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Front-page sports
Speeding Ticket
No NBA team, the Celtics included, was stingier defensively in the regular season than the Pistons. Even so, Kevin Garnett found a recipe for success against Detroit that worked back then and has worked so far in the postseason, too. (By Marc J. Spears, Boston Globe)
Series will be a grind all the way
Nine down and seven to go. When you come right down to it, that's the only relevant issue. The Boston Celtics once needed 16 W's in order to put up championship banner No. 17, and after defeating the Detroit Pistons by an 88-79 score at TD Banknorth Garden last night, they now only need seven. (By Bob Ryan, Boston Globe)
Allen spins his wheels, stuck in neutral
It is the mystery of the Celtics' playoff run. What happened to Ray Allen? Can the Celtics win the NBA championship with the Big 2 1/3? (By Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe)
Nice encore by Masterson
The drama last night in the Fens came in smaller bites. Instead of nine innings of no hits, there was one bases-loaded whiff - by closer Jonathan Papelbon in the eighth inning - that preserved the Red Sox' 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals, their fifth straight win on this homestand. (By Gordon Edes, Boston Globe)
NFL owners exercise 'opt-out' cause to shorten CBA
NFL owners had until November to opt out of the collective bargaining agreement, but in an authoritative statement yesterday, they said, "Why wait?" (By Mike Reiss, Boston Globe)
Football
Falcons sign ex-Boston College QB Matt Ryan for 6 years, $72m
Matt Ryan signed a $72 million, six-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons yesterday, ending concerns that prolonged negotiations could threaten his chance to become the team's starting quarterback as a rookie. (Boston Globe)
Jackson focuses on job with Patriots
FOXBOROUGH - You don't have to be a card-counting MIT math wizard to figure out how many receptions Patriots wide receivers Chad Jackson and Kelley Washington combined for last year. Simply by showing up for the second day of the team's passing camp yesterday and hauling in a few practice tosses from Tom Brady, the two topped their total from ... (By Christopher L. Gasper, Boston Globe)
Cassel out to stick with Patriots
With yesterday being the second day of the Patriots' four-day passing camp, it was only fitting that one of the areas of intrigue was quarterback, where there will be a battle to back up Tom Brady . (By Christopher L. Gasper, Boston Globe)
Basketball
Brown gives credit to Hornets
Back home in Slidell, La., P.J. Brown's kids would get a hard time from classmates when they wore Celtics gear to school. And at Brown's barber shop, some of the patrons would talk trash about his decision to join the Celtics this season instead of returning home to sign with the Hornets. (By Marc J. Spears, Boston Globe)
Celtics would never tire of talking about effective offense
For a team that has played 15 games in 30 days, the Celtics last night seemed to put any questions to rest about how they would respond against a rested Pistons team. (By Monique Walker, Boston Globe)
Pistons' Billups was hamstrung by rust
Chauncey Billups used to play for the Celtics, but that was a long time ago, when Boston, frankly, was in another country. The landscape was bleak, the weather dismal and dreary, and nothing came through the door year after year but chill winds that pierced the body and made players and fans more miserable. (By Barbara Matson, Boston Globe)
Celtics' Rondo silenced heralded foe Billups
Deep down in the scrum of media - below the cameraman on the stepladder, inside the layers of notepads and recorders - there was an oddly empty locker, with Rajon Rondo's picture and nothing else. (By Julian Benbow, Boston Globe)
Ping-pong ball falls Bulls' way in lottery
The Chicago Bulls won the NBA's draft lottery last night in Secaucus, N.J., giving them the right to choose between star freshmen Michael Beasley and Derrick Rose . (Boston Globe)
Hockey
Ward is locked up by Bruins to two-year, $5 million deal
A week after re-signing restricted free agent Chuck Kobasew to a three-year extension, the Bruins locked up unrestricted free agent Aaron Ward, agreeing on a multiyear contract yesterday with the veteran stay-at-home defenseman. (By Fluto Shinzawa, Boston Globe)
Baseball
Red Sox' Lester's feat inspiration to all
The story - Jon Lester's no-hitter, and everything that happened before it - has touched baseball people from all corners. (By Nick Cafardo, Boston Globe)
Lester's pitching coach recalls his own no-hit bid
For a moment that he described as "extremely brief," Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell flashed back during Jon Lester's no-hitter to his own no-hit bid 19 years ago. Farrell was pitching for the Indians and, like Lester, was facing the Royals. (By Gordon Edes, Boston Globe)
Notables
The Astros removed a yellow board on an outfield wall that contributed to a botched home run call Monday night. Geovany Soto got an inside-the-park three-run homer in the fourth inning despite replays showing that it should have been an automatic home run. (Boston Globe)
How the runs scored
SECOND INNING RED SOX - Lowell struck out. Youkilis singled to center. Drew singled to center, sending Youkilis to third. Varitek walked, loading the bases. Lugo hit a sacrifice fly to right, Drew taking third. Crisp doubled to right, scoring Drew and sending Varitek to third. Pedroia flied to center. TWO RUNS, THREE HITS, TWO LEFT. (Boston Globe)
Orioles rough up Yankees
Just when the slumping New York Yankees got Alex Rodriguez back, Derek Jeter went down with an injury that nearly led to a brawl with Baltimore. (Boston Globe)
High schools
Rockets softball is taking off at just the right time
The Reading softball team picked a fine time for its offense to come alive. With their playoff hopes on the line this week, every game is critical for the Rockets. Yesterday they passed a major test with flying colors, upsetting No. 5 Concord-Carlisle, 14-1. Reading is 9-9 with games Saturday (Archbishop Williams) and Sunday in the Braintree Tournament. C-C fell ... (By Chris Estrada, Boston Globe)
It's a 15th straight outdoor city track title for O'Bryant girls
The temperature hovered in the mid-50s and the skies threatened rain yesterday afternoon at White Stadium. Unperturbed, the O'Bryant girls got hot and continued their reign, winning a 15th consecutive Boston City outdoor track championship with ease. (By Jack McCluskey, Boston Globe)
Realignment under consideration
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association football committee heard a presentation from the realignment subcommittee at yesterday's spring meeting, but the process is far from complete. (By James Schneider, Boston Globe)
Additional Sports Coverage
Martinez ponders retiring after season
BASEBALL Pedro Martinez , who will rejoin the Mets for a bullpen session today as he returns from an ailing hamstring, told the Daily New yesterday that he's contemplating retiring after this season to be with his ailing father. "It's taking a toll on me and my family, my dad's situation," Martinez told the New York newspaper. "That'll probably drag ... (Boston Globe)