AMHERST, Mass. -- Boston Celtics players and coaches interlocked arms during the national anthem before Tuesdays preseason opener against the Philadelphia 76ers at UMass-Amhersts Mullins Center.The team also released a video via social media at tipoff, promoting unity.In addition, the?Rockets?and?New York Knicks all locked arms at midcourt during the national anthem before Tuesdays game at the Toyota Center in Houston, while the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings joined arms during the anthem before their game, as well.Celtics coach Brad Stevens and Jae Crowder said earlier Tuesday?that the team had put a lot of time into thinking about the best way to promote positive change.Weve had a lot of sit-down discussions about it. Weve had a lot of individual discussions, Stevens said. Weve had three or four meetings after practices, sometimes just players, sometimes just us, sometimes people weve invited in from the outside to spend time with our guys. Our guys have been incredibly thoughtful, and I think, like from what Ive seen across the NBA early on, I think our guys are really focused on promoting positive unity, togetherness, progress and all those types of things. But those have been, as far as deep, certainly good discussions, theyve been great. And I commend our guys for sharing and for thinking and for really looking at this in a really insightful way.I think one of the great things about being a part of a team is you all come from different backgrounds and you learn about each other and you all come together for the common cause, and thats why we all love sports, right? We can all rally around that common cause and we can rally around teams. But I think when you really get into deep, impactful stuff, those are special conversations, and sometimes those are uncomfortable, and sometimes there can be tension around those; but I think thats the beautiful part about our group, is that they all appreciate one another, really support one another. And again, I think youll see, like I think theyre very much into what the teams that Ive seen thus far, in talking about togetherness and continued progress.Crowder said the team thought it was important to find the proper way to deliver its message.What do we want to portray? What do we want our message to be? Thats what we had talked about -- and how can we go about doing it in a positive way? Thats all we talked about, Crowder said. We just want to make sure everybodys on the same page and everybody [can] speak on their belief. We dont want anybody to feel like theyre doing something they dont want to do or talk about something they dont want to talk about. So we just wanted to make sure everybodys on the same page in those conversations that we had.And what was the message the Celtics wanted to deliver?That we need change in this world, Crowder said. We need to do it together. Just not one individual; its got to be a team-type deal, a unity, a togetherness. Whatever we decide our message to be, it has to be about being together as one and coming together as one.The Celtics inspiration for the interlocked arms came from a picture of the 1960-61 Boston team, which interlocked arms in a team photo with the goal of promoting civil rights. Team officials produced the picture for the players, who quickly warmed to the idea of carrying on the legacy of those who wore the Celtics jersey before them.Tom Satch Sanders, a rookie on that 1960-61 squad, spoke to the Celtics on Monday after the final practice before their preseason opener.What we were saying in our meetings, that weve got to do it together as a team, and that picture showed a great example of that. Thats why we [said] OK, we can tie it in with us, Crowder said. Those guys did it during a time where it was tough. Its not that bad now, but still, they did it together, they tried to make a change together, and thats where we got the idea.Tuesdays demonstration?was the first one on the court for the Rockets. When they played their first preseason game Sunday against the Shanghai Sharks, the entire team stood at attention for the playing of the American and Chinese anthems.Carmelo Anthony said he and Joakim Noah reached out to James Harden about the Knicks and Rockets making a unified statement.They were on board with it, and it was just a matter of us coming together and showing everybody were united, Anthony said.Said Noah: I think it was very respectful, but at the same time [it brought] awareness to some of those issues.Harden said the demonstration represented a brotherhood and that the message was unity.Just standing together for something that we believe in; obviously we know whats going on around the world, he said. We wanted to use our high power and noticeability to just go out there and make it aware that were going to stand together, not just the two teams, but the entire league.We want to use our platform to show people that were together and were behind them in this. ... Its something that well continue to do, and we have a platform and we want to use it. Its just the beginning.The Los Angeles Lakers released a statement supporting their players.We fully support our players in exercising their right of expression over an issue that is so important, the statement read. We also applaud the NBA and the NBA Players Association for their collaborative work in expanding the dialogue and for their spirit of cooperation.Many players across multiple sports, led by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, have taken a knee, locked arms or raised fists during the national anthem in protest of police brutality against African-Americans and other societal issues.ESPNs Calvin Watkins, Ian Begley and Baxter Holmes contributed to this report. Brandon Manning Jersey . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Jacques Plante Jersey . -- Adam Snyder returned to the San Francisco 49ers this season because the offensive lineman thought it was his best opportunity to win a championship. https://www.cheapoilers.com/905s-mike-krushelnyski-jersey-oilers.html . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. Shawn Horcoff Jersey . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday. Kelly Buchberger Jersey . DAmigo scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in American Hockey League action. MIAMI -- Dee Gordon and the Miami Marlins wore their emotions on the sleeves of their No. 16 jerseys.Jose Fernandez would have loved it.Gordon homered leading off the first inning for the Marlins, who totaled 14 hits and mixed cheers with the tears of the past two days by beating the New York Mets 7-3 on Monday night in their first game since Fernandez died in a boating accident.We were hitting balls underwater pretty much, slugger Giancarlo Stanton said. Our eyes were full of water.Adam Conley pitched three scoreless innings subbing for Fernandez, who had been scheduled to make his final start of the year. Justin Bour went 3 for 3 and Gordon had four hits, including one that will go down in Marlins lore.Paying tribute to their charismatic ace, the left-handed-hitting Gordon stepped to the plate as a righty leading off the first. After one pitch, Gordon switched to his customary left side, and pulled a 2-0 delivery from Bartolo Colon into the upper deck for his first homer of the season.The improbable clout brought tears, even from Gordon. He began crying as he circled the bases.It seemed like it took forever, he said. I was trying to get back to my teammates as fast as possible. I was just wondering why Jose wasnt there standing on the top step cheering for me.After crossing the plate Gordon tapped his chest and waved toward the sky, and sobbed as teammates hugged him in the dugout.Stanton said the homer from the 170-pound Gordon was unbelievable but easy to explain.Pure emotion, Stanton said. Theres no other way it could be scripted, unless youre in a movie rewriting everything that just happened.Even the Mets appreciated what Gordons homer meant.I saw him crying when he rounded first base, Mets catcher Travis dArnaud said. I was crying too.Each of the Marlins wore black jerseys bearing Fernandezs No. 16 and name, a tribute they had suggested. Stanton delivered an emotional speech as the entire team gathered at the mound moments before the game, and then contributed a hit, a run and a running, lunging backhanded catch in right field to rob Jay Bruce.The portly Bour hit his first career triple, which he capped with a belly flop into third before rising to strike a muscleman pose that had his teammates and the crowd of 26,933 smiling.Anytime JB slides headfirst, its kind of funny, Miami manager Don Mattingly said.Conley returned from finger tendinitis that had sidelined him since Aug. 13, and wass followed by eight relievers.dddddddddddd Mike Dunn (5-1) pitched a perfect fourth, and Scott McGowan retired pinch-hitter Kelly Johnson with the bases loaded to end the sixth.A.J. Ramos pitched a hitless ninth. When he retired Curtis Granderson to end the game, the Marlins gathered once more around the edge of the mound and bowed their heads, and then tossed their caps onto the dirt and kneeled, tears flowing yet again for Fernandez.Its his spot, Mattingly said. Just kind of saying bye.An hour after the game, with the ballpark empty, the players again gathered at the mound for several minutes. Twice there was the sound of laughter.TURNAROUND FOR METSColon (14-8), mourning Fernandezs death himself, allowed a season-high seven runs in 2 1/3 innings.It was very difficult for everything theyre going through, Colon said through an interpreter. Its very difficult for me, too, because it was someone that I had some sort of relationship with. Jose looked up to me, and we got along well.The blowout was a big change for the Mets, who began the week on a stretch of outscoring opponents 25-0 over a two-game span.New York still leads the NL wild-card race with five games to go.PREGAMEBefore the game, Marlins outfielder Christian Yelich tweeted a photo of Fernandezs locker accompanied by the message: Tonight this ones for you buddy. Watch over us.The pregame ceremony included a slow, solemn solo trumpet rendition of Take Me Out to the Ballgame. Following the national anthem, New York manager Terry Collins led his Mets across the field to share hugs with the Marlins. The mood was such that Miami batting coach Barry Bonds even hugged each of the umpires.The Marlins then clustered around the mound and scratched out Joses number or a message of affection in the dirt.Its a tough game on the Mets too, Mattingly said. They handled that with such class.TRAINERS ROOMMets: RHP Noah Syndergaard, who missed Saturdays start with strep throat, was cleared to pitch Tuesday. ... LHP Steven Matz (shoulder) was examined by a doctor Monday and isnt expected to pitch this week, making it unlikely hell be available in the postseason.UP NEXTSyndergaard (13-9, 2.63 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday against RHP Tom Koehler (9-12, 4.02 ERA). Syndergaard lasted only 3 2/3 innings in his most recent start. ' ' '