Jay King

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Jay King

BOSTON - Following Friday night's win against the Charlotte Hornets, which gave the Boston Celtics their 60th win of the regular season, assistant coach Sam Cassell addressed the team in the locker room about the impressiveness of reaching that threshold for the second straight time. "I've been in the league 33 years, man," Cassell said. "I accomplished that s- twice."Cassell didn't spend his career on bad teams. He won three championships as a player, including one in Boston.

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Jay King

Thirty-five years after the winningest season in Dartmouth soccer history, players from that era of the school's program found a reason to reconnect last month. Though many of them have stayed in touch throughout the years, time has pushed them away from each other, like it does with many old friends. Their winning didn't stop when they graduated from college. Some became successful businessmen. One is part-owner of an MLS team.

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Jay King

NEW YORK - A bit of good fortune set up the longest of Kristaps Porziņģis' many long 3-pointers Tuesday night. After Mikal Bridges knocked the basketball out of Jayson Tatum's hands, it rolled straight toward Porziņģis standing across the court. By the time the 7-foot-3 center bent over to pick up the loose ball, he was standing on the "K" in the Knicks logo, not long from half court. He had seven seconds left on the shot clock to look for a better shot, but didn't feel compelled to do that.

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Jay King

BOSTON - Paul Pierce sat along the baseline closest to the Celtics' bench Friday night, celebrating his daughter's birthday. When the giant video screen showed him during Boston's 123-103 win against the Suns, the crowd hit what was likely its loudest volume of the night. For years, Pierce inspired the Celtics faithful. Even now, he is inspiring at least one of the current team's stars. Jaylen Brown, fighting through a persistent knee issue, said it was funny to see Pierce at the game.

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Jay King

BOSTON - The Celtics' long winning streak ended Wednesday night without any starters on the court. Joe Mazzulla pulled the last of his key players during a timeout with 5:02 left in a 124-103 loss to the Heat. Here are nine thoughts from the first Boston loss since March 12 - one for each of the games in the winning streak Miami snapped. 1. For Mazzulla, the decision to pull the starters came earlier than usual. "Joe probably got the best read about it out of all of us," said Derrick White.