Joe Mazzulla is an NBA championship-winning head coach. He took the Boston Celtics to the next level after taking over the main job. He has always stood out in one aspect. Mazzulla is obsessed with perfection and demands nothing but the utmost from his players,

"We've got a lot of people that think (about these things) and know what is better for each player," he said of if the G League might be better for him.

Sunday’s NBA action features a loaded eight-game slate, starting with some afternoon matchups between the Los Angeles Clippers and Boston Celtics and the San An

At the end of the Clippers-Celtics game, eagle-eyed fans spotted Derrick Jones Jr. in the tunnel using crutches.

James Harden nearly willed the Clippers to a come-from-behind victory at TD Garden, but Jaylen Brown and the Celtics held on to win 121-118.

Boston piled up four extra second round picks by moving down from No. 32 and used one to help dump the salary of Georges Niang, which saved the team tens of millions more in luxury tax penalties. That’s not a fun thing to advertise but is also a reality for a team that went all-in financial over the past two years.

Jaylen Brown scored 33 points and had 13 rebounds, Payton Pritchard added 30 points and the Boston Celtics held off the Los Angeles Clippers for a 121-118 victory on Sunday.

The Boston Celtics are expected to rebuild and return to contention next season, and one trade target gives them everything they need.

The former Kansas player won titles in 1974 and 1978 with the revamped Celtics, earning a Finals MVP in 1976 and a spot on two All-NBA teams before and after that season.

"Everyone has different leadership responsibilities," said the Celtics coach. "Everybody leads in different ways."