Jared Dudley has interest in signing with the Boston Celtics this offseason.

Dudley played college basketball for Boston College.

Dudley will turn 34 in July and had a productive season with the Brooklyn Nets.

Dudley just finished the three-year, $30 million deal he signed in 2016 with Phoenix.

The Boston Celtics credited Al Horford's defense in their 112-90 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series.

Giannis Antetokounmpo was held to 22 points on 7 of 21 shooting, including going 1 for 6 against Horford.

"I just think that our group, we all understood how we needed to defend and how dangerous he is once he gets it in the paint. So constantly tonight, we had a couple of breakdowns, but for the most part, I feel like everyone was very aware. Our guards really did a good job of helping and closing down lanes and things like that, and we just wanted to challenge and contest every shot as best we could," said Horford.

Antetokounmpo added that he needed to make the right passes with the Celtics packing the paint.

"They were loading [the paint] a lot. Lots of guys in the paint. Whenever I got in the paint, when I spin or try and change direction, the second guy was right there. I've just gotta go watch tape. If they are going to play like this the whole series, I have to be able to make the right pass, trust my teammates to knock down shots," said Antetokounmpo.

The Los Angeles Clippers made a preliminary trade call to the Boston Celtics before the trade deadline to inquire on the availability of Kyrie Irving.

The call came before the Clippers traded Tobias Harris to the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Celtics quickly said they were not interested in discussing a trade of Irving.

Irving will be a free agent this offseason and the Clippers figure to have enough cap space to sign two max players.

The Boston Celtics announced that John Havlicek has passed away at the age of 79.

Havlicek played his entire 16-year career with the Celtics, winning 8 NBA titles. Only 2 players have won more NBA titles than Havlicek.

Havlicek had been suffering from Parkinson's disease.

"His defining traits as a player were his relentless hustle and wholehearted commitment to team over self. He was extraordinarily thoughtful and generous, both on a personal level and for those in need, as illustrated by his commitment to raising money for The Genesis Foundation for Children for over three decades through his fishing tournament. John was kind and considerate, humble and gracious. He was a champion in every sense, and as we join his family, friends, and fans in mourning his loss, we are thankful for all the joy and inspiration he brought to us," released the Celtics in a team statement.

Gordon Hayward shot 7 of 9 from the field and scored 20 points in the Boston Celtics' 110-106 win over the Indiana Pacers to sweep the series.

"There's nothing worse than sitting there and not be able to play in the playoffs especially. So to be able to be with my teammates, be a part of something like this where we got a chance to sweep the Pacers, after everything that happened last year, it makes it all worth it -- no doubt. And it's just the beginning for us. We still got a lot of work to do," said Hayward.

Brad Stevens added that their patience with Hayward's progress throughout the season is paying off in the playoffs.

"It's been a long process to get back to where he probably feels as good as he does now. We knew that going in. We said all year [that] every 20 games he's going to be a little bit better, and he was big at the end of the game tonight for sure," said Stevens.

Kyrie Irving struck a reflective tone after finishing with 37 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists in the Boston Celtics' 99-91 win over the Indiana Pacers to take a 2-0 series lead.

"It's pretty peaceful. I'm just happy to be able to be part of a lineage of great players that have put on some unbelievable performances here in the TD, as well as in the old Garden. But it felt good to be here in this position, playing in this arena. It's just been a long journey having those two knee surgeries and watching the team last year. And finally getting a chance to lace them up for the Boston Celtics in the NBA playoffs? There's nothing like it," said Irving.

The Pacers were up 12 points with 11:20 left in the 4th quarter. With Irving on the bench, the Celtics responded with an 8-0 run. Irving came back into the game and scored 9 straight points.

"Kyrie was incredible in coming back, and when he gets on a run like that, he's going to draw even more attention than he already draws, which is as much as anybody draws in the league. And so, in the last couple minutes of the game, he just made the right play," said Brad Stevens.

Jayson Tatum had a disappointing second regular season in the NBA in which shooting efficiency dropped. Tatum has also been mentioned in trade rumors involving Anthony Davis once the Boston Celtics can trade for him this offseason.

“Trade rumors don’t bother me,” Tatum said of trade rumors. “They’re talking about trading me for guys like Anthony Davis. So, I mean, I must be doing something pretty well.” When pressed on whether this bothered him, he didn’t budge: “I love the game of basketball. Being traded is part of the game. I’ll play for whomever. It’s something I can’t control.”

“Circumstances don’t affect him,” Brad Stevens said. “First game of the season, he’s unaffected by the jitters that everybody has. Seventh game of a playoff series? Unaffected. At least, he shows himself to be unaffected, and he can thrive in that environment.”

Tatum also revealed he has a poster of himself dunking on LeBron James in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

“I’ve got a big-ass picture of it in my house,” Tatum said.

The Celtics ultimately lost the game as the Cleveland Cavaliers advanced to The Finals.

The Cleveland Cavaliers would have interest in trading for Gordon Hayward this offseason should he become available by the Boston Celtics.

The Cavaliers offered Hayward a max contract during his 2014 restricted free agency.

Hayward's name is mentioned by the Cleveland Plain Dealer in trade scenarios involving the contract of J.R. Smith. The Celtics will try to re-sign Kyrie Irving and trade for Anthony Davis this offseason. If they strike out on Irving and Davis, the Celtics could conceivably reset around Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Hayward is under contract for two more seasons.

Kyrie Irving celebrated his first playoff win with the Boston Celtics by embracing his father. Irving missed the entire 2018 NBA Playoffs.

"Kyrie is a strange dude," said Brian Windhorst on the Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast. "They win Game 1. He played okay. He kind of took over in the second half.

"He runs over to his family after winning Game 1 in the same vein Tiger (Woods) ran over to his family after winning The Masters. He's celebrating with his dad. I'm all for it."

Windhorst compared how Irving celebrated a first round win to his reaction when the Cleveland Cavaliers won The Finals in 2016.

"He won The Finals and he was angry," said Windhorst. "He, seriously, won The Finals, his father and sister came out to hug him and he was angry. He was mad, in that moment.

"And then, when he got to the locker room, while his teammates were celebrating, he FaceTimed Kobe (Bryant). 

"This is a strange man. Hell of a player, strange man."

Windhorst added that he can see Irving re-signing with the Celtics if they go on a run in the playoffs. Windhorst was then asked by Rachel Nichols what he believes the odds are of Irving re-signing with the Celtics if they're eliminated in the second round where they will presumably play the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks.

"50-50 at best, probably too high," said Windhorst. "I'm protecting myself a little bit there so I don't get aggregated."

Marcus Smart will miss 4-6 weeks after being diagnosed with a torn oblique on his left side.

The timeline would sideline Smart through the Celtics' first round matchup against the Pacers, and a potential second round matchup against the Bucks.

Smart will resume basketball activities in 4 weeks.

Smart has been one of the Boston Celtics' most productive players. Jaylen Brown will likely take his place in the lineup.

Smart re-signed with the Celtics last offseason on a four-year, $52 million deal.