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Good morning! Be mindful of the second apron today.
Celtic Slide: What does Boston do now?
Two weeks ago, the Celtics were the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference. They were the defending NBA champions. And if they didn’t win another Larry O’Brien Trophy this June, there was no reason they wouldn’t be a front-line contender again in 2026.
Now, though? Does anyone know? The Celtics’ second-round series against the Knicks was a disaster. It began with consecutive 20-point blown leads at home. Then Boston frittered away a 14-point advantage in Game 4, when Jayson Tatum ruptured his right Achilles during a last-gasp attempt. That one play might have cost the Celtics two seasons.
The Celtics met a merciful end at Madison Square Garden last night, 119-81, and now have a lot to figure out:
- Tatum will miss a consequential period in his career. The best player on maybe the NBA’s best team missing not just a playoff run now, but much or all of his age-27 season? That’s not common. As Jared Weiss wrote: “It’s rare that this caliber of player suffers this devastating an injury at this catastrophic a time of year in this seminal a moment for a marquee franchise.”
- Without Tatum, the Celtics have to find wins elsewhere. Some quick math: Tatum has been worth between 9.5 and 10.5 win shares in each of the past four seasons, per Basketball Reference. The Celtics will try to mitigate his loss, but there aren’t many Tatums out there. Even if there were, backfilling would be tricky, because …
- The Celtics are in salary-cap hell. Boston may be able to get some cap relief in light of Tatum’s injury, but for the most part, the Celtics remain on the hook for his $54 million cap hit. As John Hollinger explained a while ago, the Celtics are above the NBA’s second-apron tax penalty threshold — and are poised to pay more penalties, the longer they keep their championship core together.
- It’s unclear if management will want to keep paying those bills. Boston is in the middle of an ownership change, with a new group taking over gradually for current boss Wyc Grousbeck. But Grousbeck, even as he’s agreed to sell the team at a record $6.1 billion valuation, is still the governor for three more seasons. This is an unusual sale.
The Celtics could walk a number of paths now. They could hold their noses and keep paying enormous tax penalties, make do without Tatum and pray to the hoop gods that he comes back soon as an effective version of himself. (It’d be hard to just punt on a season when you still have Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard in their primes.) But what if the Celtics, in the middle of a sale and a tax crunch, would like to free up some dollars? What if they see the specter of a Tatum-less season as a chance to get younger?
It’s a legitimate fork in the road. Is there a real chance that the Celtics could take apart this roster as soon as this offseason? And given the ownership transition, who would even decide that? I asked Jay King, who covers the Celtics for The Athletic:
💬 Thanks to their financial situation, the Celtics were staring at possibly significant roster decisions anyway. Tatum’s injury could force the front office to consider more of a drastic shakeup.
Much to figure out. That’s why GM Brad Stevens makes the big bucks.
News to Know
Jury discharged in Hockey Canada trial
Judge Maria Carroccia dismissed the jury in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial for the second time yesterday. The decision comes after a juror sent a note to Carroccia accusing defense lawyers of inappropriate conduct.
What else to know as the Hockey Canada trial moves on:
- The case will now proceed as a judge-only trial, with Carroccia responsible for hearing evidence and coming to a verdict. Our reporters have much more on yesterday’s significant development in the trial.
- The jury dismissal also prompted the lifting of a publication ban on previously unreported details. Katie Strang and Dan Robson have all those details here, including a member of the public recording proceedings with Ray-Ban Meta glasses and a lawyer leaking the location of the complainant on a radio station.
Purdy cashes in
The combined career earnings of every Mr. Irrelevant picked from 2001-2024 not named Brock Purdy: $51.6M. Purdy’s new AAV: $53M. The 49ers quarterback agreed to a five-year, $265 million contract extension yesterday in a deal San Francisco simply had to get done. We’ll have much more on Purdy’s deal in our NFL newsletter on Monday. For now, watch Dianna Russini and Michael Silver react live to Purdy’s extension.
Advertisement
Toronto forces Game 7
Auston Matthews had yet to score in the Leafs’ second-round series vs. the Panthers. Last year’s Rocket Richard Trophy winner was saving it for Game 6, of course. Matthews broke a 0-0 tie in the third period and silenced the Panthers’ crowd in an eventual 2-0 road win. More takeaways from Florida ahead of an epic Game 7 in Toronto tomorrow.
More news:
What to Watch
📺 MLB: Mets at Yankees
1:05 p.m. ET, free on MLB.TV
This Subway Series has a lot of juice. Juan Soto is back at Yankee Stadium, where his ex-fans are booing him loudly. Aaron Judge is batting .727. (Don’t fact-check me.) This is not a hard sell.
📺 Horses: The Preakness Stakes
7:01 p.m. ET, NBC
That’s the post time. Coverage starts at 4. Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty is not running. See a detailed field analysis to be a proper horse-knower. The favorite is Goal Oriented at 6-1, but 👀 on Journalism, who’s next down the list: “His speed figures tower over those of most of his rivals, and it would seem that the race is his to lose.” Rain is expected around Pimlico earlier in the day, but Journalism ran well at a muddy Derby.
📺 NHL: Jets at Stars, Game 6
8 p.m. ET on ABC
Dallas leads 3-2 and can close it out at home. Connor Hellebuyck pitched a Game 5 shutout to extend Winnipeg’s season. Hellebuyck goes back and forth a lot these days between “completely lost” and his more typical “best goalie in the world” status. Goalies are weird.
Pulse Picks
The Athletic’s weekly news quiz.
The Eurovision Song Contest — the Aussies got on board, so why not the Americans? — Phil Hay
In honor of Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson’s breakout season, I present my favorite defensive play his dad, Jack, ever made for the Pirates. There’s no bond like the one between a Pulse writer and his boyhood team’s glove-first infielders. –– Alex Kirshner
Dana O’Neil’s feature on the future of the Preakness. Insightful.
My favorite extremely American Chinese takeout choice is always General Tso’s chicken. I’m making it this weekend via this recipe. I might be too excited. — Chris Branch
From the post-“Andor” rewatch: Imagine fighting the Empire every day for a decade, then seeing Han Solo get a medal three minutes after signing up. — Jason Kirk
Josh Johnson is having a moment right now. I went to see him a couple weeks ago in Manhattan: 10/10 on the LMAO scale! His new half-hour video on YouTube breaks down the 100 Men vs. Gorilla debate. (He also has a fantastic set on the Super Bowl halftime show.) — Hannah Vanbiber
Ken Rosenthal came in hot with this piece on the Angels’ reminder this weekend of their embarrassing Shohei Ohtani missteps.
Using your local public library’s full slate of offerings. — Torrey Hart
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Brendan Quinn’s heartwarming story on Luke Donald’s caddie.
Most-read on the website yesterday: The news from the Hockey Canada trial.
Ticketing links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
(Top photo: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
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Mehrere Monate Pause – DFB-Star Kleindienst schwer verletzt
Gladbach verliert am 34. Spieltag mit 0:1 gegen Wolfsburg, rutscht nach dem siebten Spiel ohne Sieg noch auf Platz zehn ab. Minimalziel des einstelligen Tabellenplatzes verfehlt! Der Schock für Gladbach nach dem Schlusspfiff!Da erklärte Manager Roland Virkus (58) aus, dass der beste Borusse dieser Saison kaputt ist: Tim Kleindienst (29) hat einen Meniskusschaden erlitten, muss operiert werden - und fällt mehrere Monate aus!Lesen Sie auch<!-->[-->Dabei war der Nationalstürmer (26 Scorer-Punkte in 33 Pflichtspielen für den VfL) vor dem Spiel noch lächelnd in den Aufzug eingestiegen. Am rechten Knie trug er einen kleinen hellen Tape-Verband mit Klebestreifen in den Vereinsfarben Grün und Schwarz. Auf den Zuruf „Gute Besserung, Tim“ antwortete er: „Wird schon.“Wird es aber erst einmal nicht.Kleindienst wird noch in der kommenden Woche unters Messer kommen. In München hatte er sich bei der 0:2-Pleite das rechte Knie verdreht, da sich […]
Lewis Hamilton ‘devastated’ by poor Imola GP qualifying in first Ferrari home race
IMOLA, Italy — Lewis Hamilton felt “devastated” and “just gutted” after qualifying only 12th for his first home Formula One race as a Ferrari driver at Imola, continuing his recent struggles.Hamilton dropped out in the second stage of qualifying for the 2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, missing out on a place in the top-10 shootout for pole position by two-tenths of a second.AdvertisementThe seven-time world champion was joined in the Q2 drop zone by Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who qualified one place ahead in 11th. This marks Ferrari’s worst qualifying performance of the season. Previously, it had advanced at least one car through to Q3 during the season’s first six events.The result was a disappointment to the tens of thousands of Italian fans at Imola decked in Ferrari red. The track is just one hour from the team’s base in […]
Favorit stolpert – BBL-Play-offs starten mit Mega-Überraschung
Knallstart in die Play-offs der Easycredit Basketball-Bundesliga!Die heimstarken Niners Chemnitz verlieren völlig überraschend zu Hause im Duell Vierter gegen den Fünften mit 90:93 gegen die MLP Academics Heidelberg. 1:0-Führung für den Außenseiter, der damit den dritten Sieg in dieser Saison (1x Pokal, 1x Hauptrunde, 1x K.o.-Runde) gegen die Chemnitzer einfährt.Lesen Sie auch<!-->[-->Die ersten Play-offs seit 46 Jahren für die Heidelberger, die es in der Saison 1978/79 zuletzt in die Postseason geschafft haben. Allerdings sind die Academics immerhin neunfacher Deutscher Meister (1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1973, 1977).Die Fans staunen über die irre Flugshow von Heidelbergs Michael Weathers. Der steht beim 22:15 förmlich in der Luft, Gegenspieler Nico Tischler kann ihn nicht stoppen und sorgt sogar noch für ein Foul. Den macht Weathers auch noch rein. 15:23 zwei Minuten vor Ende des ersten Viertels.Favorit stolpert: BBL-Play-offs starten mit Mega-ÜberraschungDyn-Kommentator […]
Mark Scheifele’s Game 6 status for Winnipeg Jets uncertain following death of his father
DALLAS — Mark Scheifele’s dad, Brad, died overnight, Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff told reporters on Saturday morning. Scheifele remained at the team hotel during Winnipeg’s morning skate on Saturday. His status for Game 6 remains uncertain.“As an organization, we’re doing everything we can to support him,” Cheveldayoff said. “We wish and give his family our most sincere condolences. And we ask that everybody respect their privacy this time.”AdvertisementCheveldayoff also shared that Jets coach Scott Arniel left Winnipeg’s morning skate to speak with Scheifele. Arniel is scheduled to address reporters in Dallas at 4:30 pm. Central.“That’s such a big loss,” Jets captain Adam Lowry said after the morning skate. “That’s your mentor, that’s the person you looked up to growing up. That’s the person you want to be like. I think there’s just a lot of little things you’ve […]
Volta Redonda x Amazonas: onde assistir ao jogo da Série B
Volta Redonda x Amazonas jogam às 19h desta segunda-feira em partida da sequência da oitava rodada do Brasileirão Série B. Quem quiser assistir ao jogo poderá no Torcedores.com todas as informações sobre ele e onde o assistir Onde assistir A partida tem exibição garantida do Disney+ pela Internet, ainda pendente se esta também terá a transmissão da ESPN PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Briga contra o Z-4 O Volta Redonda permanece na zona de rebaixamento da Série B, com cinco pontos ganhos, vindo de empate com o Criciúma na última rodada. O Voltaço pode deixar o Z-4 da competição se vencer, mas também dependerá de outros resultados para chegar na partida em condições de poder conseguir ficar fora da região mais indesejada da tabela. Rogério Corrêa ainda não definiu como será o time que enfrentará o Amazonas. O treinador poderá até dar chance […]
Volta Redonda x Amazonas: onde assistir ao jogo da Série B
Volta Redonda x Amazonas jogam às 19h desta segunda-feira em partida da sequência da oitava rodada do Brasileirão Série B. Quem quiser assistir ao jogo poderá no Torcedores.com todas as informações sobre ele e onde o assistir Onde assistir A partida tem exibição garantida do Disney+ pela Internet, ainda pendente se esta também terá a transmissão da ESPN PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Briga contra o Z-4 O Volta Redonda permanece na zona de rebaixamento da Série B, com cinco pontos ganhos, vindo de empate com o Criciúma na última rodada. O Voltaço pode deixar o Z-4 da competição se vencer, mas também dependerá de outros resultados para chegar na partida em condições de poder conseguir ficar fora da região mais indesejada da tabela. Rogério Corrêa ainda não definiu como será o time que enfrentará o Amazonas. O treinador poderá até dar chance […]
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Mehrere Monate Pause – DFB-Star Kleindienst schwer verletzt
Gladbach verliert am 34. Spieltag mit 0:1 gegen Wolfsburg, rutscht nach dem siebten Spiel ohne Sieg noch auf Platz zehn ab. Minimalziel des einstelligen Tabellenplatzes verfehlt! Der Schock für Gladbach nach dem Schlusspfiff!Da erklärte Manager Roland Virkus (58) aus, dass der beste Borusse dieser Saison kaputt ist: Tim Kleindienst (29) hat einen Meniskusschaden erlitten, muss operiert werden - und fällt mehrere Monate aus!Lesen Sie auch<!-->[-->Dabei war der Nationalstürmer (26 Scorer-Punkte in 33 Pflichtspielen für den VfL) vor dem Spiel noch lächelnd in den Aufzug eingestiegen. Am rechten Knie trug er einen kleinen hellen Tape-Verband mit Klebestreifen in den Vereinsfarben Grün und Schwarz. Auf den Zuruf „Gute Besserung, Tim“ antwortete er: „Wird schon.“Wird es aber erst einmal nicht.Kleindienst wird noch in der kommenden Woche unters Messer kommen. In München hatte er sich bei der 0:2-Pleite das rechte Knie verdreht, da sich […]
Lewis Hamilton ‘devastated’ by poor Imola GP qualifying in first Ferrari home race
IMOLA, Italy — Lewis Hamilton felt “devastated” and “just gutted” after qualifying only 12th for his first home Formula One race as a Ferrari driver at Imola, continuing his recent struggles.Hamilton dropped out in the second stage of qualifying for the 2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, missing out on a place in the top-10 shootout for pole position by two-tenths of a second.AdvertisementThe seven-time world champion was joined in the Q2 drop zone by Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who qualified one place ahead in 11th. This marks Ferrari’s worst qualifying performance of the season. Previously, it had advanced at least one car through to Q3 during the season’s first six events.The result was a disappointment to the tens of thousands of Italian fans at Imola decked in Ferrari red. The track is just one hour from the team’s base in […]
Favorit stolpert – BBL-Play-offs starten mit Mega-Überraschung
Knallstart in die Play-offs der Easycredit Basketball-Bundesliga!Die heimstarken Niners Chemnitz verlieren völlig überraschend zu Hause im Duell Vierter gegen den Fünften mit 90:93 gegen die MLP Academics Heidelberg. 1:0-Führung für den Außenseiter, der damit den dritten Sieg in dieser Saison (1x Pokal, 1x Hauptrunde, 1x K.o.-Runde) gegen die Chemnitzer einfährt.Lesen Sie auch<!-->[-->Die ersten Play-offs seit 46 Jahren für die Heidelberger, die es in der Saison 1978/79 zuletzt in die Postseason geschafft haben. Allerdings sind die Academics immerhin neunfacher Deutscher Meister (1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1973, 1977).Die Fans staunen über die irre Flugshow von Heidelbergs Michael Weathers. Der steht beim 22:15 förmlich in der Luft, Gegenspieler Nico Tischler kann ihn nicht stoppen und sorgt sogar noch für ein Foul. Den macht Weathers auch noch rein. 15:23 zwei Minuten vor Ende des ersten Viertels.Favorit stolpert: BBL-Play-offs starten mit Mega-ÜberraschungDyn-Kommentator […]
Mark Scheifele’s Game 6 status for Winnipeg Jets uncertain following death of his father
DALLAS — Mark Scheifele’s dad, Brad, died overnight, Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff told reporters on Saturday morning. Scheifele remained at the team hotel during Winnipeg’s morning skate on Saturday. His status for Game 6 remains uncertain.“As an organization, we’re doing everything we can to support him,” Cheveldayoff said. “We wish and give his family our most sincere condolences. And we ask that everybody respect their privacy this time.”AdvertisementCheveldayoff also shared that Jets coach Scott Arniel left Winnipeg’s morning skate to speak with Scheifele. Arniel is scheduled to address reporters in Dallas at 4:30 pm. Central.“That’s such a big loss,” Jets captain Adam Lowry said after the morning skate. “That’s your mentor, that’s the person you looked up to growing up. That’s the person you want to be like. I think there’s just a lot of little things you’ve […]
Volta Redonda x Amazonas: onde assistir ao jogo da Série B
Volta Redonda x Amazonas jogam às 19h desta segunda-feira em partida da sequência da oitava rodada do Brasileirão Série B. Quem quiser assistir ao jogo poderá no Torcedores.com todas as informações sobre ele e onde o assistir Onde assistir A partida tem exibição garantida do Disney+ pela Internet, ainda pendente se esta também terá a transmissão da ESPN PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Briga contra o Z-4 O Volta Redonda permanece na zona de rebaixamento da Série B, com cinco pontos ganhos, vindo de empate com o Criciúma na última rodada. O Voltaço pode deixar o Z-4 da competição se vencer, mas também dependerá de outros resultados para chegar na partida em condições de poder conseguir ficar fora da região mais indesejada da tabela. Rogério Corrêa ainda não definiu como será o time que enfrentará o Amazonas. O treinador poderá até dar chance […]
Volta Redonda x Amazonas: onde assistir ao jogo da Série B
Volta Redonda x Amazonas jogam às 19h desta segunda-feira em partida da sequência da oitava rodada do Brasileirão Série B. Quem quiser assistir ao jogo poderá no Torcedores.com todas as informações sobre ele e onde o assistir Onde assistir A partida tem exibição garantida do Disney+ pela Internet, ainda pendente se esta também terá a transmissão da ESPN PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Briga contra o Z-4 O Volta Redonda permanece na zona de rebaixamento da Série B, com cinco pontos ganhos, vindo de empate com o Criciúma na última rodada. O Voltaço pode deixar o Z-4 da competição se vencer, mas também dependerá de outros resultados para chegar na partida em condições de poder conseguir ficar fora da região mais indesejada da tabela. Rogério Corrêa ainda não definiu como será o time que enfrentará o Amazonas. O treinador poderá até dar chance […]
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