The Boston Celtics go on the road for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against Cleveland on Saturday, but also know how good things are at home.
The Celtics are 9-0 at home in the playoffs, and have only done that five other times in franchise history – 1976, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 2008. They reached the NBA finals in each of those years, losing only once, in 1985 to the Lakers.
The power of the crowd remains strong for this group.
“It’s special. Can’t say enough about our home crowd,” said guard Terry Rozier. “They got us going every time we play here, not just the postseason. We’ve just got to steal one (in Game 3 in Cleveland).”
But going into Cleveland for two games, the Celtics will look to improve on their 1-4 record on the road in this postseason.
n Jayson Tatum is one of the three finalists for NBA rookie of the year, joining Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz and Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers. Coach Brad Stevens is a finalist for coach of the year with Dwane Casey – recently fired by the Toronto Raptors – and Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz.
The winners will be announced June 25.
BUCKS: Milwaukee announced the hiring of Mike Budenholzer as its coach.
“The tremendously supportive fans in Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin are waiting and ready,” Budenholzer said in a statement. “Now it’s up to us to put all the pieces together, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Budenholzer replaced Joe Prunty, a former assistant who went 21-16 in the regular season after replacing the fired Jason Kidd in late January. The Bucks lost to Boston in seven games in the first round of the playoffs.
Budenholzer, 48, went 213-197 in his five seasons with the Hawks.
Budenholzer was named the NBA coach of the year in 2015, when he led the Hawks to a franchise-record 60 wins and an appearance in the Eastern Conference finals.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
ROCKETS 127, WARRIORS 105: James Harden and Eric Gordon each scored 27 points to lead a balanced offense as Houston routed visiting Golden State to even the series at one game apiece Wednesday night.
The Rockets didn’t trail after the first quarter and led by double digits for most of the night. They head to Oakland, California, for Game 3 on Sunday night.
P.J. Tucker added a playoff career-high 22 and Trevor Ariza had 19 as both bounced back after struggling in Game 1.
Kevin Durant had 38 points after scoring 37 in the opener, but Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for just 24 points.
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