Tag: xavier tillman

Luke Kornet ruled out of Celtics playoff opener vs. Miami

The Boston Celtics third-string center will miss the playoff opener against the Miami Heat with a calf strain.

Luke Kornet will not suit up for the Boston Celtics when they begin their playoff run on Sunday (April 21). They will face the Miami Heat in the opening round. The Heat are coming into the game, having played in two play-in tournament contests. The veteran big man is dealing with a right calf strain.

Without Kornet in the rotation, Boston will likely rely on Xavier Tillman to be the team’s third-string big man. Tillman will provide Boston with switchability at the center position while also giving Joe Mazzulla an option to match the Heat’s physicality if the game begins to get chippy.

Kornet has been a big part of Mazzulla’s rotation this season. He’s played in 63 games this season, averaging 5.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists while shooting 70% from the field. Kornet is especially effective when containing ball-handlers while defending pick-and-roll actions.

Mazzulla will likely shorten his rotation heading into the postseason, which means Kornet’s role was likely to be marginalized with Al Horford being the primary bench big. Nevertheless, the Celtics will likely want their trusty backup center back sooner rather than later. Fortunately, Tillman is a capable deputy.

Listen to the “Green With Envy” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3DoLhYK

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YouTube: https://bit.ly/3K8Mbv

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Four Michigan State basketball players set to play in NBA playoffs

Four former Michigan State basketball players are set to play in the NBA playoffs

The NBA playoffs are getting ready to begin and Michigan State will once again have some representation in the postseason.

Four Spartans across the league will be gearing up in the playoffs that start on Tuesday with the NBA’s play-in games. Check out who you should be cheering for as the NBA’s playoffs begin:

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner.

Boston Celtics’ young, inexperienced lineup holds off Sacramento Kings with game-winner

What, if anything, should we take from the Celtics’ 101-100 win over a desperate Kings?

What, if anything, should we take from the Boston Celtics‘ 101-100 win over a desperate Sacramento Kings ball club at TD Garden this past Friday (April 5) evening? With the Celtics starters taken out of the game for the contest’s final frame, one can both see the value of the experimentation being used by Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla and also be limited by how much it actually tells us about this Celtics squad.

It also happened to make for an exciting game to what might otherwise have been a blowout, and with no injuries sustained in the game, there was little if anything lost by the move.

NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg and Brian Scalabrine joined Tom Giles on the most recent episode of the “Celtics Postgame Live” show to talk over the unusual game. Check it out below.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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WATCH, Xavier Tillman hits the game winning shot for the Boston Celtics

Xavier Tillman hit a game winner for the Boston Celtics on Friday night!

On Friday night, the Boston Celtics and Sacramento Kings squared off inside of Boston’s TD Garden. It was a close game between the C’s and the Kings, but it was a former Spartan that proved to be the hero.

With just over 7 seconds remaining in the game, it was Xavier Tillman recovering a loose ball and hitting a floater to give the Celtics the 101-100 lead, a lead and basket that would prove to a winner.

Watch Tillman’s game winning basket via X:

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner.

Xavier Tillman secures 101-100 Celtics win over Kings with game-winning floater

Check out Xavier Tillman’s heroic fourth quarter shot that lift the Celtics past the Kings.

The Boston Celtics squeaked past the visiting Sacramento Kings Friday night, securing a 101-100 victory thanks to a heroic shot in the final moments of the game from forward Xavier Tillman. The shot put Boston ahead with just a few seconds remaining, while a chaotic defensive sequence on the opposite end sealed the deal. It was an exciting game, made even more intriguing thanks to head coach Joe Mazzulla. Early in the fourth quarter with his team holding a small lead, Mazzulla opted to rest his starters and instead rely on his bench players to provide a victory. Boston’s reserves played well, but Sacramento was able to stage a comeback, and even grabbed a one-point late into the game. This set the stage for Tillman’s game-winning shot. Check out Tillman’s heroic play and the other top highlights from the game courtesy of NBC Sports Boston’s YouTube channel. Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ [lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=590969556]

Boston’s Xavier Tillman, Sr. knew his game-winner was going in vs. the Sacramento Kings

Looking back at one of the more unexpected game-winners of the season.

If you were expecting Boston Celtics backup big man Xavier Tillman, Sr. to hit the game-winning shot against the Sacramento Kings to secure a 101-100 win against the Kings at TD Garden this (April 5) past Friday night, you were likely in the minority of Celtics fans.

But that is how the game played out vs. a hungry Kings squad, with Tillman’s late floater the icing on a very unusual cake as far as Boston wins go this season. Tillman walked us through what he saw in that final sequence postgame when speaking to CLNS Media, nothing that “Sam (Hauser) was driving for him to get the game-winning shot, and somebody came over — maybe (Keegan) Murray — and blocked the shot.”

“Then Sam got the steal and tipped it out to me,” he explained. “I caught it, saw that the paint was open, and made a crossover move.”

“They stepped up, and then I shot the (floater),” added the Celtics center.  “It felt good as soon as it left my hand — I knew it was good.”

With some luck, Boston will be able to lean on the depth that built them the NBA’s best record for 2023-24 in the 2024 postseason. But this tinkering by head coach Joe Mazzulla has also helped us see that the Celtics’ bench is also capable of digging deep when called on vs. quality opponents in crunch time.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Xavier Tillman Sr. or Luke Kornet – who should get playing time with the Boston Celtics?

The two Boston bigs have very different games, and will likely see floor time based on matchups.

The two Boston Celtics bigs have very different games, and will likely see floor time based on matchups. But even so, there is a bit of a competition going on for the Celtics’ third string center minutes taking place between reserve center Luke Kornet and backup big man Xavier Tillman, Sr.

On one hand, Kornet started out the season looking lost, but has since rounded into the best form of his career. On the other, Tillman has more meaningful postseason experience, but is playing catchup in terms of learning Boston’s system as a recent addition to the Celtics organization via trade at this year’s deadline.

To talk it over, the hosts of the CLNS Media “How Bout Them Celtics!” and “Talkin’ Cs” podcasts linked up on a recent episode, and debated who they think will see the floor more for the rest of the regular season and beyond.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Is Xavier Tillman the long-term Al Horford replacement for Boston?

Can Xavier Tillman emerge as the long-term replacement to Al Horford?

The Boston Celtics acquired Xavier Tillman shortly before the February 8 trade deadline. They sent out two future second-round picks and Lamar Stevens to get the deal over the line. Tillman provides Boston with a physical presence in the middle of the floor and is known to have untapped potential as a passing big man.

During his brief spell with the Celtics, Tillman has begun to show similarities to Al Horford in terms of play style. Both big men operate with a cerebral approach to the game. They rely on angles rather than athleticism. They work for the team within the system and operate at a high level on both sides of the floor.

In the latest episode of the “Green With Envy” podcast, hosts Will Weir and Greg Maneikis discuss the impact Celtics fans have already seen from Tillman, and discuss whether he can be the long-term solution to replacing Al Horford.

You can watch the full episode by clicking on the embedded link above.

Listen to the “Green With Envy” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3DoLhYK

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Oj4dhD

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3K8MbvY

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Joe Mazzulla explains why Xavier Tillman compliments Boston’s ‘Stay Ready Crew’

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla thinks Xavier Tillman is a perfect fit for Boston’s bench and the “Stay Ready Crew.”

According to Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, a big aspect of his team’s success this season is an ability to adapt to challenges as they arise. This is especially true of the Celtics bench, which has been dubbed the “Stay Ready Crew” for their flexibility.

As Mazzulla explained Sunday afternoon, that ethos of remaining locked and loaded extends to newcomer Xavier Tillman. Boston acquired Tillman at the 2024 NBA trade deadline, and he has yet to find a steady diet of minutes with his new club. Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks, however, Tillman logged 15 minutes, his biggest showing in Celtics green. Mazzulla said he knows Tillman can make an impact for Boston if called upon.

“He’s already there.” Mazzulla said. “I wouldn’t have trusted putting him in the game.”

Getting to know new Boston Celtics big man Xavier Tillman, Sr.

Who is new Boston Celtics big man Xavier Tillman, Sr.?

Who is new Boston Celtics big man Xavier Tillman, Sr.? The newest addition to the Celtics’ frontcourt for their 2023-24 campaign, Tillman was dealt to Boston from the Memphis Grizzlies ahead of the 2024 NBA trade deadline. But what else do we know about the man, who has not seen the floor much for the Celtics since being dealt to the team?

To learn more about him, NBC Sports Boston reporter Chris Forsberg recently sat down with the former Grizzlies big man to talk about joining the team, and everything we need to know about him from before that moment arrived. Forsberg also gets into the news that Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday will likely be on Team USA for the 2024 Paris Olympics, with Abby Chin joining the “Celtics Talk” podcast to interview the latter.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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