The Boston Celtics ended their franchise-record losing streak at 18 games on Wednesday, getting 32 points from Paul Pierce and 21 from Gerald Green to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 117-97.
The crowd gave the Celtics a standing ovation for the final minute as they picked up their first victory since Jan. 5, winning just two of 24 games that Pierce was out with foot and elbow injuries. The NBA's most decorated franchise long ago broke the team record of 13 straight losses and seemed destined for the league record of 24 (23 in one season).
After the Bucks, Boston was headed on a five-game, seven-day road trip against teams that promised a tougher test than Milwaukee.
But, with a half-filled house winnowed by the winter's first big snowstorm, the Celtics took advantage of the Bucks' woes and rallied from a 15-point, second-quarter deficit to take the lead.
Mo Williams scored 31, Charlie Bell had 24 and Brian Skinner scored 13 with 11 rebounds for Milwaukee.
Wizards 92, 76ers 85
At Philiadelphia, Gilbert Arenas finished with 22 points despite another poor shooting performance, and Washington took a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter and held on to beat Philadelphia for its second win in six games.
Arenas extended a run of bad shooting with an 8-for-26 performance heading into the All-Star break.
Caron Butler scored 16, Darius Songaila added 12 and Andray Blatche had 11 points.
In other games, it was: Spurs 90, Pistons 81; Raptors 120, Nets 109; Pacers 114, Grizzlies 104; Bobcats 100, Bulls 85; Magic 103, Trail Blazers 91; Timberwolves 99, Nuggets 94; Hornets 110, Kings 93; Jazz 99, Cavaliers 98; SuperSonics 114, Suns 90; Warriors 120, Knicks 101; Hawks 96, Clippers 93.
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Roger Federer on Wednesday said that staying involved with tennis in retirement helped him avoid feeling “like an alien” ahead of this week’s Laver Cup in Berlin. Federer, who helped create the tournament, retired at the Laver Cup in London two years ago and has since stayed involved with the competition as an ambassador. “I’m happy I went back right away to some tournaments,” the 43-year-old told reporters. “I feel I ripped the Band-Aid off quite quickly and when I walk around the tennis sites I still feel I belong there,” he said. “I don’t feel like an alien, which is a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two