Sebastian Telfair

Celtics guard Sebastian Telfair was arrested early yesterday after police found a loaded handgun in his car when he was stopped for speeding on the Bronx River Parkway, according to Westchester County (N.Y.) police spokesman Kieran O'Leary. The incident occurred shortly before 4 a.m. in Yonkers, when police clocked Telfair driving northbound at 77 miles per hour in a 45-m.p.h. zone in his 2006 Land Rover. After being pulled over, Telfair produced a suspended Florida driver's license and gave police addresses in White Plains, N.Y., and his hometown of Brooklyn.

Steve Nash hit a crucial driving layup, then made two free throws for the deciding points and the Phoenix Suns bolstered their playoff hopes with an intense 93-90 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night. There were 24 lead changes in the Suns' 10th straight win over the Clippers in Phoenix. Chris Paul, who had 10 assists, scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half of just the third loss in 16 games for the Clippers, who had won five straight. Caron Butler added 19 points for the Clippers, while Blake Griffin scored 16 points, only two after the first quarter.

He's an undersized point guard. He's a (to be polite) marginal shooter. He can't guard. He seems to have a recurrent handgun issue. He also seems to have an expired driver's license issue and a wrong-place-at-the-wrong-time issue. He is a soon-to-be-former Celtic, at least according to co-owner Wyc Grousbeck, who alerted the media via e-mail to the fact that Sebastian Telfair was not going to be a part of any Celtics' plans. "I wanted to let you know that we have removed Sebastian's nameplate from his locker in Waltham," Grousbeck wrote.

The Los Angeles Lakers played their first game without Kobe Bryant in two seasons, and it wasn't pretty. Unless you're a Phoenix Suns, or maybe a Los Angeles Clippers fan. Shannon Brown scored 20 of his 24 points in the third quarter Saturday night, leading the Suns to a 125-105 victory, their fourth in five games. An injured left shin ended Bryant's string of 138 consecutive regular-season games played. The NBA's leading scorer watched the Suns reserves dominate the second quarter, then Brown go off against his former team in the third.

The Celtics have taken the first steps toward severing ties with recently arrested point guard Sebastian Telfair, according to an e-mail sent by co-owner Wyc Grousbeck to Globe reporters shortly after noon yesterday. "I wanted to let you know that we have removed Sebastian's nameplate from his locker in Waltham," wrote Grousbeck. "The facts and circumstances of his case have not been determined but he does not have a Celtics locker and we do not anticipate that he will. " Executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge said last night Telfair had not been waived, and that the Celtics had not...

INDIANAPOLIS -- Al Jefferson did not wait for the end of the question. From the moment the final buzzer sounded last night and the Celtics' 103-96 loss to the Pacers entered the books -- stretching Boston's losing streak to 12 games -- Jefferson knew the query was coming. Was he aware that the Celtics could tie the franchise record with a 13th loss tonight against the Lakers at home? Cutting off a reporter, Jefferson said, "I'm aware of that. " When asked if the streak was wearing down the Celtics, Jefferson offered another brusque answer.

Sebastian Telfair could not stop smiling after playing the Portland Trail Blazers. Reflecting on his first game against his former team, Telfair sounded like he was in shock. He could not believe how well the game went, how it unfolded better than he dreamed. He could not remember participating in a more satisfying NBA victory. Telfair wanted to prove something to the organization that traded him to Boston June 28. He wanted to show the Blazers what they gave up for Dan Dickau, Raef LaFrentz, and the draft rights to Randy Foye.

WALTHAM -- The usually talkative Danny Ainge did not elaborate on the scheduling of predraft workouts. Despite claiming the need to keep options open, he was vague about which prospects would visit the Celtics' practice facility and when. As it turned out, top prospects Corey Brewer, Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Al Thornton, Brandan Wright, and Julian Wright came to town, while Ainge and coach Doc Rivers traveled to see Yi Jianlian, Jeff Green, and Spencer Hawes. The Celtics appeared to take a detour from auditioning players for the No. 5 pick when they brought in...

The Los Angeles Lakers played their first game without Kobe Bryant in two seasons, and it wasn't pretty. Unless you're a Phoenix Suns, or maybe a Los Angeles Clippers fan. Shannon Brown scored 20 of his 24 points in the third quarter Saturday night, leading the Suns to a 125-105 victory, their fourth in five games. An injured left shin ended Bryant's string of 138 consecutive regular-season games played. The NBA's leading scorer watched the Suns reserves dominate the second quarter, then Brown go off against his former team in the third.

Steve Nash hit a crucial driving layup, then made two free throws for the deciding points and the Phoenix Suns bolstered their playoff hopes with an intense 93-90 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night. There were 24 lead changes in the Suns' 10th straight win over the Clippers in Phoenix. Chris Paul, who had 10 assists, scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half of just the third loss in 16 games for the Clippers, who had won five straight. Caron Butler added 19 points for the Clippers, while Blake Griffin scored 16 points, only two...

WALTHAM -- The usually talkative Danny Ainge did not elaborate on the scheduling of predraft workouts. Despite claiming the need to keep options open, he was vague about which prospects would visit the Celtics' practice facility and when. As it turned out, top prospects Corey Brewer, Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Al Thornton, Brandan Wright, and Julian Wright came to town, while Ainge and coach Doc Rivers traveled to see Yi Jianlian, Jeff Green, and Spencer Hawes. The Celtics appeared to take a detour from auditioning players for the No. 5 pick when they brought in shooting guards Nick Young,...

He's an undersized point guard. He's a (to be polite) marginal shooter. He can't guard. He seems to have a recurrent handgun issue. He also seems to have an expired driver's license issue and a wrong-place-at-the-wrong-time issue. He is a soon-to-be-former Celtic, at least according to co-owner Wyc Grousbeck, who alerted the media via e-mail to the fact that Sebastian Telfair was not going to be a part of any Celtics' plans. "I wanted to let you know that we have removed Sebastian's nameplate from his locker in Waltham," Grousbeck wrote.

The Celtics have taken the first steps toward severing ties with recently arrested point guard Sebastian Telfair, according to an e-mail sent by co-owner Wyc Grousbeck to Globe reporters shortly after noon yesterday. "I wanted to let you know that we have removed Sebastian's nameplate from his locker in Waltham," wrote Grousbeck. "The facts and circumstances of his case have not been determined but he does not have a Celtics locker and we do not anticipate that he will. " Executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge said last night Telfair had not been waived, and that...

Celtics guard Sebastian Telfair was arrested early yesterday after police found a loaded handgun in his car when he was stopped for speeding on the Bronx River Parkway, according to Westchester County (N.Y.) police spokesman Kieran O'Leary. The incident occurred shortly before 4 a.m. in Yonkers, when police clocked Telfair driving northbound at 77 miles per hour in a 45-m.p.h. zone in his 2006 Land Rover. After being pulled over, Telfair produced a suspended Florida driver's license and gave police addresses in White Plains, N.Y., and his hometown of Brooklyn.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Al Jefferson did not wait for the end of the question. From the moment the final buzzer sounded last night and the Celtics' 103-96 loss to the Pacers entered the books -- stretching Boston's losing streak to 12 games -- Jefferson knew the query was coming. Was he aware that the Celtics could tie the franchise record with a 13th loss tonight against the Lakers at home? Cutting off a reporter, Jefferson said, "I'm aware of that. " When asked if the streak was wearing down the Celtics, Jefferson offered another brusque answer.

Sebastian Telfair could not stop smiling after playing the Portland Trail Blazers. Reflecting on his first game against his former team, Telfair sounded like he was in shock. He could not believe how well the game went, how it unfolded better than he dreamed. He could not remember participating in a more satisfying NBA victory. Telfair wanted to prove something to the organization that traded him to Boston June 28. He wanted to show the Blazers what they gave up for Dan Dickau, Raef LaFrentz, and the draft rights to Randy Foye.

CONEY ISLAND, N.Y. -- Leaning against his charcoal-gray Bentley, Sebastian Telfair suggests a ride to the Garden, site of some of his most memorable basketball moments. Telfair slides into the driver's seat, turns right onto Neptune Avenue, and circles until he reaches 31st Street. He pulls into a parking lot beside the housing project where he grew up. The Garden is straight ahead, just over the dashboard, surrounded by a cluster of identical, 15-story, beige-brick buildings. A couple kids shoot at a basket on the well-worn playground court unofficially named after Madison Square Garden.

Count me among the people who urged the Celtics to trade their draft pick for a veteran. Can't say 21-year-old Sebastian Telfair was exactly what I had in mind, particularly since he spent the better part of last season buried on the end of the bench of one of the league's worst teams. A thumb injury cost Telfair his spot in the Blazers rotation, which made him expendable, which brought him here. Some believe Telfair just needs a little more seasoning to develop into a legitimate NBA talent, like former Celtic Chauncey Billups.

CONEY ISLAND, N.Y. -- Leaning against his charcoal-gray Bentley, Sebastian Telfair suggests a ride to the Garden, site of some of his most memorable basketball moments. Telfair slides into the driver's seat, turns right onto Neptune Avenue, and circles until he reaches 31st Street. He pulls into a parking lot beside the housing project where he grew up. The Garden is straight ahead, just over the dashboard, surrounded by a cluster of identical, 15-story, beige-brick buildings. A couple kids shoot at a basket on the well-worn playground court unofficially named after Madison Square Garden.

Count me among the people who urged the Celtics to trade their draft pick for a veteran. Can't say 21-year-old Sebastian Telfair was exactly what I had in mind, particularly since he spent the better part of last season buried on the end of the bench of one of the league's worst teams. A thumb injury cost Telfair his spot in the Blazers rotation, which made him expendable, which brought him here. Some believe Telfair just needs a little more seasoning to develop into a legitimate NBA talent, like former Celtic Chauncey Billups.