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🏀 Good morning to everybody, however particularly to …

THE BOSTON CELTICS

They do not ask how. They ask what number of, and the Boston Celtics at the moment are simply seven wins away from their 18th NBA title after a 133-128 additional time win over the Indiana Pacers in Recreation 1 of the Jap Convention finals.

Boston jumped out to a 14-2 lead within the first quarter, and it appeared as if a blowout was inevitable. That is when the Pacers threw a counterpunch and managed to tie the sport at 64 heading into halftime

Indiana even led by as many as 5 factors within the fourth quarter, however the Celtics have been capable of make some huge performs down the stretch to ship the sport to additional time. None have been greater than Jaylen Brown‘s 3-pointer with six seconds remaining to even the rating at 117.

• That 3-point shot was the one one Brown made as he completed with 26 factors on the night time.
• Jayson Tatum led all scorers with 36 factors, and he additionally recorded a game-high 12 rebounds.
• Jrue Vacation got here up huge for Boston, taking pictures 50% from past the arc and totaling 28 factors.

Our personal Brad Botkin has key takeaways from the Celtics’ victory, and sustain with all of the the NBA postseason outcomes with our up to date playoff bracket/tracker right here.

👍 Honorable mentions

🏀 And never such an excellent morning for …

THE INDIANA PACERS

On the opposite finish of the court docket, the Pacers let a golden alternative slip by means of their palms in Recreation 1, and so they may wind up regretting it.

Within the remaining 30 seconds of regulation, Indiana noticed a three-point lead soften away attributable to some important errors. Tyrese Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard each dedicated brutal turnovers, and the Pacers let Jaylen Brown get open for a 3-pointer on an in-bounds play.

On the entire, the Pacers dedicated 22 turnovers, and the Celtics scored 21 factors off these turnovers. Our personal Sam Quinn put collectively a blueprint for the way the Pacers can pull off the upset on this collection — and spoiler alert — coughing up the ball at key occasions was not in there.

• Quinn: “When the Pacers knocked the Celtics out of the In-Season Match, they did so by profitable the turnover battle by a +13 margin. Turnovers assist the Pacers persist with their very own quick tempo and get the type of straightforward pictures they cannot all the time generate within the half-court.”

If the Pacers are in search of a silver lining right here, it is perhaps that they’d a minus-7 turnover margin and but they nonetheless managed to get additional time. Nicely, that and the actual fact Celtics have misplaced Recreation 2 at residence within the earlier two rounds.

👎 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 Jets giving Rodgers an opportunity to remain upright this fall

If the New York Jets are going to compete for a Tremendous Bowl subsequent season, their offensive line has to maintain Aaron Rodgers on his toes.

GM Joe Douglas made that place a precedence within the offseason, and he has used each attainable avenue to ensure the 40-year-old Rodgers stays out of the coaching room. Here is a abstract of their strikes to this point this offseason:

• Traded for Ravens RT Morgan Moses
• Signed Ravens G John Simpson
• Signed Cowboys LT Tyron Smith
• Drafted Penn State OT Olu Fashanu at No. 11 total

Not solely is retaining the warmth off Rodgers vital for his well being, but it surely also needs to positively affect his efficiency. Our personal Douglas Clawson explains Rodgers’ transformation when going through stress.

• Clawson: “It is important as Rodgers clearly is not a spry rooster anymore and his declining numbers in opposition to stress lately present it. From 2021-22, he ranked third in EPA per play when NOT pressured, however twenty fifth when he’s pressured. That is a Jekyll and Hyde act just like turning Josh Allen into Mac Jones by way of caliber of play.”

No matter what occurs with the offensive line, the Jets should really feel lucky that Rodgers is again for 2024. In line with Rodgers, he was weighing a profession change from soccer to politics this offseason.

🏀 2024 NBA Mix risers, fallers

The subsequent crop of NBA stars spent the final week in Chicago exhibiting entrance workplaces what they have on the NBA Mix. Let’s simply say it went higher for some gamers than others.

As is normally the case, a few gamers received in entrance of the scouts and popped. That was the case with Windfall level guard Devin Carter. He topped our personal Kyle Boone’s checklist of risers and fallers after flashing some elite explosiveness.

• Boone: “If there was an award for many swaggy participant in attendance, he would’ve been the unanimous winner. He tied for first within the max standing vertical leap at 42 inches, broke an NBA Draft Mix document within the ¾ court docket dash and flashed the aggressive drive and dazzle that keyed his Huge East Participant of the Yr season at Windfall in entrance of NBA decision-makers.”

In his junior season with the Friars, Carter averaged 19.7 factors, 8.7 rebounds and three.6 assists per recreation. He is now as much as No. 9 on Boone’s Huge Board.

Not each participant made the identical type of optimistic impression that Carter did. Kentucky standout Kenny Dillingham has fallen out of Boone’s prime 10 after he measured in at 6-foot-1 and 164.2 kilos — not preferrred for a prime NBA Draft prospect.

Additionally, there have been combined critiques about Bronny James in Chicago, however he got here out forward. The son of LeBron James, Bronny has now cracked the highest 60 of Boone’s rankings, making him a second-round choice.

🏒 NHL convention finals previews, knowledgeable picks

Solely 4 groups are left standing within the battle for the Stanley Cup. The New York Rangers and Florida Panthers will do battle within the East, and the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers will face off out West.

The Rangers and Panthers ought to produce a protracted and extremely aggressive collection. That is definitely how our consultants see it, with each predicting a Recreation 7 … and the Panthers getting it performed. As Chris Bengel explains, Florida has already proven a whole lot of perseverance.

• Bengel: “That is probably going to be a really bodily, tight collection that can function loads of offensive outbursts. When push involves shove, the Panthers are the group that I feel has the mettle to persevere after being pushed to their restrict in opposition to the Lightning and Bruins within the first two rounds.”

Within the West, the matchup between the Stars and Oilers may come all the way down to Dallas’ goaltending edge, which I be aware in my preview.

• Nivison: “The Stars have a bona fide No. 1 goaltender in Jake Oettinger, and the Oilers needed to break up minutes of their earlier collection between Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. Oettinger has a .918 save proportion within the playoffs. Skinner and Pickard have mixed for a .888 save proportion. If these traits proceed, the Oilers might be in hassle.”

The Rangers and Panthers get began tonight. Recreation 1 between the Stars and Oilers is ready for Thursday. Hold observe of the total schedule with our full NHL playoffs bracket.

📺 What we’re watching Wednesday

⚾ Mariners at Yankees, 7:05 p.m. on ESPN+
🏒 Recreation 1: Panthers at Rangers, 8 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Recreation 1: Mavericks at Timberwolves, 8:30 p.m. on TNT