The defending NBA champions look to extend their winning streak as they continue their road trip out West and on Wednesday, March 26, the Boston Celtics visit the Phoenix Suns at the Footprint Center in Phoenix.
The game is scheduled to start at 10 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and NBC Sports Boston. Fans looking to watch this NBA game can do so for free by using DirecTV Stream, which offers a free trial, or FuboTV, which also offers a free trial and up to $25 off your first month. SlingTV doesn’t offer a free trial but has promotional offers available.
The Celtics have won six straight games and are 53-19. Still five games back of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston seems destined for the second seed heading into the East playoffs.
The Suns could be headed for the play-in, or they could end up going straight into the offseason. At 35-37, they have a half game lead on the Dallas Mavericks for 10th in the West. They are tied with the Sacramento Kings, who sit in ninth thanks to owning the tiebreaker. Winners of four straight, Phoenix will visit Boston next month and close the season in Sacramento.
WATCH THE GAME FOR FREE HERE
Who: Boston Celtics vs. Phoenix Suns
When: Wednesday, March 26 at 10 p.m. EDT
Where: Footprint Center in Phoenix
Stream: FuboTV (free trial); Sling; DirecTV Stream (free trial)
Betting: Check out our MA sports betting guide, where you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts.
What is FuboTV?
FuboTV is an internet television service that offers more than 200 channels across sports and entertainment including Paramount+ with SHOWTIME. From the UEFA Champions League to the WNBA to international tournaments ranging across sports, there’s plenty of options available on FuboTV, which offers a free trial and up to $25 off the first month for new customers.
What is DirecTV Stream?
DirecTV Stream offers practically everything DirecTV provides, except for a remote and a streaming device to connect to your television. Sign up now and get three free months of premium channels including MAX, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME and Starz.
What is SlingTV?
SlingTV offers a variety of live programing ranging from news and sports and starting as low as $20 a month for your first month. Subscribers also get a month of DVR Plus free if they sign up now. Choose from a variety of sports packages without long-term contracts and with easy cancelation.
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Bucks say Damian Lillard has deep vein thrombosis in his right calf
By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard likely will be sidelined indefinitely, with the team announcing Tuesday night that he has deep vein thrombosis in his right calf and is taking blood-thinning medication.
The Bucks provided the update on the seven-time All-NBA guard’s status without offering a target date for his potential return. Lillard has missed the last three games for the Bucks, who close a five-game trip Wednesday at Denver.
Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel.
“Damian’s health is our No. 1 priority,” Bucks general manager Jon Horst said in a statement. “We will support him as he moves through this weekly process of strict criteria to ensure that it is safe for him to return to play. Doctors have indicated that his situation is very unlikely to occur again. We are thankful that this was identified and medicated quickly, which helps with the recovery.”
The Bucks said Lillard’s medication has stabilized the thrombosis and that he will continue with regular testing.
Lillard, 34, is the second high-profile player to be sidelined this season because of DVT.
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs was diagnosed with it in his shoulder after he returned from the All-Star Game last month and was quickly ruled out for the season. He, like Lillard, is on blood-thinning medication, but doctors have assured the Spurs that there is no concern for Wembanyama’s long-term health.
Such cases have affected NBA players before, including Hall of Famer Chris Bosh — whose career was cut short after he was diagnosed with blood clots while playing with Miami. Brandon Ingram, now with the Toronto Raptors, had his 2018-19 season end early because of deep vein thrombosis when he was with the Los Angeles Lakers. Detroit’s Ausar Thompson had a clot issue that saw him miss the end of the 2023-24 season.
DVT typically develops in the lower leg, so the diagnosis of it in Lillard’s calf is not uncommon.
The injury puts on hold a season in which Lillard earned his ninth All-Star Game selection. He was ranked 10th in the NBA in assists (7.1) and 11th in scoring (24.9).
His situation raises the possibility that the Bucks could open the playoffs without one of their two superstars for a second straight season. Milwaukee went out in the first round of the playoffs for a second consecutive season last year when a calf injury prevented two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo from playing at all in a 6-game loss to the Indiana Pacers.
The Bucks (40-31) are in a virtual tie with the Detroit Pistons (41-32) for fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings, two games behind fourth-place Indiana (42-29). The top four teams in the conference earn home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
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AP Pro Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami contributed to this report.
The Associated Press contributed to this article