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Celtics Begin Five-Game West Coast Road Trip

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Boston at L.A. Lakers
When: 10:30 PM ET, Friday, March 3, 2017
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES – (Special Preview for Digital Sports Desk by The Sports Xchange) – The Boston Celtics will try to build off perhaps their best win of the season when they begin a challenging five-game road trip at the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. After losing three of four, and looking very sluggish in a 16-point home loss to Atlanta on Monday, the Celtics made a dramatic turnaround with a 103-99 win over Cleveland two nights later.

“We just played to win,” guard Isaiah Thomas – who scored 31 points – told reporters. “They’re the No. 1 team in the East. One of the best teams in the NBA, and we just wanted to protect home court and get a win. We did that tonight.” Boston enters Friday three games behind the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference and it hopes to stay close while navigating a trip that includes games against the Golden State Warriors, the Los Angeles Clippers and an improving Denver Nuggets squad. Fortunately for the Celtics, they get to start the voyage against the two worst teams in the West – the Lakers and the Phoenix Suns. Los Angeles has dropped five in a row and Tuesday’s 109-104 loss to Charlotte clinched its fourth consecutive losing season.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, CSN New England (Boston), Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE CELTICS (39-22): Guard Avery Bradley, who returned from a lengthy absence due to an Achilles issue two games ago, made the most of his 22 minutes Wednesday with 11 points and several big defensive possessions against Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving. “It’s a good feeling. That’s what I play this game for, to go up against the best players,” Bradley told reporters. “I know I haven’t been out there in a while, but hopefully I can still be mentioned for first-team all-defense. It’s something I take pride in.” Thomas scored 38 points in a 113-107 win over the Lakers at home last month.

ABOUT THE LAKERS (19-42): Julius Randle was a bright spot in the loss to the Hornets with 23 points, 18 rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocked shots, and coach Luke Walton is urging the talented forward to bring that effort more often. “That’s the longest period of time he’s played that hard all season long,” Walton told the media. Randle, who missed the loss to Boston in February, has tied a career high with four straight double-digit rebounding efforts.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Celtics C Al Horford had 10 rebounds and 10 assists against Cleveland but scored in single digits for the fifth straight time, his longest such stretch since the 2008-09 season.

2. Lakers PG D’Angelo Russell is averaging 22.8 points over his last four games.

3. Boston G Gerald Green (heel) has missed four games in a row and is day-to-day.

SportsBiz News: Basketball Hall of Fame Tournament Heading to Belfast

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced the field of teams for the first-ever Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic, a college basketball tournament held in conjunction with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Sport Changes Life, Rory McIlroy’s Foundation, the Rory Foundation, and The SSE Arena, Belfast. The two-day tournament held on December 1 and 2, will feature Holy Cross vs. Manhattan College and La Salle University vs. Towson University, followed by consolation and championship play on the second day.

As previously announced, the Basketball Hall of Fame has partnered with Sport Changes Life, a registered UK charity and US nonprofit organization that works in disadvantaged communities to help young people find a path to a brighter future with the help of international student-athletes. The Basketball Hall of Fame, in combination with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, aims to support this cause by extending their reach across the Atlantic. Rory McIlroy and his Foundation will also join the cause.   In addition, Aer Lingus will be the official airline carrier of the tournament.    

“Teaming up with Sport Changes Life provides an excellent opportunity for these collegiate athletes to compete abroad while learning about another culture and making a positive impact in the lives of local youth,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame”

“This is an historic event for everyone involved and Sport Changes Life are delighted to be in partnership with the Basketball Hall of Fame and our friends at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference to bring this level of basketball to the island of Ireland. Our journey began in Sport Changes Life with our founding partners Ulster University and Chaka Travel. Through this prestigious event we are certain that we will inspire generations of young people in our quest to help change lives through sport.” said Sport Changes Life CEO Gareth Maguire

In addition to the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic, a series of ongoing community relations events and initiatives will be held in the Belfast vicinity. Formal announcements surrounding specific events and ticket information will come at a later date.

“The MAAC values the relationships it has developed with the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Sports Changes Life Foundation. Both groups have missions that the MAAC membership strongly supports and has driven the league’s involvement with their activities here in America and in Northern Ireland. It was natural progression to bring the two groups together and develop a basketball tournament that would highlight the positive academic and athletic activities of the partners, and I want to thank Manhattan College for agreeing to be the first MAAC team to play in the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic.” – Rich, Ensor, MAAC Commissioner 

“The Hall of Fame Belfast Classic will feature a strong field and the games will provide our program with a tremendous challenge next season. We are excited to participate in this event, and to provide our student-athletes with the educational experience of traveling abroad.” – Bill Carmody, Holy Cross

Rangers Edge Bruins Behind Lundqvist

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NY Rangers 2, Boston 1
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, March 2, 2017
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Attendance: 17,565

BOSTON – (Wire Service Report by The Sports Xchange) – Henrik Lundqvist celebrated his 35th birthday in grand style Thursday night. The veteran goaltender turned aside 32 shots and came within 7:04 of a shutout in carrying the New York Rangers to a 2-1 victory over the surging Boston Bruins.

The Rangers, who ended a two-game losing streak, had only 21 shots on Tuukka Rask, but third-period goals by Pavel Buchnevich and Oscar Lindberg staked Lundqvist to the lead. Several of his saves, especially in the first two periods, were spectacular.

The third loss in as many games against New York this season dropped the Bruins to 7-2 under Bruce Cassidy and handed the interim coach his first loss in five home games.

The win lifted the Rangers to 22-8-0 on the road with the 22 wins tops in the NHL.

Buchnevich, who had two goals, including the overtime winner, and an assist for the Hartford Wolfpack of the American Hockey League on Wednesday night, scored 5:10 into the third period. Lindberg scored 4:25 later.

The Bruins ended Lundqvist’s bid for his 62nd career shutout when during a delayed penalty, Brad Marchand jammed home a rebound after a strong effort from David Pastrnak.

The goal was the 12th in the last 14 games for Marchand.

The two goals gave the Rangers 86 third-period goals this season, the most by any NHL team in any period this season.

Lundqvist defeated the Bruins for the 25th time in his career.

NOTES: LW Michael Grabner, the Rangers’ leading goal scorer with 26, was out because of a hip injury suffered in practice Wednesday. … RW Pavel Buchnevich was recalled from Hartford by the Rangers, who were also without Ds Dan Girardi and Kevin Klein, and RW Jesper Fast. … D Brendan Smith, acquired from the Detroit Red Wings, made his Rangers debut and played a strong game. … RW Drew Stafford, acquired by the Bruins from the Winnipeg Jets at the deadline, arrived but did not play, meeting the media in the press box after the second period. … The Rangers host the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night in a possible first-round playoff preview while the Bruins host the New Jersey Devils the same night.

Big East: Teams Jockeying for Position at Conference Tourney

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CINCINNATI – (Wire Service and Staff report from Official News Release) – Marquette shot 61.1 percent from the floor and set an opponent scoring record at the Cintas Center with its 95-84 victory over Xavier on Thursday night. Andrew Rowsey led the MU offense with 20 points and four assists and Jajuan Johnson added 19 points, four assists and four steals. The Golden Eagles also made 17-of-20 free throws. The win puts Marquette at 18-11 overall and 9-8 in BIG EAST play. Xavier dropped to 18-12 and 8-9. The Musketeers were led by J.P. Macura, who had 20 points, five rebounds and five assists.

The final day of the regular season is Saturday with all 10 teams in action. The middle of the standings – third place through sixth place — still has numerous seeding possibilities for for next week’s BIG EAST Tournament. What is locked in: Villanova is No. 1, Butler No. 2, Xavier No. 7, St. John’s No. 8, Georgetown No. 9, and DePaul No. 10.

The only team in the “middle” that controls its own destiny is Creighton. The Bluejays will clinch the No. 3 seed with a win at Marquette. That game will be telecast on FS2 at 2:30 p.m. ET. The Golden Eagles, along with Providence and Seton Hall, are all jockeying for tournament position. Marquette can get the third seed with a win and a Providence loss.

Providence plays St. John’s at Madison Square Garden on FS2 at noon. The Friars can be as high as third with a win and a Creighton defeat.

The FOX broadcast network has a doubleheader with regular-season champion Villanova at Georgetown at noon followed by Seton Hall at Butler at 2:30 p.m. If the Pirates win at Butler, they could be the fourth or fifth seed. If they lose, they will be sixth.

Game Scout: NY Rangers Visit Bruins at TD Garden Tonight

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NY Rangers at Boston
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, March 2, 2017
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Mass

BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report from Sports Xchange) – Their momentum slowed by a pair of decisive losses to Metropolitan Division foes, the New York Rangers look to get back on track when they visit the Boston Bruins on Thursday night in a matchup of Original Six rivals. The Rangers dominated the Bruins in two early-season matchups with a pair of 5-2 victories in a 10-day span but Boston has new life since changing head coaches.

Brad Marchand

New York earned points in 10 of its first 11 games in February (9-1-1), but closed the month with three-goal home losses to Columbus and division-leading Washington. However, playing away from Madison Square Garden hasn’t fazed the Rangers, who own an NHL-best 21-8-0 road record. A change in head coaches has revived the Bruins, who are 7-1-0 since Bruce Cassidy replaced Claude Julien. Sitting in third place in the Atlantic Division, Boston made a move to bolster its offense by acquiring Drew Stafford from Winnipeg for a sixth-round conditional draft pick.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCSN, TVAS, MSG (New York), NESN (Boston)

ABOUT THE RANGERS (40-21-2): New York acquired defenseman Brendan Smith from Detroit on Tuesday in exchange for two draft picks. With defenseman Dan Girardi expected to miss two weeks with a gash on his ankle and Kevin Klein missing his fourth straight game versus Washington, Smith fills a major need. “He’s a player we’ve liked for a while,” Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton said. Forward Jesper Fast is expected to be out two to three weeks with an upper-body injury sustained Tuesday.

ABOUT THE BRUINS (33-24-6): Boston’s offense has scored at least four goals on six occasions during the eight-game hot stretch, and adds a veteran presence in Stafford. Although he has tallied four times in 40 games this season, Stafford had 21 goals with Winnipeg last season. “Excited about a player that has the ability to play up and down the lineup, has scoring attributes, has some size and strength, and hopefully will be a good complement to our group,” general manager Don Sweeney said of Stafford.

OVERTIME

1. Bruins F Brad Marchand has 11 goals in his last 13 games, but has scored only three times in 23 contests versus New York.

2. Rangers G Henrik Lundqvist can move into a tie with Grant Fuhr for 10th place on the all-time wins list with his 403rd, should he emerge victorious on Thursday.

3. Boston has scored the opening goal in each of its six games.

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