For the 17th time in franchise history, the Boston Celtics are NBA Champions. The 2008 Celtics brought an end to their storied franchise’s 21-year championship drought with the most lopsided closeout win in NBA Finals history on Tuesday night, blowing out the Lakers, 131-92. Leading just 32-29 midway through the second quarter, the Celtics scored 11 straight points and finished the half on on a 26-6 run. In the second half, Boston’s 58-35 halftime lead only grew. Clearly, the Celtics had had enough close games. Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett each scored a game-high 26 points and Rajon Rondo added 20 as the Celtics came up just three points shy of the NBA Finals record for largest margin of victory.

Per la 17esima volta nella sua storia Boston ha conquistato l’anello dell’Nba, il campionato professionistico di basket americano. In gara-6 della finale, sul parquet di casa del Banknorth Garden, i Celtics hanno sconfitto i Los Angeles Lakers 131-92, chiudendo i conti sul 4-2. Ottima prova di Kevin Garnett (22 punti, 14 rimbalzi e 4 assist) e di Ray Allen (26 punti, 4 rimbalzi e 2 assist), mentre tra i Lakers il top-scorer e’ stato Kobe Bryant, con 22 punti a referto. Era dal 1986 che i Celtics - che hanno vinto il maggior numero di campionati Nba - non si aggiudicavano il titolo.

Italy booked their place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2008 with a 2-0 win over 10-man France in their final Group C game. Andrea Pirlo netted a 25th minute penalty following France defender Eric Abidal’s dismissal before Daniele De Rossi sealed victory with a heavily-deflected free-kick midway through the second-half.

Gli azzurri battono 2-0 la Francia con Pirlo (rigore) e De Rossi (punizione deviata da Henry). Domenica alle 20.45 sfida alle Furie Rosse senza gli squalificati Pirlo e Gattuso.

Romania’s Euro 2008 quarter-final dream died as they lost 2-0 to the Netherlands with goals from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Robin van Persie. A win for Victor Piturca’s side would have guaranteed progression, while a draw would have been enough if the match in Zurich between World Cup finalists Italy and France also ended in stalemate. However optimism turned to trepidation then despair as first Ajax man Huntelaar then Arsenal’s Van Persie finished clinically either side of half-time.

Il terzo successo consecutivo degli Oranje condanna Mutu e Chivu, troppo tesi e poco concreti. I gol nella ripresa: apre Huntelaar, chiude Van Persie. L’Italia ringrazia.