FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons finalized contracts with three veteran defensive players on Monday to boost their depth on that side of the ball, signing defensive ends Samson Ebukam and Azeez Ojulari and defensive lineman Da'Shawn Hand.
Ebukam and Ojulari should give the Falcons some valuable depth at the edge rusher spots in light of the uncertainty surrounding James Pearce Jr., who was arrested last month after fleeing police and crashing his car following an alleged domestic dispute with WNBA player Rickea Jackson. Pearce, who was drafted in the first round last year by the Falcons, is facing multiple felony charges including two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
Ebukam, who is entering his 10th season in the NFL, has joined his fourth team after being drafted in the fourth round in 2017 by the Los Angeles Rams. He spent the last three years with the Indianapolis Colts, missing the 2024 season with a torn Achilles tendon. Ebukam has 35 sacks in 127 career games.
Ojulari played last year for the Philadelphia Eagles after being drafted in the second round in 2021 by the New York Giants. The Georgia native was limited to three games last season, largely because of a hamstring injury.
Hand, who was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round in 2018, made a career-high 13 starts last year for the Los Angeles Chargers.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
FILE - Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Azeez Ojulari reacts during an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Oct. 5, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File)
FILE - Indianapolis Colts defensive end Samson Ebukam celebrates after recovering a fumble during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dec. 28, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast, File)
BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown had 18 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter and Jayson Tatum scored 21 in his fifth game back from an Achilles tendon injury to help the Boston Celtics beat the Phoenix Suns 120-112 on Monday night.
Devin Booker scored 40 for the Suns, who have lost back-to-back games after snapping a four-game winning streak. Jalen Green scored 21 for Phoenix.
Derrick White, who was presented with February's Eastern Conference's Defensive Player of the Month Award before the game, had 21 points for Boston, and Payton Pritchard scored 19.
Boston trailed by three points, 111-108, with less than four minutes left before Brown stole the ball from Booker and fed it to Tatum for a layup. After a Phoenix miss, Brown rebounded Tatum’s miss to give Boston the lead and then added two free throws and a short jumper to complete an 8-0 Celtics run.
Boston scored 12 of the game’s last 13 points to pull away.
Phoenix lost to Toronto on Friday after giving up a 23-5 run in the fourth quarter to blow a 10-point lead.
Tatum missed Boston's first 62 games while recovering from a torn Achilles suffered in last year's playoffs. He returned March 6, played three games, sat one out and now has played more than 32 minutes in back-to-back games.
Suns: Visit Minnesota on Tuesday.
Celtics: Host Golden State on Wednesday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) lines up a dunk against Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (88) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 16, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) reacts after getting hit in the face during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Monday, March 16, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) takes a 3-point shot over Phoenix Suns forward Rasheer Fleming (20) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 16, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) is fouled by Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (23) on a drive to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 16, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
