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‘We’re not trying to dodge anybody’: Celtics confident after clinching No. 2 seed
"No matter who we match up with, I’ll take us versus anybody."
The Red Sox defeated the Yankees 4-3 on Sunday to avoid a season-opening sweep in New York. Boston faces the Tigers this evening at 5:10 p.m. in Detroit.
The Bruins lost to the Capitals 4-2 on Sunday.
And the Celtics finished the regular season with a dominant 139-110 win over the Grizzlies.
The Celtics’ thoughts on playoff opponents: With the Sunday night win against the Grizzlies, the Celtics officially clinched the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
This ensures that Boston will play whoever emerges from the NBA’s play-in tournament as the seventh seed.
With the Nets facing the Cavaliers in the 7-8 matchup of the play-in tournament (which tips off on Tuesday), Brooklyn looms as a likely playoff opponent.
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Still, despite the possibility of a first-round series against Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, Celtics players aren’t concerned. As a team that propelled itself upwards from a mediocre first half of the season to the second best record in the conference, Boston sounds confident.
“We’re not trying to dodge anybody,” said Payton Pritchard after the game. “We believe in ourselves. Go in and whoever we play, we’ll be ready.”
Jaylen Brown echoed the mentality speaking with teammates in the locker room following Sunday’s win.
“No matter who we match up with, I’ll take us versus anybody,” Brown said.
More from Boston.com:
- The Celtics will be the 2-seed: 5 takeaways vs. Grizzlies
- Red Sox, Garrett Whitlock agree to 4-year contract extension
- Red Sox hope Matt Barnes will be ready to return on Monday
- Patriots insiders speculate who team could draft with first-round pick
- Why Kevin Youkilis decided to get into broadcasting after all
- 4 takeaways as BC football caps spring, looks ahead to season
- Scheffler gets Masters green jacket to go with No. 1 ranking
- Here’s to giving the Denver Pioneers their due — their long overdue — respect
Mic’d up Kiké Hernández: Hernández also provided some in-game analysis on the broadcast prior to Anthony Rizzo hitting a single in his direction.
Highlights from Sunday’s epic Liverpool-Manchester City showdown: In the end, the Premier League rivals remained separated by a point following the back-and-forth 2-2 draw.
On this day: In 2018, benches cleared between the Red Sox and Yankees after Joe Kelly hit Tyler Austin following Austin’s “spikes up” slide into second base earlier in the game.
Daily highlight: Jayson Tatum’s “wow” summed it up.
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