Celtics 115, Bulls 101

 

The Boston Celtics are in first place in the Atlantic Division.

No Tatum, no Holiday, no Porzingis, no Horford, no Kornet? No problem. We've got Mr. Brown and Mr. White, we've got Simons, Pritchard and Hauser, we've got Hugo González. We've got first place in the Atlantic. 

We got there beating the Chicago Bulls, 113-101, last night. Simons led the team with 27 points, Queta got the surprise double double (13 points and 13 rebounds) and González got 12 minutes and 7 rebounds. The Celtics out-rebounded the Bulls, 54-45 and scored 20 threes to Chicago's 16.  Remember, 3-point %  + > Rebounds + González Minutes = Success!

Also, there were no stinko quarters. After jumping out to a 54-33 halftime lead, the Celtics scored only 3 and 4 fewer points than the Bulls in each of the last two quarters. 

With the win, the Celtics are a ½ game ahead of the New York Knicks, who have helpfully lost four straight games while the Celtics are on a four-game winning streak. Keep up the good work, New York! 

The Denver Nuggets (24-12) will visit the Garden Wednesday night for the Celtics' next game. Serbian strongman Nikola Jokić is out with an injury, thank god, but best wishes, Nikola, and get well at your own pace. Don't let anyone rush you - stay out as long as you need. Meanwhile, the Celtics will still have their hands full.   

Okay, I'm Finally Ready to Talk About That Sugar Bowl Loss

Time wounds all heels. It's been several days now, so I can finally talk about the Georgia Bulldogs 39-34 Sugar Bowl loss to the Ole Miss Rebels in the CFP Quarterfinals. 

First, what a game! I haven't been that on edge for three hours since Uncut Gems. Five lead changes. Two Gunner Stockton rushing TDs in the first half, and then a Georgia scoop-and-score just before halftime. The Dawgs coming back from a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to get the ball to the Ole Miss 3-yard line with 1:04 left. 

A touchdown would have won the game there, but Georgia had to settle for a game-tying field goal and hope for OT. But then Ole Miss kicked the game-winning FG. And then, there were the last, totally insane 0:09 seconds that saw the trophy stage rolled onto and then off the field again twice, a safety, and a crazy Georgia play in the last 0:01 that include a pass and 11 laterals for 30 yards, but that last second finally expired and that was that.

Can't say they didn't try. The Dawgs lost a rematch game to a team with an explosive offense, a dynamic, running QB who played out of his mind in a probably career-defining second half, and a kicker who nailed 55- and 56- yard field goals. Georgia missed a 55-yarder, and that made all the difference in the game. 

If Georgia had won, if they just made those last three yards in that last minute or hit that 55-yard FG, the game would have been an all-time classic, come-from-behind victory. But Ole Miss simply played a bit better and got the win. It was as simple as that.

The Dawgs played their hearts out and despite having several players injured and one DQ'ed for a questionable targeting call, they still managed to score 10 unanswered points in the fourth to tie it up. They gave it their all and lost by only five points, not 23 or 35 like some other CFP teams this season (cough, Alabama, cough, Texas Tech, cough).  

  

Despite the loss, Georgia is still the repeat SEC Champion. They were 12-1 during the regular season and avenged the one loss in the title game, beating Alabama by three scores. They finished the season ranked No. 3 in the country and made the CFP for two consecutive season  - it could have been three, if the Selection Committee hadn't dissed them in 2023.

They will come back better and stronger next year. We fans should be reveling in every single one of these games coached by Kirby Smart. These are the golden years of Georgia Bulldogs football. There are the years fan will look back on fondly for decades. This is the standard future teams and coaches will be measured against.   

No, we didn't win the National Championship this year, but we've won two of the last five and there's no other team that can say that. 

Go Dawgs!

Patriots 38, Dolphins 10

 

The New England Patriots, who last year ended their season, 3-14, turned things around with a 14-3 regular season this year. They are the AFC East champions, and Denver, also 14-3, needed the common-opponent tiebreaker to clinch the entire AFC.

Yesterday, in the last game of the regular season, the Patriots beat the Miami Dolphins, 38-10, behind Drake Maye's 191 passing yards and Rhamondre Stevenson's 131 yards rushing. Stevenson scored two rushing TDs and TreVeyon Henderson rushed for two more, while Maye passed for a fifth. The Patriots played flawlessly - there were no New England fumbles and no interceptions; the offensive line never even gave up a sack. 

Maye finished the season with the highest QB rating (113.5), the highest completion percentage (72.0%), and the most yards per attempt (8.9) in the NFL. He threw the third most passing touchdowns (31), and was fourth in total yards (4,394) and passing yards per game (258.5). His 354 completions was fifth-best in the league.    

With an MVP-level QB like Maye, the Pats were second in the NFL in point per game and fourth in total passing yards.  Their defense had the fourth-lowest points allowed per game. 

However (there's always a "however"), the Pats also benefitted this season from one of the easiest schedules in the NFL (the AFC East isn't exactly a powerhouse these days). Their schedule only included three teams that made it to the playoffs this year, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Carolina, and they were a combined 2-2 in those games. 

So now comes the interesting part. They start the playoffs next Saturday with a Wild Card game against the L.A. Chargers (11-6), featuring QB Justin Hebert (3,727 yards, 9th in the NFL) and former Georgia Bulldog Ladd McConkey (789 receiving yards). The early line favors New England by 3½, but should they win, they will face the winner of Buffalo-Jacksonville, and then, most likely, the Denver Broncos in the Conference Championship. Seattle, also 14-3, is the favorite to win the NFC and be the opponent to whatever AFC team makes the Super Bowl.

It's been a great season so far for the 2025 Patriots. Now let's buckle down and see what they're really capable of doing.  

Celtics 146, Clippers 115

 

Talk about mighty - not only did the Celtics drop 146 points on the Clippers last night in L.A., but Jaylen Brown tied his career high with 50 points, including 6-of-10 shooting on threes. He joins Jayson Tatum and Larry Bird as the only players in Celtics franchise history with multiple 50+ point games.

When Jayson Tatum finally heals and returns to play, he'll find a markedly better Celtics team than the one with which he last played.

Walsh was hot from outside, too, hitting 3-of-4 on his way to 13 points. Pritchard went 2-of-3 (12 points total), Simons 5-of-8 (15 points), and White 5-of-12 (29 points). The Celtics outrebounded the Clippers 46-30, and gave González 9:50 minutes. Just remember the magic formula:

3-point %  + > Rebounds +  González Minutes = Success!

The Celtics are now 22-12 and in second place in the Atlantic Divison, a mere half game back from the first-place Knicks. 

The western road trip will take the Celts to Chicago Monday night for a game against the Bulls (17-18).    

Bruins 3, Canucks 2 (OT)

 

The mighty Boston Bruins make it back-to-back wins after their awful six-game losing streak with an OT win in Vancouver. Hometown boy Fraser Minten scored the OT goal, as well as the game's first in the opening period. Elias Lindholm found the back of the net in the second. 

Former Bruin Jake DeBrusk led the Canucks with seven shots on goal, but never scored. Former BU Terrier Tom Willander made two shots and two blocks, but likewise didn't score.

The Bruins improve to 22-18-2 on the season, fifth in the Atlantic Division and seven points back from first place, which is now occupied by Tampa Bay.

The West Coast road trip continues - next, the Bruins will play the Kraken in Seattle on Tuesday night (10:00 pm). 

BU 3, Harvard 2

 

The Boston University women's ice hockey team won the tournament championship game against Harvard in Belfast (of all places) and were crowned champions of the 2026 Friendship Series. No point going all the way to Ireland except to win the tournament, amiright?

Riley Walsh got the first score of the game in the first period. The Crimson tied the game in the second, but then Lilli Welcke, who hit the winning shot in yesterday's shoot out, put the Terriers ahead just 36 seconds later, and BU took a 2-1 lead into the third. Harvard came back and tied it again, but BU's Neely Nicholson got the winning goal with 7:14 remaining in the game.

The Terriers are now 5-11-3 overall and 4-6-2 in Hockey East play. Their next game is back in the states against New Hampshire (10-8-3 overall, 5-5-2 in Hockey East) on Saturday, January 10. 

BU 2, Quinnipiac 2

Screw football. Teams let you down, disappoint you, and break your heart. Forget about 'em. There's a game on right now - the Armed Services Bowl, but I don't even care. Two Texas teams, and both from minor conferences at that. Couldn't be bothered.   

Here's what matters: the Boston University women's ice hockey team is in Belfast, North Ireland (of all places), playing in something called the Friendship Series among BU, Harvard, Quinnipiac, and Minnesota -  Duluth. 

The first round was today, and the unranked Terriers (4-11-3) advanced over the No. 8 Quinnipiac Bobcats (14-6-1). BU will face Harvard (8-6-1) in the championship game tomorrow.

The Bobcats took a 2-0 lead early in the second period before BU's Sydney Healey scored twice, once in the second period and again in the third, to make it 2-2. Neither team scored in overtime, and the game officially ended as a tie, and a shootout needed to determine who would advancing to the next round.  

Terrier goalie Mari Pietersen saved all three of Quinnipiac's attempts in the shootout and BU's Lilli Welcke was the only shooter to score, advancing the Terriers to the championship game with Harvard tomorrow. 

The Crimson won, 3-2, in overtime against No. 5 Minnesota Duluth (12-7-0) in today's other semifinal.

Celtics 120, Kings 106

 

A grieving nation, stunned and saddened by Georgia's loss in the CFP quarterfinals, turns its weary eyes to the Boston Celtics for solace. Jaylen Brown responds with a healing 29-point performance and 10 rebounds - a double double! - as the Celtics win a late-night game (late at least here in the East Coast) in Sacramento over the Kings, 120-106. 

What quarter did the Celtics underperform?  None! In no quarter were they outscored by more than one point, and they dominated, 32-18, in the fourth. Four solid quarters of basketball! What a concept!

Sam Hauser had the hot hand on three-pointers last night, going 5 of 7 from outside for all 15 of his points. White and Pritchard each had 16 points and Simons had 14, and the Celtics outrebounded the Kings, 40 to 32. They gave González 18½ minutes of playing time and he responded with a three, six rebounds, an assist, and a steal, and the team was +20 when the was on the floor. So once again, the formula for winning is Rebounds + Three-Pointers + Hugo Minutes = Success!

Boston is now 21-12 (same as the Bulldogs' lead at halftime last night, I realize and suddenly get choked up) and in second place in the Atlantic, two games back from the Knicks. The Celtic defense has given up only 110.6 point per game, second best in the NBA behind Oklahoma City.  

Next game is Saturday night (10:30 pm) against the Clippers. 

Sugar Bowl: Ole Miss 39, Georgia 34

I don't want to talk about it. 

Okay, I'll say this much: Georgia blew a 21-12 halftime lead, only to come back in the fourth from a ten-point deficit, only to lose it in the last seconds to an Ole Miss field goal and then some sort of weird-ass safety after Ole Miss fumbled the punt return.

This year sucks so far. I hate 2026!

I'm dead inside. Allow me some time to grieve, and I'll talk about this tomorrow.

Rose Bowl: Indiana 38, Alabama 3

And I thought Oregon's 23-0 win over Texas Tech was a blow-out! The No. 1 Indiana Hoosier's (13-0) go to the Rose Bowl and completely dominate the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide (11-3). Indiana will face Oregon in the Peach Bowl for the CFP Semifinal  Game on  January 9. Alabama, who beat Oklahoma in the First Round to get to this game, will go home, maybe fire their head coach, and sulk for the next eight months.

The big game - some say the biggest game ever - is next: the University of Georgia Bulldogs versus Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl. This Indiana win  is the first time in CFP history a team has won after a first-round bye. The Dawgs are glad someone broke that curse before their game, as they're coming off their own first-round bye.

Indiana is now 14-0 and there's no denying they're a good team. Only time will tell if this is the start of a new dynasty or just an anomaly - a one-year fluke. I had Georgia-Indiana in the Championship Game. My picks this season may have been bad (I suck at this), but it looks like I may have gotten that one right.   

Orange Bowl: Oregon 23, Texas Tech 0

The No. 5 Oregon Ducks (12-1) expose the No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders (12-1) for the overhyped frauds that they are. Texas Tech can now boast that they're the only team in this postseason to get shut out; Texas A&M came close, but that at least they got a field goal. Texas teams . . . 

Oregon, who beat James Madison in the First Round, will go on to play the winner of Alabama vs. Indiana.      

The two teams with First Round byes to play this year (Ohio State and Texas Tech) have lost their games, just like all four did last year. This is auspicious for Alabama, playing No. 1 Indiana next, and ominous for No. 3 Georgia, playing later tonight. Perhaps 30 days off is too long?

Bruins 6, Oilers 2

 

Finally. The losing streak had to end someday and it did last night, in Edmonton. The mighty Boston Bruins finally got a win, beating the Oilers, 6-2.

Pastrnak scored twice, the first and the last goals of the game. The Lindholms, Elias and Hampus, each scored a goal. Casey Mittelstadt  got a goal, and so did Jonathan Aspirot. Jeremy Swayman saved 24 of 26 shots (.944).  

Former Bruin Trent Frederic wasn't much of a factor in the game for the Oilers, and former BU Terrier Quinn Hutson had been reassigned to the Bakersfield Condors and didn't play last night against the Bruins. He did play for the Condors, though, and tied a rookie goal-scoring record last night. 

The Bruins (21-18-2) are still seven points back from Detroit in the Atlantic Division and two points out of Wild-Card contention. On Saturday night (10:00 pm) they play the Canucks (16-20-3) and former teammate Jake DeBrusk. 

Let's hope this is the start of a win streak equal to or longer than the losing streak that just ended.