Celtics advance to NBA Finals with sweep; Remembering Bill Walton, Grayson Murray

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Good morning everyone, but especially…

THE CELTICS EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS

They were rarely at their best and often far from it. The fact that they are making it to the NBA Finals is, however, impressive. O Celts surpassed the Pacemakers105-102, to finish the sweep in a frenetic manner. Derrick White played the hero, making the 3-pointer with less than a minute remaining as Boston held Indiana scoreless for the final 3:33 of the game.

Jaylen Brownwho watched White’s 3, was excellent again with 29 points and was named Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP. Jayson Tatum (26 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists) nearly had a triple-double, and Jrue Vacation (17 points) recovered the offensive rebound that sealed the victory.

The Celtics were tied/losing in the final minute of three of their four wins, but style points don’t matter. Wins are what count, and these types of games — grueling, sloppy, hectic, stressful — are the games that previous Celtics teams lost far too often. But these Celtics are not these Celtics. White is one of the best players in the league and one of the most evolved players, period. Holiday is an elite defender, especially in those one-on-one scenarios. Brown has also improved markedly, and that was especially evident in this series when Tatum wasn’t at his best.

But as Sam Quinn notes, they need more, and more is on the way.

• Quinn: “Yes, Kristaps Porzingis can make 3s and, yes, he is also important defensively. But when the offense falters, and it will against Dallas’ stellar defense, Porzingis is exactly the kind of player who can free the Celtics from their worst tendencies, making shots they so often try not to make. A 7-foot center with a 7-foot wingspan who can shoot from anywhere is a mismatch everywhere. Sometimes you just need to throw the ball to that guy and let him hit a mid-range jumper or two to help the offense find its rhythm again. He is, in short, Boston’s only source of easy offense.”

Honorable mentions

And it’s not such a good day for…

THE WOLVES OF MINNESOTA

Just nine days ago, the Timber Wolves were riding high – rightfully so – after defeating the defending champion Nuggets and doing this in unprecedented fashion. Antonio Eduardo I had arrived like a star and then somea beloved player who could do no wrong, hilariously telling Carlos Barkley to bring your you know what to Minnesota.

Now, Edwards and his teammates are one game away from bringing their you-know-whats to their favorite beach, silenced by Luka Doncic‘sand Kyrie Irvingdomination at the end of the game. The Mavericks lead the series 3-0 after Sunday’s 116-107 victory, in which Dallas outscored Minnesota 14-3 in the final five minutes.

We told joining the series that everything revolves around the stars and, until now, the The Mavericks’ stars are destroying the Timberwolves’ starswrites Brad Botkin.

• Botkin: “Through the first three games, Doncic and Irving outplayed Edwards and Karl-Anthony Cities, who has been absolutely miserable, by 70 points (181-111). The rest of the Wolves outscored the rest of the Mavericks by 57 points. … Edwards is already a star and could very well be on his way to being the best player in the league one day. But that day is not today. Today, Doncic is just a better player, and certainly a better scorer, and can benefit from more experience with defenses entirely dedicated to stopping him.”

The series isn’t over, just like Game 7 of the Timberwolves’ last series wasn’t over when the Nuggets took a 20-point lead. Edwards still very much believes his team can do something no NBA team has ever done in the playoffs. And things might be a little easier tonight, given that Derek Lively II (neck) is supposedly outalthough Dallas could get reinforcements in the shape of Maxi Kléber (shoulder), which is listed as questionable. And for your weird (and eccentric) statistic of the day, Irving has never lost a playoff game in your career.

So unless the defense gets on track, Edwards maxes out and Towns figures something out… anything – out, the Timberwolves will go quietly.

Not so honorable mentions

Bill Walton, Hall of Fame center and legendary broadcaster, dies at 71

The basketball world – forget that, the world in general – missed a big Monday. Bill Waltonan icon on and off the court, died at age 71 after a battle with cancer.

• Walton won two NBA titles (one with the trail blazers, one with the Celtics), an MVP award and a Finals MVP award. He was named to the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993. A power down low (he won a rebounding title and a blocking title), Walton was also a magnificent passer.
• Walton’s NBA success – although significantly reduced by injuries – came after an outstanding career as a UCLA, where he won two national championships and three Naismith Awards. His 44 points (on 21-of-22 shooting, no less) in the 1973 championship game is still a record.
• Walton, who had a severe stutter growing up, became a beloved broadcaster. From eating a cupcake, candle lit and all, to pontificating on quirks of the universe, Walton delivered some classics, and Brad revisited Walton’s Most Memorable On-Air Moments.
• Walton’s obituaryCarefully researched and expertly written by Jack Maloney, it paints a picture of a fascinating and larger-than-life man.
• The world of sports I mourned the loss of a legend.

There were so many nights that I found myself watching Pac-12 basketball late at night and smiling at the TV while Walton was commentating. It was magical – a word I try not to use too much when describing sports, and especially when describing sports commentary. But if you wanted incredible optimism, valuable perspective, and a reminder to appreciate all the joy and wonder the world has to offer, there was no one better than Bill Walton; there was no one in the same galaxy, anyway.

Basketball is a joyful sport. No one brought more joy than Walton. But he also knew that he was an infinitely small part of the human experience on a tiny rock floating in space. Yes, victories can be pure euphoria, defeats pure devastation. But there is much, much more out there. So today, go out and appreciate it. To go by bicycle. Take a walk. Look for the stars. Tell someone you love them. Do something a little outside your comfort zone. Don’t take today for granted. Be yourself and be a friend. Be like Bill Walton.

PGA Tour golfer Grayson Murray dies by suicide at age 30

Sadly, the golf world is also facing a shocking loss. Grayson Murray died by suicide on Saturday, one day after withdrawing from the Charles Schwab Challenge. Murray was 30 years old.

• Murray, who won the 2017 Barbasol Championship and 2024 Sony Open, has struggled with anxiety, depression and alcohol abuse throughout his career. In January, he revealed that he had been sober since early 2023.
• Murray’s parents, who on Sunday revealed the cause of death, insisted that the Charles Schwab Challenge continue. Players wore red and black badges for Murray’s beloved Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday, and the PGA Tour sent grief counselors to both events that took place over the weekend.
• Tributes poured inand commissioner of the PGA Tour Jay Monahan called Murray “a really courageous person.”

Jason Robertson scores three goals, Stars lead series 2-1

O Stars‘The road warrior status continues, and they are now two games away from a trip to the Stanley Cup Final. Dallas recovered from an early two-goal deficit and then fended off a comeback to lead the Lubricators, 5-3, and takes a 2-1 series lead. The Stars are 6-1 on the road this postseason.

• The hosts appeared to be in control when Zach Hyman It is Connor McDavid accounted for in the first period.
• But the Stars scored three times in four minutes in the second period. Robertson scored the first two, and Wyatt Johnson gave Dallas the lead. Adam Henry However, they counter-attacked on the hosts to scramble things.
• Robertson finished his hat-trick by somehow hitting a near post Stuart SkinnerIt is Miro HeiskanenThe empty netter put the things on the bed.

It’s an all-time high for Robertson, who, as Austin Nivison notes, hasn’t scored since Game 5 of the first round.

What will we watch on Tuesday

Sun in the sky7pm on CBS Sports Network
Sparks in the fever7pm on NBA TV
Dodgers at Mets7:10 p.m. on TBS
Game 4: Timberwolves vs. Mavericks8pm on TNT
Game 4: Rangers vs. Panthers8pm on ESPN