Rivalry renewed: Knicks take on Celtics in highly anticipated second-round matchup
Celtics-Knicks NBA playoffs preview: Can New York actually keep up with Boston?
Celtics radio analyst Cedric Maxwell joined Steve Burton on Sports Final to talk about the second-round matchup between the Celtics and Knicks.
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New York Times
11 minutes ago
- New York Times
Yankees pummel Walker Buehler as Red Sox's first-inning woes continue
NEW YORK — The last time Walker Buehler was on the mound at Yankee Stadium prior to Friday night, he watched as Alex Verdugo swung through a knuckle curveball. That swing-and-miss clinched the World Series for Buehler's Los Angeles Dodgers. He threw his arms wide in elation. It couldn't have been a more different scene nearly eight months later, his first time back on that mound. Advertisement Buehler, now a Boston Red Sox starter, stared blankly as he walked off the field in the second inning. Sixty-seven pitches thrown, seven runs allowed. Another atrocious start for the Red Sox in an unrelenting season. The Red Sox fell 9-6 to New York Yankees on Friday night, the score making the game appear closer than it felt as New York bounded out to a 7-0 lead. It was a different day but the same story for the Red Sox as they've played the same brand of brutal baseball on repeat for the better part of the season. 'It's hard to play this way,' manager Alex Cora said. The Bronx Bombers came out swingin' 💪 — MLB (@MLB) June 6, 2025 The irony of Buehler's bad day was that he returned to his World Series-clinching pitch in the first inning in a tight spot. With two on and two outs after a leadoff walk and an Aaron Judge double, Buehler tried to execute a below-the-zone knuckle curve. This time, with Jazz Chisholm at the plate, the Yankees third baseman pummeled the pitch 417 feet to straightaway center for a 3-0 lead. A single and an Anthony Volpe two-run homer later, and the Red Sox were down 5-0. 'To be honest with you, this organization put a lot of faith in me this offseason, and I've been f—ing embarrassing for us, so it's tough,' Buehler said. 'It's obviously a big game and a big rivalry that I was excited to be a part of, and for it to go the way that it did is super disappointing.' The five-run first ballooned Boston's first-inning ERA to 7.06, second only to the league-worst Colorado Rockies (9.00). 'We prepare, we have to execute,' Cora said. 'At the end, it's execution. It's not the scouting reports or they're showing up late to their bullpen session or to warmup. It's just that we aren't executing, and that's it.' Buehler's second inning wasn't much better. With two on, Chisholm drove in another run with a single to right. Jasson Dominguez walked to load the bases, and Buehler hit Volpe to bring in a seventh run. Trevor Story made a tumbling catch on an infield popup to get out of the inning, but Buehler's exit from the Yankee Stadium mound was a far cry from the jubilation of his last time in New York. Advertisement Coming off a dramatic walk-off win Wednesday in Boston, the Red Sox were riding high, hoping to carry that momentum into a tough stretch of their schedule. Cora said the team's off day Thursday was coming at a good time. But by Friday, it was more of the same malaise. The early seven-run hole made for another nearly impossible task for the Red Sox offense to surmount, though it tried. Marcelo Mayer gave the Red Sox a spark in the fifth inning with his first career home run to put Boston on the board. 'It was a good feeling,' Mayer said. 'Obviously, it kind of sucks when you're losing, but it's definitely a moment I'll remember for the rest of my life.' Mayer traded a signed bat and ball with two young Yankees fans who caught the ball. Marcelo's first career homer! 💥 — Red Sox (@RedSox) June 7, 2025 The following inning, after the Red Sox bullpen had given up another run, Jarren Duran led off with a triple, Rafael Devers walked and Wilyer Abreu hit a sacrifice fly. Yankees starter Will Warren issued back-to-back walks to load the bases and was replaced by Brent Headrick. Cora pinch hit for Mayer with Romy Gonzalez, who smacked a two-run double to pull the Red Sox within 8-4. 'We needed to pinch hit there,' Cora said of his decision to take Mayer out. 'That's a balance between developing the player and winning the game. It felt right there to pinch hit for him. I told him, I don't know if it's going to be this season, but at one point in his career we're not going to pinch hit for him. I made sure to let him know that because he's very important in what we're trying to accomplish. He's part of the future and he's a good player.' The Red Sox bullpen leaked in another run in the sixth before Devers' two-run homer made it 9-6. That's as close as the Red Sox would get. For the way the Red Sox's season has gone, it was a fitting way to begin a three-game series in the Bronx.
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Celtics Fans Excited After Jayson Tatum News on Thursday
Celtics Fans Excited After Jayson Tatum News on Thursday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum suffered a devastating injury during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks on May 12. While pursuing a loose ball late in the fourth quarter, Tatum ruptured his right Achilles tendon—a non-contact injury that left him unable to bear weight and visibly distressed as he was helped off the court. Advertisement He underwent successful surgery the following day, performed by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Martin O'Malley, who has previously operated on athletes like Kevin Durant and Tiger Woods. Prior to the injury, Tatum was having a phenomenal season, averaging 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game. His performance in Game 4 was particularly noteworthy, as he scored 42 points before the unfortunate incident. Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0)© Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images The injury is expected to sideline him for a significant portion of the 2025-26 season, with recovery timelines for Achilles ruptures typically ranging from 9 to 12 months. Despite the grim prognosis, Celtics fans found a glimmer of hope when Tatum posted a photo on his Instagram Stories, suggesting he was engaging in an activity at the Celtics' practice facility. The news of Tatum being back in the Celtics' facility quickly spread, with fans sharing their excitement over it. "Pin this he's back by March," an optimistic fan wrote. Advertisement "Tatum is going to come back disrespectful,' another fan added. "Def putting something on the grill when that first Tatum rehab video drop," a third fan mentioned. "😤 this comeback Sears!" another fan posted. "I'm telling y'all he heal up crazy and he young I wouldn't be surprised if he backs after all star weekend or round 1 of playoffs," said another, While the Celtics organization is unlikely to rush Tatum's return, an early comeback could significantly bolster their championship aspirations for the upcoming season. The team remains cautious, emphasizing the importance of a full recovery, but the prospect of Tatum rejoining the lineup ahead of schedule has undoubtedly energized the fanbase. Advertisement Related: Celtics Star Reportedly Makes Decision on Retirement After Loss to Knicks Related: Celtics Make Joe Mazzulla Decision After Loss to Knicks This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Heated Incident Between Former NBA Stars Turns Heads on Friday
Heated Incident Between Former NBA Stars Turns Heads on Friday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Two former NBA players got into an altercation during the Greek Basketball league on Friday. Boston Celtics alum Evan Fournier got into it with Los Angeles Lakers alum Kendrick Nunn. Advertisement Among other teams, Fournier played for the Celtics for half a season in 2021, while Nunn played for the Lakers from 2021 to 2023. Fournier has not been in the NBA since 2024, while Nunn has not been in the NBA since 2023. Fournier currently plays for Olympiacos B.C., while Nunn plays for Panathinaikos. During their matchup against one another, Nunn excessively fouled Fournier as the latter was going up for a shot. Fournier took exception to it, but teammates separated them before things escalated. Fournier was then ejected from the game for an obscene gesture, but didn't stop Olympiacos B.C. from winning the game. As this incident has gained attention on social media, people began reacting around the basketball world. Advertisement One big name who commented was Los Angeles Clippers free agent Nicolas Batum, who wrote, "This series is absolutely insane 🍿 It was only Game 3 😂" Other fans had reactions to it too. "Fournier submarined Nun, most of you commenting have never played the game in your life," said one. "Dirty foul," said another. "Oh he was about to get active," one added. For even more context, this happened during the Greek League Finals. With the victory, Olympiacos B.C. is up 2-1. Game 4 will be on June 8, as this series is best-of-five. This was also not the first time there's been some tension between the two sides, as both teams agreed to have both owners not attend each other's games, per BasketNews. Advertisement Related: Celtics Star Named In Potential Mavericks Trade After Kyrie Irving News Related: Celtics Fans Excited After Jayson Tatum News on Thursday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
