Jaylen Brown scored 31 points, and the Boston Celtics overcame an off night for Jayson Tatum to beat the Washington Wizards 108-96 in the NBA Cup on Friday night. The Celtics improved to 2-1 in East Group C of this competition with one game remaining.

Cade Cunningham and the improved Detroit Pistons are on the road Thursday night as 1.5-point favorites over Charlotte Hornets.

In the league's Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been the only other team that looks like a genuine contender. And out in the Western Conference, the race is a bit more pitched with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, and even the Los Angeles Lakers hinting that they might be in the mix to hang a banner this summer.

President Joe Biden welcomed “Coach Joe” Mazzulla and the Boston Celtics to the White House to celebrate the franchise’s unprecedented 18th NBA championship.