Link to audio here

Hello and welcome back. I’m your host Lucas Parent and today I’m joined by Chris Cooke, Caden Watters, and Will Denio. Let’s get right into it.

The Celtics host the Orlando Magic tonight. 

The Magic have made a living off of their bigs this season: Paolo Banchero, Bol Bol, Franz Wagner, and Wendell Carter Jr., but the Celtics will receive some aid tonight as Robert Williams returns to the lineup for the first time this season. Williams averaged career highs in points, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and minutes per game. Williams was also selected to the all-defensive team last season as he was 2nd in blocks per game and 15th in rebounds per game.

The Celtics are 11-2 at home and the Magic are 1-11 on the road this season. While Williams is returning, the Celtics are likely to be without Al Horford again.

The Magic will have their hands full with Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown tonight. This season Tatum is in the thick of the MVP race, averaging 30 points and eight rebounds per game on the East-leading Celtics. Jaylen Brown is also putting together an All-NBA campaign, averaging upwards of 26 points per contest on over 50% shooting from the field. 

As December 15th came and went, over 70 NBA players gained the ability to be traded, leading the NBA season into a new season,,, trade season. The Celtucs are unexpected to shop anyone on the team, but other teams may decide to make a move towards contention or blow it up and enter the Victor Wembenyama sweepstakes.

Red Sox chief of baseball operations Chaim Bloom made it clear that resigning Rafael Devers is the biggest priority the Red Sox have this offseason. Jon Heyman reports that the Red Sox may be in the running for another big name free agent. Heyman writes that the Sox are expected to be in the mix for Dansby Swanson, along with the Cubs, Dodgers, and Braves.

Yesterday Adam Frazier signed a one year, eight million dollar contract with the Baltimore Orioles. Also in the news, the Yankees inked star pitcher Carlos Rodon to a six-year, 162 million dollar contract with a no trade clause. Perhaps Rodon will give the Yankees the boost they need to return to the World Series for the first time in 15 seasons.

The Bruins took the ice yesterday and hosted the Los Angeles Kings. The Bruins scored a pair of goals in the 2nd period to take a two-nothing lead, but it was erased as the Kings responded with two of their own in the 3rd period to send the game to overtime. Adrian Kempe of the Kings scored both goals in the 3rd, as well as another in the shootout, as the Kings rallied to victory, 3-2. The Bruins are now 23-4-2 on the season and hold the best record in the NHL.

It’s officially bowl season in college football. Miami of Ohio faces off against UAB today in the Hometown Lenders Bahamas Bowl. UTSA squares off against Troy in the Duluth Trading Cure Bowl as well. 

Fenway Park will be home to a bowl game this season. Cincinnati faces Louisville on Saturday in the Wasabi Fenway bowl. 

The World Cup concludes this weekend. Two of the top players, Messi and Mbappe, butt heads as France looks to capture its second consecutive World Cup title against Argentina. 

Lincoln basketball has been in action the past few days and they have been winning. All of Lincoln’s boy teams captured a win yesterday. The Freshman team defeated Toll Gate, 53-25. The JV and Varsity team both squared off against Saint Rays. JV won 61-41, while Varsity won 62-57. Freshman Josh Bergeron scored 18, earning him the third Heart of a Lion belt on the season.

(Chris/Will/Caden join)

Discussion of Robert Williams return, Brock Purdy masterclass, Drew Brees enters coaching career

That’s all for today, be sure to tune in next time.