Wednesday's game between the Detroit Pistons and the Washington Wizards has been postponed due to weather-related travel issues.
The Pistons have been unable to get back to Detroit after Monday's defeat at the Dallas Mavericks, with an ice storm leading to several flights out of Dallas Fort-Worth International Airport being cancelled in recent days.
A weather warning will remain in effect until at least Thursday, with ice also affecting roads.
The Pistons said in a statement: "We will provide further information on the new date and time once it is available."
Detroit sit bottom of the Eastern Conference with a record of 13-39, while the ninth-placed Wizards are on a six-game win streak, currently 24-26 overall for the season.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Thursday's game between the Mavericks and the New Orleans Pelicans is also in doubt due to the weather conditions.
Mick Schumacher has been named as McLaren's reserve driver for 2023 after a deal was struck with Mercedes.
The 23-year-old, son of Formula One great Michael Schumacher, lost his seat at Haas following the 2022 season and was subsequently released from Ferrari's young driver programme.
Schumacher signed as Mercedes' third driver, behind Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, but will now deputise for Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri at McLaren in the event of either being unable to race.
Those opportunities would still be presented should either Hamilton or Russell have issues this season, though there is now a greater chance of Schumacher making an appearance on the grid.
In two seasons at Haas, Schumacher scored points on two occasions from 43 races and was replaced by compatriot Nico Hulkenberg for the 2023 campaign.
As pointed out by McLaren, representing the team brings the Schumacher name full circle as team principal Andrea Stella worked alongside Mick's father as performance engineer.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have paid tribute to quarterback Tom Brady following his retirement after 23 years in the NFL.
The seven-time Super Bowl winner announced his retirement from the sport on Wednesday, bringing an end to a three-year spell in Tampa Bay.
His first year with the franchise resulted in Brady's final Super Bowl triumph and only the team's second all-time, which came after years of dominance with the New England Patriots.
The Buccaneers' Glazer owners issued a statement thanking Brady for his contributions, which read: "Tom's impact on our franchise these past three years has been immense and we are appreciative of the time we had with him here in Tampa Bay.
"He set an exceptional standard that elevated our entire organisation to new heights and created some of the most iconic moments in our history.
"Tom's impact will be felt within our community for many years to come and we will forever be grateful for those unforgettable memories that he provided during these final seasons of his legendary career.
"We wish him the best in this next chapter of life and are confident he will find similar success in his future endeavours."
Head coach Todd Bowles, who was defensive coordinator for the first two years of Brady's time in Tampa Bay, said: "I have always had the utmost respect for Tom Brady as a football player, as a winner and as a person.
"It wasn't until he joined us three years ago that I was able to truly appreciate him as a team-mate. Even before I became head coach, we communicated often and had a strong relationship built on mutual respect and a desire to win.
"That connection only grew over this past season as we fought to get the most out of our football team. I greatly appreciate the leadership he provided and I'm thankful for our time together."
General Manager Jason Licht, who brought Brady to the Buccaneers and has held his role since 2014, feels that the 45-year-old's impact will continue to be felt over the course of the coming years.
"Tom's legacy is unmatched in the history of this game," Licht said. "All the Super Bowl titles and statistical records speak for themselves, but the impact he had on so many people through the years is what I appreciate the most.
"His imprint on this organisation helped take us to the mountaintop. We will certainly miss him as our quarterback, but I will also miss him as a leader and friend.
"Our entire organisation is indebted to him for what he provided us over the past three years. We won't ever forget the wins or the accolades and his influence will be felt for years to come."
Patrick Mahomes, Ryan Jensen and Conor McGregor are among those paying tribute to Tom Brady after the NFL veteran announced his retirement.
One year to the date after he first announced he was hanging up his cleats, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback has confirmed he is quitting "for good" after previously walking back his decision.
Across a career stretching 23 years, two teams, seven Super Bowls and five MVP awards, the 45-year-old has earned a reputation as one of the sport's all-time greats.
His announcement has sparked an outpouring of affection and respect from his peers, with fellow quarterback Mahomes leading the tributes.
The Kansas City Chiefs man posted three goat emojis to Twitter, in reference to the acronym GOAT, which stands for greatest of all time.
Brady's Tampa Bay team-mate Jensen, who won Super Bowl LV alongside him, penned a heartfelt message after he helped him through injury last season.
"Thanks for pushing me every day this season, mentally and physically, to get back on the field," he wrote.
"I'm glad I was able to take the field with you one last time! Enjoy retirement, don't dog me too much in the booth. Love ya man!"
Praise for Brady was not limited to American football, with MMA veteran McGregor praising the player's Irish roots.
Former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter also offered his congratulations on "an unbelievable career", adding: "It was fun to watch!"
Brady spent the majority of his career with the New England Patriots, taking the team to six Super Bowl successes between 2000 and 2019.
He moved to the Buccaneers for the 2020 season, and inspired them to a surprise championship in his first campaign in Florida.
At the end of his career, Brady ranks first for a host of statistical categories.including most passing yards (89,214), regular season touchdowns (649) and playoff touchdowns (88).
J.J. Watt says there is "no question" that Tom Brady is the "greatest of all time".
Brady retired for a second time on Wednesday at the age of 45.
A year on from announcing a retirement that lasted only 40 days, Brady said he has now called time on his playing days "for good".
Watt, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, announced his own retirement in December, having spent two seasons at the Arizona Cardinals and 10 years with the Houston Texans.
And he welcomed seven-time Super Bowl champion Brady to the "newly retired group".
"Greatest of All Time. No question, no debate," Watt tweeted.
"It's been an honour and a privilege.
"PS – The newly retired group meets on the golf course every morning at 10am. Drinks are on the new guy, so bring your wallet."
Tom Brady has announced he is retiring from the NFL and says this time it is "for good".
Brady spent 23 seasons at the very top of the game but announced his retirement on Wednesday.
The 45-year-old previously called time on his illustrious career a year ago, on February 1 2022, only to announce 40 days later that he was making a comeback.
But after one final season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the legendary quarterback has said his playing days are over.
"I'll get to the point right away. I'm retiring, for good," he said in a video shared on his official social media channels.
"I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning, I figured I'd just press record [and] let you guys know first.
"I won't be long-winded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay and I used mine up last year.
"Thank you guys so much to every single one of you for supporting me.
"My family, my friends, my team-mates, my competitors, I could go on forever, there's too many. Thank you guys for allowing me to live my absolute dream. I wouldn't change a thing. Love you all."
Brady bows out with seven Super Bowl wins to his name, while he was named Super Bowl MVP on five occasions and the NFL's MVP three times, in 2007, 2010 and 2017.
He spent the first 20 seasons of his career with the New England Patriots, before joining Tampa Bay for the 2020 season.
Brady's status as one of the greatest of all time was already assured, but he offered a reminder of his talents by guiding the Bucs to their first Super Bowl success since 2003 in 2021.
Only two QBs – Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes, who has taken the Kansas City Chiefs to another Super Bowl – threw for more yards than Brady (4,694) in the 2022 season, with the veteran tied eighth in the NFL for passing touchdowns (25).
Tampa Bay won the NFC South but lost to 31-14 to the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs on January 16.
Brady's 649 passing TDs is a league record, way clear of Drew Brees in second place with 571, while his yards total of 89,214 is also the best of any quarterback in history.
Only four QBs have racked up more games than Brady's 335; Morten Andersen (382), Adam Vinatieri (365), Gary Anderson (353) and Jeff Feagles (352).
A good Six Nations run is not imperative for England and Steve Borthwick, with Chris Robshaw suggesting it will have no bearing on their World Cup fortunes.
Former Leicester boss Borthwick will take charge of the national team for the first time since succeeding Eddie Jones in this weekend's opener with Scotland.
It marks the start of a five-match run that will serve as England's only competitive preparation ahead of September's showpiece tournament in France.
But former captain Robshaw does not feel the team need to ace their Six Nations campaign in order to bolster their prospects later this year.
"It is important, but it is not the be all and end all," Robshaw told Stats Perform. "The World Cup is a separate tournament.
"Of course you want to win, and you want to play well now, but you've still got another four or five months before that.
"I think when South Africa won it back in 2007, they were pretty awful in their build-up.
"You want to be confident going in, but it's not everything."
England head into the Six Nations as underdogs, with France and Ireland the leading favourites to take the title in March.
Robshaw feels there is still a successful campaign to be had, however, pointing to the growth and experience they will develop alongside Borthwick.
"They need to hit the ground running against Scotland," he added. "First and foremost, they need to do that.
"From an output point of view, if they could win [against] Scotland and Italy, and then nick one of the Ireland or France games, I think that will be viewed as a very successful campaign.
"This is a growing squad. It is a new group, but I think it's a great combination of a team [with] huge excitement, experience and a well-balanced coaching staff."
Tom Brady has announced he is retiring from the NFL and says this time it is "for good".
Bobby Gray scored 45 points as Horizon successfully defended its title after thrashing Storm by 113-89 in the final of the Elite 1 Caribbean Basketball Winter League on Sunday at the National Arena in Kingston.
Meanwhile, Waves copped third place by delivering a similar thrashing to the Rivers who ended the competition without a victory from their eight games.
The final was competitive right up to two minutes before the end of the first quarter when Horizon went on a 10-2 run to open up a 12-point lead.
After that, it was basically one-way traffic as Horizon increased their lead in each subsequent quarter leading 59-47 and 83-68, before emphatically retaining their title.
Gray was named MVP but he was supported by Asaad Woods and Rasheed Maynard Woods who scored 18 and 17 points, respectively.
Da'Rell Dominek scored 30 points and Jayrn Johnson 22 for the Storm, but could have done with a big game from their best player Brandon BDot Armstrong, who scored only six points in what was his worst game of the tournament.
"(I) feel pretty elated tonight. We had done it in the summer and this is the winter league and we are able to pull off another championship again,” said Horizon head coach Cleon Morgan.
“We came out tonight looked a little bit smoother even though we started off a little sloppy but regardless of that we picked up back the pace and we maintained the lead all the way till the end of the game."
Storm’s head coach, Oneil Brown, said his team did not play to win.
"Actually, a lot of us struggled. I think the guard play; Horizon had better guard play than us tonight,” he said.
“Their guards outscored us and you can see the score at the end. I am disappointed in my team. If it wasn't for Da'Rell we'd by down by 40 and the game would be long over but it has been a good season, ups and down and we looking forward for next year."
In the playoff for third, Waves came prepared to close out the championship with a win after narrowly missing out on a place in the final.
They dominated Rivers in every quarter and category - three-pointers, blocks, free throws and defense. They led 30-12, 52-33, 82-67 before closing out the victory 110-86.
Lushane Wilson scored 27 points and Cameron Burhannon 26 points for Waves while Ricky Shuford had a game-high 35 points and the dependable Anthony Ottleym 14, for Rivers.
"It was a good game but it was one of the toughest games of the season for us mentally. I am really proud of the guys because I was worried,” said Waves coach Rohan Robinson afterwards.
“They said they wanted to finish it off strong, they’re not going out like losers. They are looking forward again to the next tournament in the summer."
After leading Rivers to yet another disappointing loss, Ludlow Barker hopes to get another chance at coaching in the league.
"I think if we going to have the rosters and we can select some more of the players then. If we can choose the kind of team we need then we will get a chance but if you have to play with those you are given then you have to work with it," he said.
League owner Wayne Dawkins was pleased with the tournament stating that the league was here to stay.
"The level of talent we were able to attract down here was extremely high,” he said.
“Our coaching staff did a phenomenal job, our table staff and everybody else, because we really have to get that down in order to be able to scale and grow this thing and so that I was very pleased with."
Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open despite playing with a three-centimetre hamstring tear, according to tournament chief Craig Tiley, who paid tribute to the Serbian's resolve and drive.
Having missed last year's opening grand slam due to being deported for breaching Australia's border rules relating to his COVID-19 vaccination status, Djokovic returned in January and beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final to claim a record-tying 22nd men's singles major on Sunday.
The feat, which drew him level with Rafael Nadal, was made all the more remarkable by an apparent hamstring problem that hampered the 35-year-old throughout the tournament.
Some critics suggested the extent of Djokovic's injury was exaggerated, but Tiley defended him.
"A lot of the challenges around Novak is that he gets a bad rap," he told SEN Sportsday. "But at the end of the day, I don't think anyone can question his athleticism.
"This guy, he had a three-centimetre tear. [The scans and] the doctors are going to tell you the truth. There was a lot of speculation about whether it was true or not.
"It's hard to believe what they can do with those kinds of injuries. He's remarkable, to deal with it extremely professionally."
Ten of Djokovic's 22 grand slam titles have come in Melbourne alone, outlining his impressive dominance at the event.
Tiley does not see the Serbian ever being overhauled when it comes to his impact there, adding: "He's so focused on everything he does, with every single minute of the day. That's what he eats, what he drinks, when he does it, how he does it.
"There's no breakdown or mental breakdown in anything that he does. He's been through a lot and to win 10 Australian Opens, I don't think that’s ever going to be repeated.
"Over the last 15 years – he tells me it's 14 years because he missed last year – it's such a remarkable achievement.
"He'll hold a significant place in the history of the Australian Open."
Khris Middleton is unconcerned by his bench role after his best game of 2023 during the Milwaukee Bucks' win over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday.
The small forward posted 18 points, three rebounds and three assists to help his side pull away in the third quarter en route to a 124-115 victory.
Having struggled with soreness in his right knee that led him to missing 18 games, the three-time All-Star has worked his way back in recent weeks.
After delivering the best performance of his latest comeback spell, Middleton stressed he remains untroubled by performing a role that requires him to come off the sidelines.
"I started my career coming off the bench, so it doesn't really bother me at all," he said. "I've been on the bench before, not playing games.
"Sometimes, [I am] coming in [the] first quarter, [the] second quarter or not until the second half. I just know I have to stay ready and have to be loose.
"Right now, I'm trying to be as aggressive as I can. I know it sounds simple, but that's just the mindset I'm trying to come up with, especially with my limited minutes.
"Hopefully as my minutes keep going [up], I keep the same mindset, because it's been working."
Middleton featured for 20 minutes as team-mate Giannis Antetokounmpo guided the Bucks to victory with 34 points and 18 rebounds.
They next play the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday and then the Miami Heat two days later in a double home stand.
LeBron James is completely relaxed about breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record NBA points total after moving another step closer during the Los Angeles Lakers' 129-123 win over the New York Knicks.
James played a starring role on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden, becoming the first 38-year-old to ever record a 20-point triple-double as he finished with 28 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.
Those 10 assists saw him overtake Steve Nash on the all-time leaderboard for NBA assists, with James now fourth on 10,336.
He remains 908 behind still-active Chris Paul in third, but the record that all eyes are on is overall points.
James' 28 here leaves him 88 off Abdul-Jabbar's record (38,387), meaning he is likely to surpass to his fellow Lakers great either on Saturday against the New Orleans Pelicans, or three days later against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Some athletes might get nervous when approaching such a milestone, but James is utterly at ease with the situation due to it essentially being a formality.
"It's not getting heavier," James said.
"I'm going to do it. I mean, it's just a matter of time when I'm going to do it.
"It's not heavy. I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to be in this league for at least a few more years.
"I'm going to do it. It's not heavy at all."
There is also an element of anticipation from James' team-mates, with it set to be a momentous moment for everyone associated with the Lakers when he does break the record.
That is not lost on Anthony Davis.
"The team is very excited," he added. "It's probably going to be a surreal moment for all of us, but probably more so him... Obviously, whatever game it is, we want to be able to win the game."
But much of the focus around James on Tuesday related to his assists and overtaking Nash.
"It's amazing because that's just what I love to do and get my guys involved," James continued.
"Anytime you link with some of the greats – Mark Jackson played here, was drafted here by the Knicks, so it's a super cool thing. And obviously, we know when Nash was [in the league]; I played against him for many, many years. His ability to pass the ball was very uncanny."
Lakers coach Darvin Ham also paid tribute to James, saluting him for ignoring criticism about his game over the years and continuing to play true to himself.
"He's just a kid who's grown before our eyes. The last 20 years at this level, has done nothing but play the right way and make the play that's in front of him," Ham said.
"Regardless of how much he's been criticised for a while for not taking the last shots and the overpassing, he's just making the right plays. You saw that again tonight."
Injured quarterback duo Brock Purdy and Trey Lance are not concerning themselves over their San Francisco 49ers futures as they target full recoveries.
The pair picked up serious injuries during the 2022 campaign, with Purdy suffering a UCL tear in his right elbow during Sunday's NFC Championship Game defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Starter Lance meanwhile lasted two games before an ankle injury against the Seattle Seahawks prematurely ended his season.
Neither are focusing on the team's long-term quarterback plans however, instead focusing their efforts on ensuring they return to full fitness ahead of the 2023 campaign.
"For me to claim or say anything in terms of what's going to happen moving forward, that's out of my control," Purdy said.
"I'm going to do what I can to get healthy and be ready to compete come fall.
"There are different options in terms of letting it recover, so we still haven't come to a conclusion about any of that.
"[I'm] working with our medical team now. But there's literally nothing that I know yet for sure that is set in stone."
Purdy is looking at a best-case scenario of six months out dependent on which course of rehabilitation the 49ers choose.
Lance meanwhile is hopeful of being ready ahead of team activities in May, with the quarterback due to have his walking boot removed at the end of the week.
"I plan on being 100 per cent," he added. "I feel like I'm in a really good spot. I'm sure [my future] will be a whole story again this year for you guys.
"But I'm excited to get back out there, excited to compete."
Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets will travel to Boston on Wednesday to take on the Celtics in a tantalising clash between Eastern Conference contenders.
The Celtics, at 36-15, currently boast the best record in the NBA, while the 31-19 Nets occupy the fourth seed.
Fresh off a trip to the NBA Finals, Boston have looked like genuine contenders since the opening day, building an elite, championship-level statistical profile.
Almost without fail, the eventual champion will show signs of elite play on at least one side of the ball throughout the regular season. Last year's champions, the Golden State Warriors built their identity on a top-two defense; the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks had a top-five offense and top-10 defense; the 2020 Los Angeles Lakers owned the third-best defense.
This year's Celtics side are currently in the rare air of sitting top-five in both offensive and defensive efficiency, guided by two no-brainer All-Stars on the wing with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, as well as reigning Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart and fellow All-Defensive selection Robert Williams III.
While games and series can often be decided by which team has the singular best player, the Celtics have been buoyed by the continued ascent of Tatum, who is now a legitimate MVP candidate.
This season the 24-year-old is averaging career-highs in points (31.1 per game), rebounds (8.7), assists (4.4), field goal makes (10.1) and attempts (21.8), three-point makes (3.3) and attempts (9.3), free throw makes (7.6) and attempts (8.8) – all while shooting his best field goal percentage (46.5) since his rookie season and a career-best 86.9 per cent from the free throw line.
The Celtics' elite record, profile and talent, combined with the fact they will be playing in front of their home fans will have them as favourites on Wednesday – but Irving and the Nets present a frisky opposition.
It is without question that the Nets have entered a mini tailspin since Kevin Durant suffered a knee injury against the Miami Heat on January 8. Brooklyn were 27-13 at the time but have won only four of their 10 games since.
Their ranks as the fifth-best offense and 10th-best defense for the season are both tumbling due to this past stretch, where both units have been the definition of mediocre, ranking 19th on offense and 18th defensively.
That is no fault of former Celtic Irving, who is enjoying a tremendous run of personal form. He has posted seven consecutive outings of at least 26 points and six assists, and after the Nets dropped their first four games of Durant's absence, they responded with four wins from their next six.
Also playing into Brooklyn's favour is the fact they are the NBA's second-best team away from home this season, while their 16-11 mark on the road is only bettered by the Celtics at 17-9.
Unfortunately for the Nets, Boston have also had little trouble at home. They own the fifth-best home record (19-6), and their overtime defeat against the New York Knicks on Thursday was their first loss at TD Garden since December 21.
PIVOTAL PERFORMERS
Boston Celtics – Malcolm Brogdon and Derrick White
Simply put, with Durant out of action, the Nets only have one superstar on the offensive end, and the Celtics have the perfect player to make Irving's life miserable. Or at least they normally would.
Smart became the first guard to win Defensive Player of the Year since 'The Glove' Gary Payton back in the 1995-96 season, and his impact on Irving has been evident in recent matchups – but he will miss this fixture as he recovers from an ankle injury.
Malcolm Brogdon – one of the favourites for Sixth Man of the Year – will take his place as the top defensive guard in the line-up, with help from Derrick White, and together they will aim to pick up where Smart left off.
In his past four games against the Celtics, Irving has only reached 20 points once, finishing with the following shooting performances: four-of-19, eight-of-18, seven-of-21 and nine-of-24.
Brooklyn Nets – Bench shooters
While Irving is the obvious focal point and the engine that will make the Nets run, they will likely need one of their shooters off the bench to get hot.
In their win against the Lakers on Monday, second-year spark plug Cam Thomas and veteran Patty Mills scored 21 points each while combining to shoot eight-of-11 from long range. The previous game, a rivalry victory against the New York Knicks, the trio of Thomas, Edmond Sumner and Yuta Watanabe combined to hit six-of-six three-pointers.
Watanabe in particular could be a game-changer, as he is shooting 49 per cent from deep – the best figure in the league among players averaging at least one attempt per game.
KEY BATTLE – How will Brooklyn slow down the Boston wings?
As previously discussed, the Nets have been a top-10 defense this season, but they will definitely be without the seven-foot Durant, and will likely also be missing six-foot-10 former Defensive Player of the Year runner-up Ben Simmons and six-foot-eight T.J. Warren.
It leaves them woefully undermanned when it comes to defending the All-Star duo of Tatum and Brown, and while Tatum is the exact kind of matchup Brooklyn had in mind when they traded a first-round pick to Utah for Royce O'Neale, they will likely be stuck with Joe Harris on Brown.
Watanabe, at six-foot-eight, and perhaps even six-foot-nine veteran Markieff Morris will get a chance off the bench, but the rest of Brooklyn's perimeter options are simply too small.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Since the beginning of February 2022, the Celtics are undefeated in nine meetings against the Nets, including a clean 4-0 sweep in the first round of last season's playoffs.
Boston have won both head-to-head matchups this campaign by 11 points – one with Durant playing, and one with him out.
Marcus Smart was not going to let Boston Celtics interim head coach Joe Mazzulla downplay his achievement after he and his staff were named as coaches for the All-Star Game's Team Giannis.
Mazzulla and his staff were selected for the honour after securing the Eastern Conference's best record through February 5, with their 36-15 mark one game ahead of Western Conference-leading Denver Nuggets (35-16) in the race for the overall one seed.
It has been a remarkable rise from obscurity for 34-year-old Mazzulla – who is two years younger than his starting center Al Horford – having earned his first role in the NBA as an assistant to Brad Stevens back in 2019 after two years as head coach of division two college Fairmont State.
When Stevens was promoted by the Celtics to president of basketball operations, he retained Mazzulla while promoting Ime Udoka to his first NBA head coaching role.
Udoka's lone season in charge was a success, taking the Celtics all the way to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2010. He was suspended in the offseason after what was described as an "inappropriate, consensual relationship" with an employee.
Stevens showed no hesitation in naming another first-year head coach, and it has again proven to be a shrewd move, as Mazzulla has his side sitting top-five in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
When asked about the honour of coaching the All-Star Game, Mazzulla deflected credit to others in the organisation.
"It's more of a testament to the players and to the staff," he said. "The staff, as hard as they work on scouting and preparation and the relationships that they build with the players.
"So it's a testament to the staff, and then the players have to play the games and they have to win. I'm blessed that we have guys that work at it and I appreciate their support for our staff and for our organisation.
"But if they don't win the games and play as hard as they played, we’re not in this situation. So thank you to both of them."
Listening close by, Smart jumped in and made sure his coach received the praise he deserves.
"Oh, he’s definitely pumped about it," he said. "I mean, first time being a head coach and you go to coach the All-Star Game, I don’t see how you’d not be excited – but that’s just Joe.
"He does a good job of hiding his enthusiasm for certain things and other times, he lets you know.
"We’re just extremely proud of Joe for everything, and how him and the rest of this team and coaching staff have responded to everything we’ve been through this season. We tip our hat off to those guys."
Smart added that Mazzulla's willingness to share the credit is part of why this Celtics side are the juggernaut they have become.
"It’s just the humble mentality that we have," he said. "We got a lot of great guys, from coaches and players, that could sit here and boast about themselves, about everything they’ve accomplished and things like that, but that’s not us.
"We love each other, and we let all the outside noise do the talking for us. But it definitely means something to Joe, and it means a lot to us for him to do it.
"Joe’s been through a lot. He stepped into a situation that wasn’t ideal for anybody, and he strived and exceeded, I’m sure, a lot of expectations, so we’re happy for him."
LeBron James collected another pair of milestones as he made history in the Los Angeles Lakers' 129-123 overtime victory against the New York Knicks on Tuesday.
Playing on the road in Madison Square Garden, James became the first 38-year-old to ever record a 20-point triple-double, finishing with 28 points on 11-of-25 shooting, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.
He also came into the contest eight assists away from overtaking Steve Nash for fourth-place on the all-time assist leaderboard, with James dishing assist number 10,336 early in the fourth period.
James is 908 assists behind the still-active Chris Paul (11,246) – which would take him another 124 games to reach at his current career average of 7.3 per game – while he is 240 games at that pace away from the second-placed Jason Kidd (12,091).
Against the Knicks, the Lakers had to pull themselves off the canvas after their six-point lead with under two minutes left evaporated, as Jalen Brunson tied the game at 114-114 with 24 seconds on the clock.
But the Lakers had the answer this time, holding the Knicks scoreless for a near three-minute stretch in the five-minute extra period to pull away.
There were extremely encouraging signs for Los Angeles in the first game sporting their new-look starting five, with Anthony Davis making his first start since December 16, and his first alongside new trade acquisition Rui Hachimura.
Davis looked back to his best with 27 points (nine-of-16 shooting), nine rebounds and two steals, while Hachimura put together an efficient 19 points (eight-of-12) with nine rebounds and strong defense on Julius Randle.
With the win, the Lakers improved their record to 24-28, and sit just three games out of the Western Conference's six seed.
Kawhi dominates the Bulls on both ends
Any concerns about Kawhi Leonard's prime passing him by have been quashed after the latest standout performance from the two-time NBA Finals MVP.
Leonard was clearly the best player on the court in the Los Angeles Clippers' 108-103 road win against the Chicago Bulls, scoring a game-high 33 points (11-of-24) while also snatching a season-high five steals with two blocks.
It was the kind of performance that has earned the 31-year-old three First Team All-NBA and three NBA All-Defensive First Team selections, and it cancelled out one of the more well-rounded games of Zach LaVine's career.
LaVine grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds for the Bulls to go with 18 points (six-of-14) and eight assists, also adding a steal and a block.
Giannis overpowers the Hornets
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo continued to build a convincing case for his third MVP during his side's 124-115 home win against the Charlotte Hornets.
Antetokounmpo led both teams with 34 points and 18 rebounds, shooting a terrific 14-of-24 from the field and a more than respectable five-of-six from the free throw line.
Despite being on the losing side, Hornets franchise player LaMelo Ball produced a head-turning stat line with 27 points (10-of-26), 11 assists, 10 rebounds, three steals and three blocks.
The Bucks own the third-best record in the league at 34-17.
The Houston Texans are turning to one of their former star players to help turn the franchise around.
DeMeco Ryans is returning to Houston after agreeing on Tuesday to become the Texans coach. The deal is reportedly for six years.
Ryans spent the past two seasons as the San Francisco 49ers' defensive coordinator, directing a unit that led the NFL in fewest points and fewest yards allowed in the 2022 regular season.
"Being the head coach of the Houston Texans is my dream job and my family is thrilled to be back in H-Town," Ryans said in a statement. "I have been around the game of football my entire life and I've always had a natural ability to lead others. I know what it takes to win and be successful in this league as both a player and coach."
Prior to serving as the Niners' defensive coordinator the 38-year-old coached their linebackers following a 10-year career as a linebacker in the NFL.
Ryans' playing career began in 2006 after he was selected 33rd overall by the Texans in that year's draft.
In six seasons with the Texans, he was named Defensive Rookie of the Year and to a pair of Pro Bowls. In 2012, he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, where he played for four seasons before retiring in 2015.
He now becomes Houston's fifth coach since the start of the 2020 season taking over for the recently fired Lovie Smith.
The Texans have gone 11-38-1 in those three seasons after finishing 2022 with a 3-13-1 record.
"We're going to build a program filled with players who have a special work ethic and relentless mindset," Ryans said. "I understand the responsibility I have to this organisation and to the fans of Houston to build a winner and I can't wait to get to work."
Heather Watson stunned second seed Yulia Putintseva at the Thailand Open as the British player scored an impressive first-round win.
The 30-year-old Watson lost in qualifying for the recent Australian Open, having made the singles main draw for 11 consecutive years, but she is already beginning to make up for the Melbourne disappointment.
Kazakh Putintseva is ranked 44th in the world, while Watson has slipped to 160th, but the Guernsey native has been as high as 38th in her career and won four titles on the WTA Tour.
She showed there is still a hunger to succeed, edging a tight contest 5-7 6-4 7-5 (7-5) to make Putintseva the biggest early casualty.
Top seed Bianca Andreescu had no such trouble against Watson's compatriot Harriet Dart, as the Canadian went through a 6-3 6-4 winner.
Czech 17-year-old Linda Fruhvirtova, seeded eighth and at a career-high 51st in the WTA rankings, overwhelmed American veteran Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-3 6-1.
Fellow seeds Marta Kostyuk, Anna Kalinskaya and Tatjana Maria also came through their opening tests at the tournament in Hua Hin.
At the Lyon Open, French top seed Caroline Garcia fended off Czech Tereza Martincova 6-4 7-6 (7-4) in round one, delighting a home crowd.
Champion at the WTA Finals at the end of last season, Garcia surprisingly lost in round four of the Australian Open to unseeded Pole Magda Linette, who went on a fairy tale run to the semi-finals.
Garcia said of Tuesday's win over Martincova: "It was a tough match. She's a great player. She's already played great battles against top players, and it's a first round, so you really never know what is going to happen."
Second seed Zhang Shuai beat American Madison Brengle 6-3 6-2, but eighth seed Anna Blinkova bowed out, retiring when 4-0 behind in a deciding set against fellow Russian Erika Andreeva.
Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs plan to "blank out the hype" ahead of Super Bowl LVII, as the coach prepares to face former team the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Chiefs booked their place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale with a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday.
With their third conference title in four seasons, they will face their head coach's former employers in Arizona, with Reid having led the Eagles between 1999 and 2012.
Asked whether the emotional connection to his former team makes his work more challenging, Reid insisted his focus is squarely on the task at hand.
"When you really cut to the chase, they're a really good football team," he said. "So I think that's where [my] energy goes.
"That's where the major focus goes. It doesn't matter who you're playing, you try to blank out all the hype that goes with the game. It's a pretty big game for everybody.
"It's a big, big deal. It's the Super Bowl. But you try to blank that out and make sure that you're getting the game plan, [and] what really matters, together."
Reid reached one Super Bowl during his time in charge of the Eagles, though did not get his hands on the Vince Lombardi trophy until 2020 with the Chiefs.
Still, he remains an admirer of the Pennsylvania outfit while stressing he shares the love for his current home as well.
"I love Philadelphia, love the city," he added. "I've been blessed, blessed to be in [these] phenomenal places in the NFL. I'm loving every minute in Kansas City [too]."
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
