Sports
Judge grants Oklahoma LB Heinecke extra year
Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke granted an extra year of eligibility for 2026 after court ruling.
ESPN News1 min read
Sports
Celtics Land In Intriguing Spot During Final NBA Power Rankings Heading Into Playoffs
TL;DR
The Boston Celtics finished the regular season with a 113-108 win over the Orlando Magic and secured the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. They are considered strong contenders for the NBA title as they head into the playoffs.
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White
Celtics Land In Intriguing Spot During Final NBA Power Rankings Heading Into Playoffs originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Celtics wrapped up the regular season on Sunday night with a 113-108 victory over the Orlando Magic. Now, Boston is looking forward to the playoffs, where it will be one of the favorites to win the NBA title.
Boston has been one of the top organizations in the NBA since Jayson Tatum returned in early March. Although the Celtics currently hold the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, they should be giving every team in the conference a run for their money.
Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey released the final power rankings after the regular season, placing the Celtics at No. 3, which was the best in the Eastern Conference.
"The Boston Celtics were supposed to have a gap year. Jayson Tatum would spend it recovering from his torn Achilles," Bailey wrote. "And unloading Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford and Jrue Holiday would help them reset their luxury tax. But Joe Mazzulla, Jaylen Brown and a rock-solid supporting cast had other ideas.
"With another high-volume three-point shooting campaign on offense, and thanks in large part to a Derrick White-led defense, Boston already looked like a title contender before Tatum's earlier-than-expected return. And now that he's back and looking pretty close to his old self, it's almost hard to imagine any other team emerging from the East."
The Celtics will begin their playoff journey on Sunday, hosting either the Philadelphia 76ers or the Magic, following their play-in game matchup on Tuesday night.
More NBA: Is Magic Coach On Hot Seat After 'Catastrophic' Loss To Celtics?
Q&A
What was the Boston Celtics' final regular season record?
The Boston Celtics concluded the regular season with a victory over the Orlando Magic, finishing strong as they head into the playoffs.
Who are the top contenders in the Eastern Conference playoffs?
The Boston Celtics, holding the No. 2 seed, are among the favorites in the Eastern Conference playoffs, alongside other strong teams.
How has Jayson Tatum impacted the Celtics' performance this season?
Jayson Tatum's return in early March has significantly boosted the Celtics' performance, contributing to their status as a top team in the NBA.
