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BOSTON (AP) — Bill Russell helped establish and define the standard for the Boston Celtics. The franchise took its latest opportunity to honor its greatest player before its season opener against Philadelphia on Tuesday night.

The rise of basketball talent coming from north of the border only continues to grow as the years pass. A record 23 Canadians will be on opening-night rosters as the NBA tips off its regular season on Tuesday.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Take note: The Utah Jazz evidently need a new hashtag. The team's long-used hashtag — #TakeNote — was used by Apple CEO Tim Cook in a tweet on Tuesday, accompanied by an Apple logo emoji.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Jazz have signed general manager Justin Zanik to a multiyear deal as he continues the franchise's roster makeover.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — (EDITOR’S NOTE: Orlando Magic rookie Paolo Banchero, the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA draft, will do a periodic diary for The Associated Press to chronicle his first season in the league.

Nikola Jokic is about to start his chase toward something that hasn’t been done in nearly 40 years. A player winning back-to-back NBA MVP awards is rare, something that’s happened only 13 times in league history.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks have committed to De'Andre Hunter as one of the key players on a team looking to return to championship contention, signing the small forward to a $95 million, four-year extension.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Lakers guard Dennis Schröder will be sidelined for several weeks after undergoing surgery on his right thumb. The German point guard had surgery Monday to repair a ligament in his thumb, the Lakers announced.

TORONTO — The rebuilding Toronto Raptors were a revelation last season.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Charlotte Hornets guard James Bouknight has been arrested for driving while impaired just days before the team was set to open the regular season. Bouknight was arrested at 1:51 a.m.