GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: DENVER (2-2) at BOSTON (2-0)

NBA: DENVER at BOSTON

<div class="pre">NBA DENVER 84
BOSTON 113 2:52 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at BOSTON

<div class="pre">NBA DENVER 87
BOSTON 117 1:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at BOSTON

<div class="pre">NBA DENVER 92
BOSTON 119 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at BOSTON

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
DENVER 22 16 28 26 92
BOSTON 38 39 24 18 119 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: DEN - ALLEN IVERSON 22, MARCUS CAMBY 17,
KENYON MARTIN 12
BOS - PAUL PIERCE 26, KEVIN GARNETT 23, RAY
ALLEN 22</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at BOSTON

<div class="pre">CORRECTION

NBA DENVER 93
BOSTON 119 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at BOSTON

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
DENVER 22 16 28 27 93
BOSTON 38 39 24 18 119 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: DEN - ALLEN IVERSON 22, MARCUS CAMBY 17,
KENYON MARTIN 12
BOS - PAUL PIERCE 26, KEVIN GARNETT 23, RAY
ALLEN 22</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at BOSTON

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
DENVER 93
BOSTON 119 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at BOSTON

<div class="pre">DENVER (93) AT BOSTON (119)

DENVER

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

C ANTHONY F 30:25 3-13 4-4 0 2 2 6 5 1 3 11
K MARTIN F 26:01 6-13 0-0 0 5 5 0 4 2 3 12
M CAMBY C 29:16 7-11 3-5 4 4 8 1 2 0 1 17
L KLEIZA G 21:34 0-2 0-0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 0
A IVERSON G 32:58 6-11 8-11 0 0 0 4 3 3 4 22
NENE 10:38 0-1 2-2 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 2
J SMITH 23:13 2-8 0-0 0 3 3 5 2 0 6 4
Y DIAWARA 7:39 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0
E NAJERA 22:33 3-5 0-0 0 2 2 3 2 3 1 7
V WAFER 16:11 3-4 0-0 0 2 2 2 0 1 0 6
B JONES 12:00 3-4 1-1 0 2 2 0 0 1 2 10
S HUNTER 7:32 1-1 0-1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 2

TOTALS 240:00 34-74 18-24 5 22 27 23 22 11 24 93
(.459) (.750) TEAM REBS: 9 TOTAL TO: 24 (0 PTS)

BOSTON

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

P PIERCE F 29:42 10-15 5-7 1 4 5 5 2 5 2 26
K GARNETT F 36:24 10-14 3-4 1 12 13 7 3 4 5 23
K PERKINS C 29:45 3-3 1-6 1 2 3 2 4 1 2 7
R ALLEN G 32:48 8-12 3-3 2 1 3 6 1 2 2 22
R RONDO G 33:10 7-11 0-0 0 0 0 4 4 4 3 14
E HOUSE 24:01 4-9 1-1 1 5 6 3 3 1 1 11
J POSEY 7:31 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
B SCALABRINE 15:08 2-4 0-0 1 2 3 1 2 0 2 5
T ALLEN 18:07 2-3 0-0 0 3 3 4 1 0 2 4
G DAVIS 9:11 1-3 1-1 0 1 1 0 0 3 0 3
L POWE 4:13 2-2 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 4

TOTALS 240:00 49-76 14-22 7 31 38 32 21 20 20 119
(.645) (.636) TEAM REBS: 7 TOTAL TO: 22 (0 PTS)

DENVER 22 16 28 27 - 93
BOSTON 38 39 24 18 - 119

BLOCKED SHOTS: DENVER - M CAMBY. BOSTON - K GARNETT, K PERKINS.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: DENVER 7-19 (.368), C ANTHONY 1-4, L KLEIZA 0-1,
A IVERSON 2-6, J SMITH 0-2, Y DIAWARA 0-1, E NAJERA 1-2, B JONES 3-
3. BOSTON 7-19 (.368), P PIERCE 1-3, R ALLEN 3-7, E HOUSE 2-6, B SCALABRINE 1-
2, T ALLEN 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: DENVER - K MARTIN, E NAJERA.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: KEN MAUER, SCOTT WALL, SEAN WRIGHT.
A - 18,624. T - 2:12.</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at BOSTON

<div class="pre">DENVER (93)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
C Anthony 30:25 3-13 4-4 0-2 6 5 11
K Martin 26:01 6-13 0-0 0-5 0 4 12
M Camby 29:16 7-11 3-5 4-8 1 2 17
L Kleiza 21:34 0-2 0-0 0-0 1 1 0
A Iverson 32:58 6-11 8-11 0-0 4 3 22
Nene 10:38 0-1 2-2 1-1 1 1 2
J Smith 23:13 2-8 0-0 0-3 5 2 4
Y Diawara 7:39 0-1 0-0 0-1 0 1 0
E Najera 22:33 3-5 0-0 0-2 3 2 7
V Wafer 16:11 3-4 0-0 0-2 2 0 6
B Jones 12:00 3-4 1-1 0-2 0 0 10
S Hunter 7:32 1-1 0-1 0-1 0 1 2

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 34-74 18-24 5-27 23 22 93
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.459, FT-.750. 3-Point Goals:
7-19, .368 (C Anthony 1-4, L Kleiza 0-1, A
Iverson 2-6, J Smith 0-2, Y Diawara 0-1, E
Najera 1-2, B Jones 3-3). Team Rebounds: 9.
Blocked Shots:1 (M Camby). Turnovers:24 (J
Smith 6, A Iverson 4, K Martin 3, C Anthony
3, B Jones 2, L Kleiza 2, M Camby, E Najera,
Y Diawara, Nene). Steals: 11 (A Iverson 3, E
Najera 3, K Martin 2, C Anthony, B Jones, V
Wafer).


BOSTON (119)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
P Pierce 29:42 10-15 5-7 1-5 5 2 26
K Garnett 36:24 10-14 3-4 1-13 7 3 23
K Perkins 29:45 3-3 1-6 1-3 2 4 7
R Allen 32:48 8-12 3-3 2-3 6 1 22
R Rondo 33:10 7-11 0-0 0-0 4 4 14
E House 24:01 4-9 1-1 1-6 3 3 11
J Posey 7:31 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
B Scalabrine 15:08 2-4 0-0 1-3 1 2 5
T Allen 18:07 2-3 0-0 0-3 4 1 4
G Davis 9:11 1-3 1-1 0-1 0 0 3
L Powe 4:13 2-2 0-0 0-1 0 0 4

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 49-76 14-22 7-38 32 21 119
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.645, FT-.636. 3-Point Goals:
7-19, .368 (P Pierce 1-3, R Allen 3-7, E
House 2-6, B Scalabrine 1-2, T Allen 0-1).
Team Rebounds: 7. Blocked Shots:2 (K Garnett,
K Perkins). Turnovers:20 (K Garnett 5, R
Rondo 3, R Allen 2, B Scalabrine 2, P Pierce
2, K Perkins 2, T Allen 2, E House, L Powe).
Steals: 20 (P Pierce 5, K Garnett 4, R Rondo
4, G Davis 3, R Allen 2, E House, K Perkins).

-------------------------------------------
DENVER 22 16 28 27 - 93
BOSTON 38 39 24 18 - 119
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Denver - 2 (K Martin, 6:09
2nd; E Najera, 8:05 2nd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 18,624. T: 2:12.
Officials: Ken Mauer, Scott Wall, Sean Wright.</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at BOSTON

<div class="pre">DENVER (93) AT BOSTON (119)

DENVER

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

C ANTHONY F 30:25 3-13 4-4 0 2 2 6 5 1 3 11
K MARTIN F 26:01 6-13 0-0 0 5 5 0 4 2 3 12
M CAMBY C 29:16 7-11 3-5 4 4 8 1 2 0 1 17
L KLEIZA G 21:34 0-2 0-0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 0
A IVERSON G 32:58 6-11 8-11 0 0 0 4 3 3 4 22
NENE 10:38 0-1 2-2 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 2
J SMITH 23:13 2-8 0-0 0 3 3 5 2 0 6 4
Y DIAWARA 7:39 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0
E NAJERA 22:33 3-5 0-0 0 2 2 3 2 3 1 7
V WAFER 16:11 3-4 0-0 0 2 2 2 0 1 0 6
B JONES 12:00 3-4 1-1 0 2 2 0 0 1 2 10
S HUNTER 7:32 1-1 0-1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 2

TOTALS 240:00 34-74 18-24 5 22 27 23 22 11 24 93
(.459) (.750) TEAM REBS: 9 TOTAL TO: 24 (28 PTS)

BOSTON

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

P PIERCE F 29:42 10-15 5-7 1 4 5 5 2 5 2 26
K GARNETT F 36:24 10-14 3-4 1 12 13 7 3 4 5 23
K PERKINS C 29:45 3-3 1-6 1 2 3 2 4 1 2 7
R ALLEN G 32:48 8-12 3-3 2 1 3 6 1 2 2 22
R RONDO G 33:10 7-11 0-0 0 0 0 4 4 4 3 14
E HOUSE 24:01 4-9 1-1 1 5 6 3 3 1 1 11
J POSEY 7:31 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
B SCALABRINE 15:08 2-4 0-0 1 2 3 1 2 0 2 5
T ALLEN 18:07 2-3 0-0 0 3 3 4 1 0 2 4
G DAVIS 9:11 1-3 1-1 0 1 1 0 0 3 0 3
L POWE 4:13 2-2 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 4
S POLLARD DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 49-76 14-22 7 31 38 32 21 20 20 119
(.645) (.636) TEAM REBS: 7 TOTAL TO: 22 (17 PTS)

DENVER 22 16 28 27 - 93
BOSTON 38 39 24 18 - 119

BLOCKED SHOTS: DENVER - M CAMBY. BOSTON - K GARNETT, K PERKINS.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: DENVER 7-19 (.368), C ANTHONY 1-4, L KLEIZA 0-1,
A IVERSON 2-6, J SMITH 0-2, Y DIAWARA 0-1, E NAJERA 1-2, B JONES 3-
3. BOSTON 7-19 (.368), P PIERCE 1-3, R ALLEN 3-7, E HOUSE 2-6, B SCALABRINE 1-
2, T ALLEN 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: DENVER - K MARTIN, E NAJERA. BOSTON - DEFENSIVE THREE
2.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: KEN MAUER, SCOTT WALL, SEAN WRIGHT.
A - 18,624. T - 2:12.</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at BOSTON

<div class="pre">DENVER (93)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
C Anthony 30:25 3-13 4-4 0-2 6 5 11
K Martin 26:01 6-13 0-0 0-5 0 4 12
M Camby 29:16 7-11 3-5 4-8 1 2 17
L Kleiza 21:34 0-2 0-0 0-0 1 1 0
A Iverson 32:58 6-11 8-11 0-0 4 3 22
Nene 10:38 0-1 2-2 1-1 1 1 2
J Smith 23:13 2-8 0-0 0-3 5 2 4
Y Diawara 7:39 0-1 0-0 0-1 0 1 0
E Najera 22:33 3-5 0-0 0-2 3 2 7
V Wafer 16:11 3-4 0-0 0-2 2 0 6
B Jones 12:00 3-4 1-1 0-2 0 0 10
S Hunter 7:32 1-1 0-1 0-1 0 1 2

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 34-74 18-24 5-27 23 22 93
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.459, FT-.750. 3-Point Goals:
7-19, .368 (C Anthony 1-4, L Kleiza 0-1, A
Iverson 2-6, J Smith 0-2, Y Diawara 0-1, E
Najera 1-2, B Jones 3-3). Team Rebounds: 9.
Blocked Shots:1 (M Camby). Turnovers:24 (J
Smith 6, A Iverson 4, K Martin 3, C Anthony
3, B Jones 2, L Kleiza 2, M Camby, E Najera,
Y Diawara, Nene). Steals: 11 (A Iverson 3, E
Najera 3, K Martin 2, C Anthony, B Jones, V
Wafer).


BOSTON (119)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
P Pierce 29:42 10-15 5-7 1-5 5 2 26
K Garnett 36:24 10-14 3-4 1-13 7 3 23
K Perkins 29:45 3-3 1-6 1-3 2 4 7
R Allen 32:48 8-12 3-3 2-3 6 1 22
R Rondo 33:10 7-11 0-0 0-0 4 4 14
E House 24:01 4-9 1-1 1-6 3 3 11
J Posey 7:31 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
B Scalabrine 15:08 2-4 0-0 1-3 1 2 5
T Allen 18:07 2-3 0-0 0-3 4 1 4
G Davis 9:11 1-3 1-1 0-1 0 0 3
L Powe 4:13 2-2 0-0 0-1 0 0 4
S Pollard DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 49-76 14-22 7-38 32 21 119
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.645, FT-.636. 3-Point Goals:
7-19, .368 (P Pierce 1-3, R Allen 3-7, E
House 2-6, B Scalabrine 1-2, T Allen 0-1).
Team Rebounds: 7. Blocked Shots:2 (K Garnett,
K Perkins). Turnovers:20 (K Garnett 5, R
Rondo 3, R Allen 2, B Scalabrine 2, P Pierce
2, K Perkins 2, T Allen 2, E House, L Powe).
Steals: 20 (P Pierce 5, K Garnett 4, R Rondo
4, G Davis 3, R Allen 2, E House, K Perkins).

-------------------------------------------
DENVER 22 16 28 27 - 93
BOSTON 38 39 24 18 - 119
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Denver - 2 (K Martin, 6:09
2nd; E Najera, 8:05 2nd). Boston - 2
(Defensive Three, 4:40 1st; Defensive Three,
4:11 3rd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 18,624. T: 2:12.
Officials: Ken Mauer, Scott Wall, Sean Wright.</div>

 

By Mike Petraglia
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Celtics continue to show what adifference one season can make.


Kevin Garnett scored 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and PaulPierce added 26 points as the Celtics crushed the DenverNuggets, 119-93, Wednesday night at TD Banknorth Garden.

Garnett was three assists shy of his first triple-double withhis new club and Ray Allen added 22 for the Celtics, who haveopened the season with three wins for the first time since1999-2000.


"Everyone really just stayed in the game plan, they moved theball, we tried to crowd the paint as much as possible," Celticscoach Doc Rivers said. "(Allen) Iverson still got there. Toomany turnovers for us, too many fouls for us, other than that,not a lot to complain about."


Boston's "Big Three" of Garnett, Pierce and Allen combined toshoot 28-of-41 from the field to power the blowout - a starkcontrast from last season when the club sunk to the second-worstrecord in the league with Pierce the only superstar on thesquad.


"The focus every night is going to be on me, Kevin and Ray,"Pierce said. "So these guys are well aware of that, they'reready. They're more than ready. That's why you see Kendrick(Perkins) open underneath for wide-open baskets. That's why(Rajon) Rondo gets wide-open layups.


"We are just scratching the surface on what we could be. We areno where where we want to be, but we are getting closer eachand every day."


The Celtics shot 72 percent in the first half, surging to a77-38 lead at the break. The 77 points fell eight points shy ofthe franchise mark for most points in a half, set twice - bothtimes against Denver - in 1981-82 and 1982-83, respectively.

Boston never trailed and took the lead for good when Garnett hithis first field goal of the night - a 17-footer with 11:14remaining in the first quarter. Denver got as close as 14-13 onKenyon Martin's layup with 7:25 remaining in the openingperiod.


"Doc's biggest test for us is to carry it (the work) over frompractice to in here. We didn't finish the game as well as weknow we can," Garnett said. "But you have to understandrepetition is repetition is repetition, that's the thing Doc ispreaching to us. Defensively, we keep telling ourselves we wantto be known as a defensive team."


The Celtics outscored the Nuggets, 24-9, to end the quarter andtake control by 16 points after one. Boston's dominancecontinued in the second quarter as they reeled off the firstnine points of the period to cap a 22-4 run.


The Celtics bettered their first-quarter output by one in thesecond, outscoring the Nuggets, 39-16, to further blow the gameopen.


The lead reached a game-high 41 on three occasions in the third,the final time coming when Pierce dunked off Garnett's pass tomake it 97-56 with 3:02 remaining in the quarter.


"They beat the (stuff) out of us tonight, but you take your hatoff to them because they played extremely well tonight," saidCarmelo Anthony, who scored just 11 points for Denver.

Pierce, Garnett and Allen came out of the game for good with9:01 remaining in the fourth to a rousing ovation from thesellout crowd.


"We made the right plays all night and starting off the game,"Allen said. "It's important that this team knows what we haveout there on the floor. You don't have to take tough shotsearly in the game. Work the offense, make them play defense,and we'll get good shots."


Adding insult to the Nuggets' misery was the loss of Nene, theirfirst player off the bench, to a sprained left thumb in thesecond quarter. X-rays were negative and an MRI will bescheduled in the near future.


Iverson scored 22 points for the Nuggets, who lost one nightafter blowing a 15-point lead en route to a loss against the NewYork Knicks at Madison Square Garden.


"From the start, they jumped right on us and they were able totake care of business," Iverson said. "You have a couple ofgames like this throughout the year that you have to deal with,and we are just glad it's early rather than late in the season."

"I don't think I should make any excuses for my team," Denvercoach George Karl said. "I think you just have to say theCeltics won. They played better than we did. They played moretogether than we did. And the fundamental nature of playinghard went out the window the last couple nights.


"If we don't get back to playing hard, you can't beat good teamswithout playing hard. They came out with a spirit and energyand took our spirit and energy away from us."


The Celtics also suffered an injury when James Posey came upwith lower back spasms midway through the second quarter and didnot return.

 

By Mike Petraglia
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Celtics continue to show what adifference one season can make.


Kevin Garnett scored 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and PaulPierce added 26 points as the Celtics crushed the DenverNuggets, 119-93, Wednesday night at TD Banknorth Garden.

Garnett was three assists shy of his first triple-double withhis new club and Ray Allen added 22 points for the Celtics, whohave opened the season with three wins for the first time since1999-2000.


"Everyone really just stayed in the game plan, they moved theball, we tried to crowd the paint as much as possible," Celticscoach Doc Rivers said. "(Allen) Iverson still got there. Toomany turnovers for us, too many fouls for us, other than that,not a lot to complain about."


Boston's "Big Three" of Garnett, Pierce and Allen combined toshoot 28-of-41 from the field to power the blowout - a starkcontrast from last season when the club sunk to the second-worstrecord in the league with Pierce the only superstar on thesquad.


"The focus every night is going to be on me, Kevin and Ray,"Pierce said. "So these guys are well aware of that, they'reready. They're more than ready. That's why you see Kendrick(Perkins) open underneath for wide-open baskets. That's why(Rajon) Rondo gets wide-open layups.


"We are just scratching the surface on what we could be. We areno where where we want to be, but we are getting closer eachand every day."


The Celtics shot 72 percent in the first half, surging to a77-38 lead at the break. The 77 points fell eight points shy ofthe franchise mark for most points in a half, set twice - bothtimes against Denver - in 1981-82 and 1982-83, respectively.

Boston never trailed and took the lead for good when Garnett hithis first field goal of the night - a 17-footer with 11:14remaining in the first quarter. Denver got as close as 14-13 onKenyon Martin's layup with 7:25 remaining in the openingperiod.


"Doc's biggest test for us is to carry it (the work) over frompractice to in here. We didn't finish the game as well as weknow we can," Garnett said. "But you have to understandrepetition is repetition is repetition, that's the thing Doc ispreaching to us. Defensively, we keep telling ourselves we wantto be known as a defensive team."


The Celtics outscored the Nuggets, 24-9, to end the quarter andtake control by 16 points after one. Boston's dominancecontinued in the second quarter as they reeled off the firstnine points of the period to cap a 22-4 run.


The Celtics bettered their first-quarter output by one in thesecond, outscoring the Nuggets, 39-16, to further blow the gameopen.


The lead reached a game-high 41 on three occasions in the third,the final time coming when Pierce dunked off Garnett's pass tomake it 97-56 with 3:02 remaining in the quarter.


"They beat the (stuff) out of us tonight, but you take your hatoff to them because they played extremely well tonight," saidCarmelo Anthony, who scored just 11 points for Denver.

Pierce, Garnett and Allen came out of the game for good with9:01 remaining in the fourth to a rousing ovation from thesellout crowd.


"We made the right plays all night and starting off the game,"Allen said. "It's important that this team knows what we haveout there on the floor. You don't have to take tough shotsearly in the game. Work the offense, make them play defense,and we'll get good shots."


Adding insult to the Nuggets' misery was the loss of Nene, theirfirst player off the bench, to a sprained left thumb in thesecond quarter. X-rays were negative and an MRI will bescheduled in the near future.


Iverson scored 22 points for the Nuggets, who lost one nightafter blowing a 15-point lead en route to a loss against the NewYork Knicks at Madison Square Garden.


"From the start, they jumped right on us and they were able totake care of business," Iverson said. "You have a couple ofgames like this throughout the year that you have to deal with,and we are just glad it's early rather than late in the season."

"I don't think I should make any excuses for my team," Denvercoach George Karl said. "I think you just have to say theCeltics won. They played better than we did. They played moretogether than we did. And the fundamental nature of playinghard went out the window the last couple nights.


"If we don't get back to playing hard, you can't beat good teamswithout playing hard. They came out with a spirit and energyand took our spirit and energy away from us."


The Celtics also suffered an injury when James Posey came upwith lower back spasms midway through the second quarter and didnot return.