obviously, any team with Jayson Tatum’s going to be better,” Stevens said Friday, via ESPN. “If he needs it, I’ll tell him every day. Because every team — all 30 of us — would be way, way better with him on the team.”

“Those are just things that go through everybody’s minds. In all of our conversations, he’s confident he can make the team better, too… He’s hit a lot of the thresholds, he’s doing more and more, and will continue to do more and more. There’s no pressure from us. But there’s also not going to be any of us saying, ‘Well, why don’t you just take another week?’ It’s going to be: When he’s ready, he’s ready.”

The Celtics have won five of their last six games.

The post Jayson Tatum takes major step to potential return with G League Celtics practice appeared first on ClutchPoints.

However, recent reporting suggests that Russell might not be in DC for long.

“We’ll try to figure out what’s best for him and for the team,” said Wizards general manager Will Dawkins, per ClutchPoints’ NBA insider Brett Siegel.

“Russell will not report to Washington and may very well hit the buyout market this upcoming week,” reported Siegel on X, formerly Twitter.

If Russell does indeed hit the buyout market, here are some destinations that could make sense for the guard.

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics have a bit of a need for bench scoring currently after sending out Anfernee Simons at the trade deadline in exchange for Chicago Bulls big man Nikola Vucevic.

Their lack of perimeter shooting off the bench was on full display on Sunday, as the team shot just 17% from beyond the arc in a blowout loss to the New York Knicks.

While Russell might not fully solve this problem, he would give Joe Mazzulla another player who can get scalding hot on any given night, and could more or less replicate the production that Simons provided for the first half of this season.

Miami Heat

The Miami Heat have played the vast majority of this season without Tyler Herro, and after the team remained dormant at the NBA trade deadline, Pat Riley would do well to look to add more offensive firepower on the buyout market.

Russell has some well-documented flaws and might not necessarily be a great fit for Erik Spoelstra’s defense-first style of play, but for a Heat team that doesn’t have a lot of perimeter shot creation outside of Norman Powell, taking a chance on Russell might be a risk worth taking.

Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets have been on the struggle bus in recent weeks, finally getting back on track with a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday afternoon.

Reed Sheppard has hit a major sophomore slump over the last month, and Russell’s veteran experience might be just what the team needs to help reignite the offense and give them some microwave scoring off the bench, especially on nights when Sheppard’s shot isn’t falling.

The post 3 best D’Angelo Russell destinations with Wizards exit looking imminent after Anthony Davis trade appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“Tip-off today was at 12:30 and hey, maybe that contributed to the sluggishness from the Boston Celtics. Forgot to mention that, by the way, this team has not played a game all season before 3:30 in whatever time zone they were in. Today, this tip-off was at 12:30,” the announcer said.

That was only from one broadcast. Another postgame Celtics’ talk show suggested that one of the reasons the team lost to the Knicks was because Boston fans were not in attendance for the game due to the Super Bowl featuring a local team.

“When the Knicks were rolling, it was a little loud like in terms of Knicks fans being in there. I was driving in today and I was stunned by the number of New York license plates I saw on the Pike,” the talk show host said. “They’re going to the Super Bowl so all Patriots fans were going to sell their tickets today, and so they just invaded The Garden. It felt like if you weren’t wearing a Drake Maye jersey, you were wearing a Brunson jersey.”

Now when it comes to the first point, the Knicks had to play at the same early time and had no problem so that doesn’t hold much merit. And the second point, if a team can’t win in their home arena because they can’t block out the noise, then that doesn’t bode well for their playoff chances.

In the win for the Knicks, it was Jalen Brunson who led the way with 31 points. Josh Hart added 19 points, Mikal Bridges finished with 14 points, Karl-Anthony Towns had 11 points and rookie Mohamed Diawara added 10 points. Jose Alvarado made his Knicks debut after the trade deadline and he finished with 12 points.

The post Celtics announcer gives crazy reasons for Knicks’ road win appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Recently, former Celtics 2008 NBA champion Kendrick Perkins made a bold proclamation about Boston’s standing in the NBA this year.

“The Celtics are the most dangerous team in the NBA. The Celtics are playing with house money,” said Perkins on ESPN’s NBA Today, per Oh No He Didn’t on X, formerly Twitter.

Indeed, many saw this season as a low pressure one for the Celtics, considering that many expected Tatum would be out of the lineup for the entirety of the year, thus ending any realistic chance at a championship run.

However, while they might not quite be at the level of a bona fide contender at this point, the Celtics have been arguably the league’s biggest surprise this year, with Jaylen Brown playing at an MVP level, and Derrick White and Payton Pritchard rounding into form after slow starts to the year.

The Celtics recently made a move for Chicago Bulls big man Nikola Vucevic, shoring up arguably their biggest weakness in the process, and it’s also not off the table that Tatum could make a return this year.

Boston currently sits at number two in the Eastern Conference, 4.5 games below the upstart Detroit Pistons, although the Knicks have been playing some much improved basketball in recent weeks and are hot on their tail, just a game behind the Celtics entering Sunday’s matchup.

In any case, after the conclusion of the Knicks game, the Celtics will next take the floor on Wednesday evening for a game against the Chicago Bulls, their final contest before the All-Star break.

The post Kendrick Perkins hits Celtics with bold ‘most dangerous’ proclamation appeared first on ClutchPoints.

He’s recently reached a new step in his rehab, as he’s playing 5-on-5 with coaches, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

“Sources tell me Jayson Tatum has started controlled 5-on-5 scrimmaging with coaches as he’s aggressively attacked his rehab at every turn,” Charania said. “There’s more boxes for Jayson Tatum to check. There are more phases in his rehab; he has to practice with the team, of course, and then it’s the normal nerves of coming back from an injury of this magnitude.”

Reporting for ABC NBA Countdown — the latest on Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum's rehab: pic.twitter.com/hjtj2PsLoj

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2026

Usually, when players rupture their Achilles, they miss the entire season, and that may be the best thing for Tatum to do instead of trying to come back. Even before he decides to come back, he has to be cleared by the medical staff to get back on the floor.

“Jayson Tatum has made clear to people around him from my understanding that he wants to come back as close to Jayson Tatum, as Jayson Tatum, as possible,” Tatum said. “Not a shell of himself, not a lesser percentage of himself. And the other side of all of that is the Celtics’ medical staff will have to clear him 100% before he can return.”

With about 30 games left in the season, Tatum will have to do a lot of work to get back on the court. There’s a good chance that he returns next season, and he’ll even have more time to get ready to play.

For now, he can watch his team in peace, knowing that they’re playing good basketball without him.

The post Celtics’ Jayson Tatum has resumed 5-on-5 work amid Achilles injury rehab appeared first on ClutchPoints.

While Tatum remains undecided about whether rejoining his team this season is the right decision amidst his recovery from a ruptured Achilles, Celtics president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens, is all in on this year’s team. Stevens’ moves at the deadline are welcoming a Tatum return with open arms, as he enters the final stages of recovery within the next couple of months.

Amidst the overachieving Celtics’ emergence to second place in the Eastern Conference, the front office felt compelled to add the finishing touches to what could be a title-contending roster, with Tatum soon waiting in the wings. While the Celtics were expected to go through a “gap year” after shedding long-term contracts that included key members of its 2024 championship team, the Celtics have outshone all but one team in the Eastern Conference thus far.

The Celtics (34-18) leapfrogged the New York Knicks for second place, while the Detroit Pistons, who’ve sat atop the Eastern Conference for most of the season, have a 4.5-game lead. No one saw this coming after watching the Celtics trade Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, and then letting Al Horford walk in free agency.

Without half of the championship team’s top-six and Tatum sidelined, All-Star Jaylen Brown, alongside Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, has guided the Celtics to the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. Boston is also one of the NBA’s better defenses this year, which has helped it secure improbable wins throughout the season.

But is it enough to convince Tatum to return?

Shorthanded Celtics stun Rockets on the road

The Celtics’ 114-93 blowout victory against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday may have topped the list for the most improbable win of the regular season, considering they beat a Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun-led Rockets team without Brown. And did it with ease, while holding a team with the fifth-best offensive rating (118.3) to under an astonishing 95 points on the road.

From the top of the roster to the bottom, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has instilled the utmost confidence in his players, which has translated to G League players such as Ron Harper Jr. and Amari Williams, benefiting the team’s winning. Harper Jr. connected on three triples en route to 11 points in his first NBA career start in Wednesday’s win against the Rockets.

Rookie center Amari Williams, who spent most of the season playing for the Maine Celtics in the G League, earned an opportunity that eventually blossomed into a two-year deal, adding depth to the center position. With Williams signed, it solidifies Mazzulla’s frontcourt, featuring Neemias Queta, one of the better defensive centers in the NBA this season, and Nikola Vucevic, a two-time All-Star who’s a 20+ point scoring threat.

Williams, in as the Celtics’ third-string center, is an ideal role for this year’s team. It’s also a testament to the rookie’s work ethic and defensive instincts, which led Mazzulla to play him over veterans Xavier Tillman and Chris Boucher, who was traded to the Utah Jazz. Williams agreed to a two-year deal with the Celtics, worth $2.7 million.

While Jayson Tatum’s body will need ample time to adapt to the speed of a Celtics team that, for the most part, has played together since training camp in October, he won’t be the only one learning. Vucevic is new to Joe Mazzulla’s system, while Tatum can lead the way, as he’s more in tune with what the Celtics have been doing since Mazzulla took over as head coach in 2022.

Will Jayson Tatum make his Celtics season debut?

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens isn’t rushing Jayson Tatum to do anything. Still, his moves at the deadline certainly set the mood for a team looking for extra muscle ahead of an anticipated deep postseason run. Adding Tatum is ideal, but this year’s success isn’t predicated on it, which eases the process.

Still, for Stevens, there’s no pressure on Tatum to return relatively soon, or at all, he said, per ESPN.

“Obviously, any team with Jayson Tatum’s going to be better,” Stevens said. “If he needs it, I’ll tell him every day. Because every team — all 30 of us — would be way, way better with him on the team.”

“Those are just things that go through everybody’s minds. In all of our conversations, he’s confident he can make the team better, too… He’s hit a lot of the thresholds, he’s doing more and more, and will continue to do more and more. There’s no pressure from us. But there’s also not going to be any of us saying, ‘Well, why don’t you just take another week?’ It’s going to be: When he’s ready, he’s ready.”

Tatum’s anticipated return is entirely on his terms, and while the Celtics continue to rise in the Eastern Conference standings, it’s an encouraging sign amid small modifications, such as adding a new offensive weapon to the frontcourt. If the Celtics were trending in the opposite direction, it would be understandable for Tatum not to want to return amidst such pressure, but this is different.

Still, Jayson Tatum seems undecided, according to Celtics radio color commentator Cedric Maxwell.

“That’s the big question mark. Now, that’s the million-dollar question,” Maxwell replied. “I don’t know where he’s at, and I talked to him for a minute. Talking to him, he seems undecided, like he’s unsure at the moment.”

Perhaps the Celtics’ trade for Nikola Vucevic sways him toward suiting back up. Plus, Tatum’s All-Star running mate, Jaylen Brown, is having the best season of his career. Brown is also encouraging a Tatum return, signaling a collective embrace of the two All-Stars leading the Celtics on a potential deep postseason run no one saw coming.

Celtics comeback win amid Nikola Vucevic debut

Nikola Vucevic got his first taste of what it’s like to play for the Boston Celtics at TD Garden in a 98-96 win against the Heat on Friday. In a game in which the Celtics erased a 22-point deficit, Vucevic felt the crowd’s electricity, which reminded him of the atmosphere during the 2012 playoffs, when he was a rookie.

“My rookie year, when I was in Philly, we played against Boston,” Vucevic said, per Boston Herald reporter Zack Cox. “We lost in Game 7 here; they still had Rondo, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, KG, and all of them. [I’ve played] a lot of games here, and I always liked Boston. I always felt people here were very proud of being from Boston. You could just feel it. Big sports town, obviously.”

Vucevic finished with 11 points on 4-for-8 shooting, 12 rebounds, four assists, and two steals in Celtics debut.

The post Brad Stevens solidifying Celtics frontcourt clears a path for Jayson Tatum’s return appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Knicks have always had a hard time with the Celtics, until they were able to beat them in the playoffs last season.

Heading into the matchup, the Knicks have a few players on the injury report. Karl-Anthony Towns is dealing with a right eye laceration, while OG Anunoby has right toe soreness.

Here is their injury status for the game.

Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)*

Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby’s injury status vs. Celtics

Towns and Anunoby were initially listed as questionable against the Celtics. Towns has since been made available for the game, while Anunoby is out. Josh Hart was also listed as questionable as he’s dealing with right ankle soreness, but he’ll give it a go.

Towns suffered an eye laceration against the Denver Nuggets, and he was still able to play after the injury. Even during the game, he was letting it be known that he wanted to keep playing, and he did.

“I want to play. It’s a great game, it’s great basketball being played right now on TV, and you know, this is what the fans want,” Towns said. “It’s okay, I look like I fought Shakur Stevenson.”

Towns did not play against the Detroit Pistons, so it was going to be interesting to see if he played.

This is a matchup that can go a long way in the standings, as the Celtics are one game ahead of the Knicks as the No. 2 seed.

The post Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns in, OG Anunoby out vs. Celtics appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Boston’s recent moves reflect a clear postseason focus, prioritizing balance and size as the Celtics fine-tune their rotation during a crucial stretch of the season.

Vucevic made his Celtics debut against Miami and helped stabilize the lineup during a critical turnaround at TD Garden. Boston erased a 22-point deficit after trailing 59–38 at halftime and secured a 98–96 victory. The performance offered an early glimpse of how the rotation may function moving forward. The comeback underscored Boston’s resilience and showed how quickly the new addition can influence high-leverage moments.

The veteran center finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench, recording a double-double in his team debut. He also added four assists and posted a plus-11 rating, the second-highest mark on the roster. His interior playmaking proved valuable as Boston surged in the third quarter and regained control of the game.

Following the win, Vucevic addressed his first night in Boston and how the on-court chemistry developed as the comeback unfolded.

“Most importantly, glad we got the win. Felt pretty comfortable out there, I think, as the game went on, the guys also felt comfortable with me.”

“Most importantly, glad we got the win. Felt pretty comfortable out there, I think, as the game went on, the guys also felt comfortable with me.”

Nikola Vucevic speaks on how he felt in his Celtics debut

(via @danield1214) pic.twitter.com/JDG2Reoirg

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 7, 2026

Vucevic’s presence addresses a long-standing need for frontcourt depth. By moving away from a guard-heavy look that included Anfernee Simons, Boston added a traditional passing big who can secure possessions and create cleaner looks late. His size, vision, and composure helped steady the offense during crucial moments.

The early return suggests the adjustment could pay dividends quickly. The veteran big man, in his 15th NBA season, has already integrated himself into the rotation with minimal practice time. As the Celtics sit in the No. 2 seed following the Friday night win and look ahead to the postseason, the early comfort level could prove important.

The post Celtics center Nikola Vucevic’s immediate reaction to encouraging Boston debut appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Early in the fourth quarter, the two players battled for a loose ball, resulting in a shoving exchange that drew attention from both benches. Powell, recently returning from a three-game absence, confronted Gonzalez with a pointed, “What’s up?” The confrontation ended as the two were quickly split up.

Hugo Gonzalez had some words for Norman Powell in Celtics-Heat pic.twitter.com/HLPUXKaVfc

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 7, 2026

The game was a tale of two halves. The Celtics were abysmal offensively early, shooting just 1 of 20 from three-point range and scoring only 38 points in the first half. Boston opened the second quarter behind 42-22 after a slow start, including a 13-2 deficit in the opening three minutes. Meanwhile, the Heat, missing Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier, got off to a strong start behind Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins, and Bam Adebayo. Wiggins led Miami with 26 points on 10 of 16 shooting, adding six rebounds and two steals. Powell contributed 24 points on 9 of 15 shooting, along with three rebounds, four assists, and four steals.

The Celtics turned the game around in the third quarter, outscoring the Heat 36-15. Jaylen Brown led the comeback with 29 points, Derrick White scored 21 points and made four crucial blocks, while Payton Pritchard scored 24 off the bench. Newly acquired Nikola Vucevic made an immediate impact in his debut with Boston, recording 11 points and 12 rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench. Boston also hit 5 of 7 three-pointers in the third, with White hitting a clutch three-pointer following a steal to help tie the game. The Celtics’ bench contribution, including Baylor Scheierman’s +17 plus-minus, was crucial in the comeback.

Miami kept the game close despite the third-quarter collapse, with Adebayo scoring 16 points and grabbing seven rebounds. The Heat’s bench, however, failed to provide consistent support, with Nikola Jovic going 0-for-5 in six minutes and the four-man unit of Jaquez Jr., Dru Smith, Simone Fontecchio, and Kel’el Ware producing minimal impact. Late-game misses by Davion Mitchell allowed Boston to maintain their two-point lead in the final seconds. White finished the defensive stop by blocking Mitchell with 32 seconds remaining.

Boston improved to 34-18, stretching their winning streak to five games, while the Heat fell to 27-26, now 0-3 against the Celtics this season. Boston will host the New York Knicks on Sunday, and the Heat will travel to Washington to face the Wizards

The post Hugo Gonzalez, Norman Powell get heated during Celtics-Heat clash appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The night started ugly for the home crowd at TD Garden. With Jayson Tatum still sidelined following Achilles surgery, the Boston Celtics looked out of sorts early, falling behind 29-15 after a frigid first quarter. Miami’s defense smothered the Celtics, who struggled to find any rhythm without their superstar. However, Vucevic proved exactly why the front office targeted him to stabilize the rotation.

Nikola Vucevic going to work

He caps a 20-3 run for the Celtics!

pic.twitter.com/lKsvw9JG8q

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 7, 2026

Nikola Vucevic finished his debut with a composed double-double, tallying 11 points and 12 rebounds. Beyond the scoring, he flashed the high-level IQ that has defined his 15-year career, dishing out 4 assists and active hands on defense to record 2 steals. He was incredibly efficient, shooting 4-of-8 from the field and providing a reliable post-presence that finally opened up the floor for teammates like Payton Pritchard.

The post Celtics’ Nikola Vucevic goes to work for Boston in debut vs. Heat appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Tatum has been rehabbing a torn Achilles, which he tore in Game 4 of the East Semis against the New York Knicks. He underwent a successful surgery, making significant progress as he could make his return near the end of the campaign.

Stevens talked with media on Friday about the current state of the Celtics after the Feb. 5 trade deadline passed. The team president and general manager also discussed Tatum, where he revealed there is no rushing the superstar forward back. Even so, he sent a clear message to Tatum about his importance to the franchise.

“Obviously, any team with Jayson Tatum’s going to be better,” Stevens said Friday, via ESPN. “If he needs it, I’ll tell him every day. Because every team — all 30 of us — would be way, way better with him on the team.”

“Those are just things that go through everybody’s minds. In all of our conversations, he’s confident he can make the team better, too…He’s hit a lot of the thresholds, he’s doing more and more and will continue to do more and more. There’s no pressure from us. But there’s also not going to be any of us saying, ‘Well, why don’t you just take another week?’ It’s going to be: When he’s ready, he’s ready.”

What lies ahead for Jayson Tatum, Celtics

It’s clear that Brad Stevens and the Celtics will continue to take good care of Jayson Tatum as he gets through the final stages of his recovery.

The Celtics had expectations of having a down season with Tatum’s injury and changing their roster throughout the 2025 offseason. However, they have negated a lot of doubts as they firmly remain in the playoff race. Not only that, but they might also have a fighting chance at competing for a championship.

Boston boasts a 34-18 record on the season, holding the second spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the New York Knicks by one game and the Cleveland Cavaliers by three games. However, they trail the Detroit Pistons by 4.5 games.

Rolling with five consecutive wins, the Celtics will look forward to their next matchup. They are at home when they host the Knicks on Feb. 8 at 12:30 p.m. ET.

The post Celtics’ Brad Stevens explains ‘no pressure’ approach to Jayson Tatum’s injury return appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Vucevic saw his six-year stint with the Chicago Bulls come to an end this week. The Celtics made the move to acquire him ahead of the trade deadline, getting the experienced center in exchange for Anfernee Simons.

Vucevic will provide high-quality rebounding and a solid offensive game that will benefit the Celtics’ attack for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. He made his debut midway through the first quarter, getting a positive reception from the attending fans in TD Garden.

Nikola Vucevic gets a huge ovation from the TD Garden crowd as he checks into the game for the first time as a Celtic

(via @danield1214) pic.twitter.com/c3eHpYk1BI

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 7, 2026

How Nikola Vucevic, Celtics played 1st half against Heat

Nikola Vucevic and the Celtics find themselves in a big hole as they trail 59-38 at home against the Heat.

Miami jumped out a quick lead as Boston was ice-cold with its shooting. Even though the bench unit featuring Vucevic helped stop the bleeding, they were unable to cool off the Heat’s hot shooting from the field throughout the first 24 minutes of regulation.

Perimeter shooting and ball movement are making huge impacts on the game so far. The Heat dominate in both categories after making seven 3-pointers and creating 15 assists. It has been the complete opposite for the Celtics as they only knocked down one triple and dished out seven assists.

Jaylen Brown is the only player who scored in double-digits for Boston so far. He leads the way with 17 points, four rebounds, one assist, and one block. Payton Pritchard and Baylor Scheierman came next with five points each, Derrick White had four points and three blocks, while Vucevic put up three points and five rebounds in his first half debut.

After their matchup against the Heat, the Celtics will prepare for their next contest. They remain at home to host the New York Knicks on Feb. 8 at 12:30 p.m. ET.

The post Nikola Vucevic gets standing ovation before making Celtics debut appeared first on ClutchPoints.

To regain financial flexibility and avoid the tax aprons, which became quite devastating due to the latest CBA, the Celtics traded away wing Josh Minott, forward Chris Boucher, and big man Xavier Tillman Sr. ahead of the Feb. 5th deadline.

pic.twitter.com/J0V19EF8DW

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 5, 2026

They also dealt guard Anfernee Simons to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for center Nikola Vucevic, and while that saved the C’s around $6 million, Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens said that move was about fulfilling a positional need.

“The directive of this trade deadline was let’s see if we can, again, find some size that we could give ourselves a little bit more depth there, and make sure that we are more prepared for some of the the physicality that’s coming down the road if we’re able to ultimately be in playoffs,” he said during a Friday morning press conference at the Auerbach Center.

Still, the Celtics cut some costs from trading Simons, and whenever a front office sells a lot, fans can get concerned — especially in Boston. Many New Englanders have grown tired of the Boston Red Sox refusing to make a big splash in recent years and have frequently criticized how ownership values its own bottom line more than the good of the team.

Brad Stevens isn’t committed to living under the luxury tax

When Celtics owner Bill Chisholm officially took over the Green Team in 2025, some fans worried that he’d be just as stingy as the Red Sox’s management. However, Stevens asserted that despite the Celtics’ recent money-saving maneuvers, they will spend when the time comes.

“But, next year if there’s something that we look at and we say, ‘We got to take advantage of it right now’, then we’re going to try to take advantage of it,” Stevens described the Celtics’ spending plan. “Bill has been really clear with that.”

Brad Stevens on the Celtics’ spending, regardless of the tax:

“But, next year, if there's something that we look at and we say, we got to take advantage of it right now, then we're going to try to take advantage of it.”

“Bill (Chisholm) has been really clear with that.” pic.twitter.com/PBHx9ObxLe

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) February 6, 2026

Any sizable expenditure would likely put the C’s back into the luxury tax. Plus, they’re already in the repeater tax at the moment, resulting in significantly higher tax rates.

Despite this fact, Stevens said there is no directive from ownership to dodge the luxury tax again next season. If true, that’ll allow the Celtics to monitor free agency this summer and possibly find some additional help for stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who, altogether, make more than $100 million a year.

Boston could still spend before then, though, as it can now hit the buyout market since freeing itself of the restrictive tax aprons. Stevens even hinted at his future moves, suggesting the Celtics may complete their roster by giving standard contracts to a few of their guys on two-way deals.

Brad Stevens on the Celtics’ open roster spots and their great two-way players:

“We all think Ron (Harper Jr.) is one of the best players in the G League.”

“We’ll ultimately fill the spot with at least one more ball handler.” pic.twitter.com/xPepryvbWU

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) February 6, 2026

No matter how the front office does it, Stevens emphasized the Celtics’ demand for ball-handling given the loss of Simons.

“We’ll ultimately fill the roster spot with at least one more ball handler, and then see how the rest of those needs play themselves out,” he said.

As Stevens searches, the Celtics will attempt to continue their winning ways. They’re currently 33-18 overall and in third in the Eastern Conference, just 4.5 games behind the first-place Detroit Pistons.

But before the C’s can think about the top seed, they’ll need to focus on heading into the All-Star break with some momentum. Boston has won four games in a row and will look to make it five when it hosts the Miami Heat at TD Garden on Friday night.

The post Brad Stevens reveals Celtics’ openness to future spending appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The discussion began as Pierce reflected on how his role changed once Rajon Rondo emerged as the Celtics’ primary ballhandler. Pierce explained that before Rondo’s arrival, he was used to controlling the offense, but was forced to adjust his game as the roster evolved.

“Before Rondo came, I was used to having the ball,” Pierce said. “So now I’ve got to make this adjustment. Now my game’s got to change a little bit because now he’s helping me get easier shots. So now I’m going to have less touches, but how can I be more efficient?”

Garnett quickly challenged Pierce’s framing, repeatedly questioning whether Boston’s ball-dominant approach before the Big Three era was actually producing results.

“Was that working?” Garnett asked.

Pierce responded by defending his years as the franchise centerpiece, insisting the approach was effective despite limited roster support.

“Yeah, it was working,” Pierce said.

Garnett pushed back, citing the team’s lack of sustained success prior to the roster overhaul.

“It wasn’t working,” Garnett said. “We came next year, it wasn’t working. You got hurt.”

Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce clash over Celtics success before Big Three

Pierce countered by pointing to the talent disparity around him at the time.

“I didn’t have no talent,” Pierce said. “It was working.”

Garnett rejected that argument, drawing a distinction between individual production and team success.

“It was working for you,” Garnett said. “It wasn’t working for the 30 other [guys] that was on the team.”

The debate emerged during a broader conversation about how star players adapt when another high-usage ballhandler is added to the roster. Garnett used Pierce’s early Celtics experience as a comparison while discussing how James Harden might fit alongside Donovan Mitchell after the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Harden earlier this week in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Garnett argued that Mitchell, like Pierce earlier in his career, is accustomed to having the ball, but suggested that sharing playmaking responsibilities could make him more efficient and elevate the team overall. Pierce pushed back, emphasizing how difficult those adjustments can be for established stars.

The exchange highlighted differing philosophies that existed even during the Celtics’ championship run, when Garnett, Pierce and Ray Allen helped Boston capture the 2008 NBA title. While both acknowledged the eventual success of the Big Three, their debate underscored contrasting views on sacrifice, roster construction and what truly drives winning at the highest level.

The post Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce clash over Celtics’ success before Big Three appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Celtics acquired veteran big man Nikola Vucevic. Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick went back to Chicago.

On Friday, Vucevic let his thoughts be known on his new city, Boston.

“My rookie year, when I was in Philly, we played against Boston,” Vucevic said, per Boston Herald reporter Zack Cox. “We lost in Game 7 here; they still had Rondo, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, KG, and all of them. [I’ve played] a lot of games here, and I always liked Boston. I always felt people here were very proud of being from Boston. You could just feel it. Big sports town, obviously.”

Boston is one of the oldest and biggest sports cities in America. Bostonians are very proud of the city’s history, and rightfully so. Sometimes, it can come across as borderline braggadocious. But it is undeniably a city used to seeing success in American sports.

“When Brady was here, I liked to watch the Patriots and them. But it’s a great city. A lot of very European feel, as well, by the water, lots to see. So I’m excited for that, as well, to get to visit the city and see more of it. It’s one of the good cities in the NBA.”

Those types of comments will leave him beloved by Celtics fans.

The former USC Trojan is playing in his 15th NBA season. Despite being long in the tooth, Vucevic has continued to produce at a very high level. He is averaging 16.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists over 31 minutes per game.

The Celtics have been relying on Neemias Queta as their center all season. While doing a serviceable job, particularly on the defensive end, Vucevic is a clear upgrade. If Jayson Tatum does end up returning this season, the Celtics may once again find themselves contending for an NBA Championship.

The post Celtics star Nikola Vucevic’s thoughts on Boston will leave him beloved by fans appeared first on ClutchPoints.

With that, we assess the trade and offer the Nets a grade.

Nets trade grade for Josh Minott deal with Celtics

There was no shortage of players shipped off at the deadline to help teams dip below the luxury tax. While Minott was another cap casualty, he may be the most promising player salary-dumped at the deadline.

With the Celtics aiming to duck the tax while maintaining their core for the stretch run, they were forced to part with multiple minimum contracts.

Minott showed promise for Boston early this season before falling out of a talented rotation. The 23-year-old averaged 6.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.8 steals in 18.5 minutes per game over his first 27 appearances. He was highly efficient offensively during that span, shooting 50.8 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three on 7.1 attempts per 100 possessions.

The Nets prioritized positional size and versatility during June’s draft. At 6-foot-8 with a seven-foot wingspan and above-average athleticism, Minott checks both of those boxes. He’s been a disruptive defender at several stops while steadily improving as an outside shooter and finisher.

Brooklyn’s willingness to take on Minott’s contract without receiving a draft pick signals they are intrigued by his skill set. The former second-round pick should have ample opportunity to prove his worth during the second half of this season.

Minott has a $2.58 million team option next season that the Nets can pick up to give him an extended audition.

Grade: A-

The post Grading Nets’ Josh Minott trade with Celtics appeared first on ClutchPoints.

To kick things off, they pulled a somewhat surprising move on Tuesday afternoon by dealing guard Anfernee Simons to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for center Nikola Vucevic. This deal also included a swap of second-round picks, which Boston then put to use on Thursday.

The Celtics packaged the second-rounder they got in the Vucevic trade in their Thursday afternoon deal to send forward Chris Boucher to the Utah Jazz, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic.

Since Utah’s front office is managed by two executives with ties to Boston, including former Celtics general manager Danny Ainge and former Celtics Director of Player Personnel Austin Ainge, it’s no surprise that current Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens approached them at the deadline.

Boston’s work wasn’t done, though. The Celtics then shipped forward Josh Minott to the Brooklyn Nets in a trade that featured no other players or draft picks, per Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.

Lastly, following the end of the deadline at 3 p.m. ET, it was revealed that the Celtics made one last tweak to their roster before the final buzzer. The Green Team traded big man Xavier Tillman Sr. to the Charlotte Hornets, losing another member of their 2024 title team.

So, with the deadline officially over, let’s evaluate the Celtics’ four trades and look into why they were more active than usual around this time of year.

Grading the Celtics’ entire 2026 trade deadline

The Vucevic-Simons swap has already been discussed at length, but it was certainly the most noteworthy move the Celtics made.

They dealt Simons — who was producing on offense while shooting almost 40% from beyond the arc — in order to land more depth at the five spot, something the Celtics desperately needed at the start of the season.

Additionally, this trade saved the C’s around $6 million and helped them get one step closer to ducking the luxury tax. The rest of Boston’s deadline deals got it to the finish line and demonstrated that Stevens and company were committed to regaining financial flexibility.

The Celtics nearly paid the Jazz to take Boucher (who they ended up waiving) and a second-round pick so that they could cut costs. And while such a maneuver would typically be judged as egregious salary dumping, Boucher wasn’t bringing much to the table — and it was later revealed that the C’s acquired 2025 second-round pick John Tonje in the deal, too, per Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe.

Boucher never carved out a role for himself in Boston and averaged just a little over 2 points per outing in nine games. The 33-year-old would much rather spend his playing days actually playing, making this trade beneficial for all parties involved.

As for Minott, his trade also appears to be for tax purposes. The youngster is getting paid a little north of $2.5 million a year and despite a strong start to his Celtics tenure, he eventually fell out of the rotation.

The fact that the Celtics received nothing for trading a 23-year-old player with flashes of real upside shows that Boston’s front office was prioritizing saving over any actual return.

Tillman Sr. was the cherry on top, as losing his contract finally allowed the Celtics to dip under the luxury tax. With this newly acquired flexibility, the C’s can now hit the buyout market, unfreeze their picks, and attempt to avoid the repeater tax as well.

The Celtics get under the luxury tax by trading Chris Boucher, Josh Minott, and Xavier Tillman.

They've now gotten:

-Under the second apron: 2033 pick isn’t frozen
-Under the first apron: can sign anyone in the buyout market
-Under the luxury tax: one step toward getting out of… https://t.co/ErLFfpGtZH pic.twitter.com/rZVBfMro8b

— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) February 5, 2026

All of this news about the Celtics dodging a hefty tax bill is, of course, not extremely exciting for fans. People would love to see big splashes and significant roster improvement, yet that was hard to manage in Boston’s previous financial situation due to the punitive spending restrictions of the CBA.

The C’s are clear of those limitations (at least for now), which is pretty remarkable given how deep they were into the second apron over the summer. And, most impressive of all, the Celtics managed to shed all of that salary without ditching their terrific tandem of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Boston still put a little bit of money back on its books on Thursday by handing out a two-year, $2.7 million standard contract to 2025 second-round pick Amari Williams. The British big man leapfrogged Tillman and Boucher on the depth chart and could end up serving as an important backup from time to time.

Did the Celtics actually improve at the deadline?

When you add Williams, Vucevic, and Tonje and subtract Tillman, Boucher, Minott, and Simons, did the Celtics get better? From a money standpoint, yes, but the city of Boston is more concerned with winning championships than anything else.

Because there are still multiple roster spots that the Celtics need to fill via the buyout market or an in-house promotion — perhaps guard Ron Harper Jr. earned a standard contract with his career-best performance on Wednesday night against the Houston Rockets — it’s not quite fair to definitively rule on whether they improved or not.

However, they didn’t go all in at the deadline, possibly hinting that the front office is eyeing next year for true contention while believing that the current roster has a shot, albeit an outside one, at a title.

The standards are set high in Boston, even during a season that many thought would be a gap year without Tatum healthy. Therefore, to say the 2026 trade deadline was an absolute home run for the Celtics seems disingenuous. Rather, it seemed to put things into motion for the C’s in the future.

Now, it’s worth noting that Tatum could still suit up this season, and that’s more valuable than any deadline move the Celtics could have realistically made. If he can come back and look close to his old self, the Green Team should be able to compete with the Eastern Conference elite.

But, that’s a lot of pressure to put on somebody recovering from an Achilles rupture, so this busy deadline arguably kept the Celtics in contention without elevating them to a true championship favorite.

Grade: B+

The post Celtics 2026 NBA trade deadline grade after 4 deals appeared first on ClutchPoints.

ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania revealed how Boston landed underneath the luxury tax on Thursday.

“The Boston Celtics traded Xavier Tillman Sr. to the Charlotte Hornets, sources tell ESPN. This gets the Celtics out of the luxury tax,” Charnia posted on the social media website X, formerly known as Twitter.

Charnia adds that the “Hornets get $3.5 million in the deal.”

How Celtics roster shapes up after late Hornets trade

Boston delivered one more move while final trade got made.

The franchise signed two-way center Amari Williams to a standard contract worth up to $2.7 million Thursday. Williams arrived via the second round out of Kentucky, but also played for Drexel University. He’s also suited up for the Maine Celtics of the G-League.

Boston ends up becoming one of the more aggressive teams in this season’s trade cycle. Not just limited to dealing away Minott or Tillman Sr.

The Celtics kicked off the final trade week by landing Nikola Vucevic via the Chicago Bulls. Although Anfernee Simons switched sides in this blockbuster deal. Still, Boston landed one of the top available centers in the league.

Head coach Joe Mazzulla adds a former all-star in his lineup here. His team had screamed for front court help and now boosts that side of the court in a big way.

The post Celtics move below the tax line with late Hornets trade appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Thomas is a prolific scorer, but he was not happy in Brooklyn. According to ClutchPoints Nets reporter Erik Slater, Thomas turned down multiple contract offers from the Nets. If money was not the concern for Thomas, then it’s expected that he would want to join a team on a much better path than the Nets, who are far from competing for a championship.

Thomas appeared in only 24 games for the Nets this season, averaging 15.6 points per game. Last season, Thomas averaged 24 points per game in only 25 games before an injury. In 2023, he averaged 22.3 points and appeared in 66 games. There is no doubt that Thomas can score the rock when healthy.

The Nets sidelined Thomas to not risk an injury, and the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers showed interest in the shooting guard. Ultimately, both teams decided to take a chance on the open market. Likely, both the Bucks and Cavs are still interested in Thomas, and there could be a few others as well.

Let’s take a look at the three best destinations for the former first-round pick, in no order.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks are the most confusing team in the NBA right now. The Giannis Antetokounmpo drama has taken over the league, but the Bucks decided to keep the superstar in Milwaukee for the rest of the season. At this point, nobody knows if he will ever be traded.

Rumors have surfaced that Antetokounmpo will be shut down for the rest of the season. If that is the case, then Thomas could come in and be a major scoring threat for the Bucks. Even if Giannis continues to play this season, the Bucks can make the playoffs, but they need to turn things around. Thomas can help with that. The Bucks are currently three games back of a Play-In spot.

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics need a guard after trading away Anfernee Simons to the Chicago Bulls. As of right now, the Celtics have Derrick White and Payton Pritchard as the two main guards, with Jaylen Brown playing the three. Joe Mazzulla sent Pritchard back to the bench, where he excels as a much better scoring threat. Cam Thomas, alongside Pritchard off the bench, would be huge for this team. Jayson Tatum is aiming to make his return to the floor, which would give this team a chance to win another NBA Finals.

The Celtics cannot trust Hugo Gonzales, Baylor Scheierman, and Ron Harper Jr. to be called upon to be a consistent scorer off the bench. Thomas would be a huge upgrade.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers have reshaped the roster after trading away Darius Garland for James Harden. Thomas could come to The Land and be a big part of the revamp of the team. The Cavs are playing very well right now and have room for a guard on the roster. Jaylon Tyson has balled out this season, averaging 14.0 points per game, but he will remain a huge part of the team’s success. With Sam Merrill healthy, the Cavs could form a dominant bench with three legit threats. Adding Thomas would give them a ton of depth as they try to work their way back to the Finals.

The post 3 best Cam Thomas destinations after Nets waive him post-NBA trade deadline appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Williams agreed to a two-year contract with the Celtics, per NBA insider Marc Stein.

“Amari Williams has agreed to a two-year, $2.7 million deal with the Boston Celtics, his agent George S. Langberg of GSL Sports Group tells The Stein Line,” Stein reported.

Williams was selected by the Orlando Magic with the 46th overall pick in last year’s NBA Draft and was then traded to the Celtics, where he agreed to a two-way deal, splitting his time between the Celtics and the G League’s Maine Celtics. He made his first NBA career start in a 114-111 loss to the Chicago Bulls, playing over veteran centers Chris Boucher and Xavier Tillman.

In his second start, Williams finished with six rebounds, two points, two assists, and one block in a 117-106 win against the Atlanta Hawks. He finished with a season-high nine points, seven rebounds, and two blocks in 26 minutes in last Monday’s 102-94 win against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Celtics sign Amari Williams to a two-year deal

As Celtics nation reacted to the Nikola Vucevic trade for Anfernee Simons, Brad Stevens and the front office weren’t done retooling their roster ahead of Thursday’s deadline, inking Amari Williams to a two-year deal. The Celtics’ moves at the deadline prove the team is all-in on this year, even though many anticipated the 2025-26 season to be a leap year without Jayson Tatum. Boston has emerged as one of the better teams in the NBA.

The Celtics have addressed their team’s most glaring weaknesses, including rebounding and size, in trading for Vucevic, and established the pecking order at the center position by signing Williams to a standard contract. The latter enables Williams to play beyond the regular season and into the playoffs.

Coming off an impressive 114-93 win against the Rockets without All-Star Jaylen Brown, the Celtics improved to 33-18, which is tied with the Knicks for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.

The post Celtics agree to $2.7 million contract with 2025 NBA Draft pick appeared first on ClutchPoints.