Morning sports update: Rajon Rondo made a ‘Home Alone’ reference at the end of his press conference
Also: Globe sports looks back on 2018, the vulnerability of the top NFL playoff seeds, and the Celtics' synchronized defense.
The Celtics won in overtime against the 76ers at TD Garden on Christmas Day, 121-114. Kyrie Irving scored 40 points and had 10 rebounds, nailing several major shots including one with less than 30 seconds left in regulation to tie the game:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Br1M9DFnNfh/
Elsewhere, the Bruins prepare to host the Devils on Thursday night (7 p.m.), while the Patriots face the Jets at 1 p.m. on Sunday in their regular-season finale.
Rajon Rondo’s holiday mood: Former Celtics guard Rajon Rondo is now plying his trade for the resurgent Lakers. And in one of the NBA’s biggest Christmas Day games, he helped Los Angeles beat Golden State despite LeBron James exiting with an injury.
🎥 Rajon Rondo played a great game, notching a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists #LakersWin pic.twitter.com/csCbzAnqkA
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 26, 2018
Rondo, known for his intelligence on the court, also has a sense of humor. In his postgame press conference, he quietly dropped a “Home Alone” reference when wished a Merry Christmas, according to the Los Angeles Times’s Tania Ganguli.
Someone said Merry Christmas to Rajon Rondo at the end of his presser. He said back “Merry Christmas” and then, quieter, “ya filthy animal.”
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) December 26, 2018
The Lakers will be in Boston on Feb. 7 for an 8 p.m. tipoff against the Celtics.
More from Boston.com:
- 3 takeaways from the Celtics’ thrilling overtime victory on Christmas Day
- Barring ties, NFC playoff picture is clear, AFC more muddled
- Patriots notebook: Josh McDaniels had a few things to say about the team’s pass distribution
- LeBron James leaves game with strained left groin
- Despite ups and downs, Patriots’ divisional dominance continues
- It’s too soon to count out Rob Gronkowski
Favorite 2018 memories from the Globe sports team
: In a year that included an Olympics, a World Series, another Super Bowl appearance, and multiple other playoff runs, the Globe sports team had a lot to look back on. [The Boston Globe]
NFL’s top seeds look vulnerable: While the Saints aren’t playing their best football heading into their regular-season finale, the Chiefs are a team that Patriots fans will be eyeing more intently in the near future. With New England still battling for a top seed in the playoffs, it’s worth noting that the Chiefs have now lost two in a row. And, as the Globe’s Ben Volin pointed out, Kansas City has lost almost all of their biggest games of the season. [The Boston Globe]
A Bruin pitches in for Finland: Urho Vaakanainen, a 19-year-old Bruins defenseman prospect, was cleared to play recently after being out for two months due to a concussion. Vaakanainen is currently with the Finnish U-20 team at the World Junior Championships. [The Boston Globe]
He also signed a fan’s autograph from the penalty box:
Max Kellerman doesn’t like the Celtics to win the East. Stephen A. Smith still does.
Daily highlight: The Celtics showed off their synchronized defense against the 76ers on Christmas Day:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Br1DFP0HtHV/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1nzdkb9sltvzs
