WALTHAM, Mass. (AP) — Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown is doubtful for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers with a strained right hamstring, coach Brad Stevens said, while adding that he could return later in the series.Stevens said Brown still had some soreness on Sunday, a day after the Celtics eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks and a day before the second-round opener. Brown had said he was going to have an MRI, and Stevens said tests were negative."It looks like it could be something that allows him to play as the series goes on," Stevens said.The No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 draft, Brown averaged 14.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game this season. He left Saturday night's clincher against the Bucks in the first quarter; the team announced that he was available to return, but Stevens decided to play it safe.Brown said afterward he was told it was a Grade 1 injury — the least severe kind. He was put on anti-inflammatory medication."Whatever it takes, I wouldn't miss this series for the world," Brown said Saturday night.The Celtics are already without stars Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving, as well as Daniel Theis."We don't think about what's happened throughout the season," center Aron Baynes said. "We have that 'next man up' mentality. We'll miss Jaylen; he's definitely hard to make up for. It's just all being able to collectively do it."___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

Al Horford has played in four Game 7s. Jason Terry has been in three, his teams winning them all.For them, this is old hat.For just about everyone else who's had any role in this Boston-Milwaukee series, however, this is new or relatively new territory. The ultimate game awaits the Bucks and Celtics on Saturday night, when their Eastern Conference first-round series ends on Boston's home floor — the winner moving into the second round to face the Philadelphia 76ers, the loser going home for the summer."We're going to be in a tough position," Milwaukee guard Eric Bledsoe said. "We've just got to come out and fight. ... We've just got to find a way."The Celtics have been in more Game 7s than any franchise in NBA history. This will be the 32nd such game for Boston, which has gone 22-9 in its previous ones. Milwaukee is going to Game 7 for the 10th time; the Bucks' franchise is 2-7 so far in those."Super exciting," said Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon, when asked about how he feels about making... [More]

C Aron Baynes had 13 points and six rebounds Saturday.

C Aron Baynes scored 17 points Wednesday.

C Aron Baynes snared a season-high 13 rebounds for the Celtics, who won at Detroit on Sunday. Baynes was primarily responsible for holding Pistons C Andre Drummond to a season-low six points, 20 fewer than he had in the teams' first meeting.

C Aron Baynes had 12 points and a season-high 10 rebounds in the victory.

BOSTON -- Aron Baynes matched his career high with 21 points and the Boston Celtics won their 10th straight game, holding off the Los Angeles Lakers 107-96 on Wednesday night.The Celtics played the entire game without Al Horford (concussion) and the second half without rookie Jayson Tatum (ankle) and built a 21-point lead before the Lakers battled back. Los Angeles got as close as two with 5:43 left in the third quarter, but Boston grew the lead back to double digits.Kyrie Irving overcame a poor shooting night with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Celtics. Brandon Ingram and Jordan Clarkson had 18 points apiece and Julius Randle added 16 points and 12 rebounds for Boston.Warriors 125, Timberwolves 101OAKLAND, Calif. -- Relying on its depth with All-Star forward Kevin Durant unavailable, Golden State put away Minnesota.Minnesota entered with five consecutive wins, but the streak ended with Warriors guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson orchestrating a 44-26 third-quarter... [More]

C Aron Baynes matched his career high with 21 points and added eight rebounds and three assists in Wednesday's 107-96 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. "Aron was great," coach Brad Stevens said. "He did a great job of rolling all night and sealing and finishing in and around the paint. Had a couple of put-backs and did a good job." Baynes is averaging 7.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

F/C Aron Baynes started for the Celtics with F Marcus Morris not yet cleared for back-to-back games, but Baynes had just two points in 14 minutes.

C Aron Baynes is expected to sign a one-year, $4.3 million contract with the Celtics, ESPN.com reported Sunday.The 6-foot-10, 260-pound Baynes averaged 4.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 15.5 minutes per game last season with the Detroit Pistons.Baynes' strength is defensive rebounding, and that is where Boston needs help.The Celtics cannot sign the 30-year-old Baynes officially until Gordon Hayward is officially signed to a maximum-contract salary that will pay him $29.7 million next season.The recent departures of Kelly Olynyk to the Miami Heat and Amir Johnson to the Philadelphia 76ers left the Celtics in need of some frontcourt strength to complement Al Horford.

C Aron Baynes will decline his $6.5 million contract option and become a free agent, The Vertical reported. Pistons president and coach Stan Van Gundy has said repeatedly that he expected the 30-year-old Baynes to opt out and seek a better deal, per the Detroit Free Press. Baynes averaged 4.9 points and 4.4 rebounds in 75 games (two starts) last season with the Pistons.

Aron Baynes is set to become a free agent as the Detroit Pistons center will decline his $6.5 million player option, according to The Vertical.Pistons president and coach Stan Van Gundy has said repeatedly that he expected the 30-year-old Baynes to opt out and seek a better deal, the Detroit Free Press reports.The 6-foot-10 Baynes averaged 4.9 points and 4.4 rebounds in 75 games (two starts) last season with the Pistons.He has career averages of 5.2 points and 4.1 boards in 295 games over five seasons with the Pistons and San Antonio Spurs.Baynes entered the league in 2009 and signed with the Spurs as an undrafted free agent, spending three seasons with San Antonio before signing with Detroit.

C Aron Baynes powered for 13 points and a career-high 17 rebounds off the bench for Detroit (34-36). The previous high for the fifth-year center was 12 rebounds.

C Aron Baynes posted 12 points and 12 rebounds -- his first double-double since Jan. 23 last season against Denver.

C Aron Baynes contributed 12 points and seven rebounds Monday,

C Aron Baynes chipped in 10 points and six rebounds for Detroit (25-28), which has won seven of its last eight home games.

C Aron Baynes was sidelined for the second straight game on Thursday night with a left ankle sprain.

C Aron Baynes was sidelined for the second straight game on Thursday with a left ankle sprain.

C Aron Baynes missed his first game this season Tuesday with a left ankle sprain.

F/C Aron Baynes injured his left ankle in the fourth quarter and didn't return. Baynes underwent X-rays and the results were negative, according to a Pistons spokesman.