GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: BOSTON (16-2) at CHICAGO (6-11)

NBA: BOSTON at CHICAGO

<div class="pre">NBA BOSTON 65
CHICAGO 54 2:29 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: BOSTON at CHICAGO

<div class="pre">NBA BOSTON 69
CHICAGO 59 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: BOSTON at CHICAGO

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
BOSTON 21 26 22 69
CHICAGO 18 25 16 59 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

BOS - RAJON RONDO 18, RAY ALLEN 17, KEVIN
GARNETT 8
CHI - BEN GORDON 13, KIRK HINRICH 12, JOE
SMITH 10</div>

 

Re: NBA: BOSTON (16-2) at CHICAGO (6-11)

Something tells me Gordon will sit on the bench far too long again tonight.</p>

 

NBA: BOSTON at CHICAGO

<div class="pre">NBA BOSTON 72
CHICAGO 64 8:41 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: BOSTON at CHICAGO

<div class="pre">NBA BOSTON 81
CHICAGO 70 6:01 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: BOSTON at CHICAGO

<div class="pre">NBA BOSTON 86
CHICAGO 75 2:42 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: BOSTON at CHICAGO

<div class="pre">NBA BOSTON 86
CHICAGO 80 1:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: BOSTON at CHICAGO

<div class="pre">NBA BOSTON 92
CHICAGO 81 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: BOSTON at CHICAGO

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
BOSTON 21 26 22 23 92
CHICAGO 18 25 16 22 81 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: BOS - RAY ALLEN 21, RAJON RONDO 18, KEVIN
GARNETT 16
CHI - ANDRES NOCIONI 18, KIRK HINRICH 16, LUOL
DENG 15</div>

 

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Although the Boston Celtics have KevinGarnett, it was a role player that helped them end a long skidagainst the Chicago Bulls.


Rajon Rondo scored 12 of his career high-tying 18 points in thefirst half and sparked a decisive third-quarter burst as theCeltics snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Bulls with a92-81 victory on Saturday night.


Garnett, a Chicago native who was acquired from Minnesota in theoffseason and has been the key cog in Boston's league-best 17-2start, had 16 points and seven blocks in the Celtics' first winagainst the Bulls since January 29, 2005.


But it was Rondo, the second-year point guard, who was thecatalyst in Boston's sixth straight win and second in twonights. Boston routed Toronto, 112-84, on Friday.

Rondo shot 6-of-9 from the floor in the first half and addedthree rebounds and three assists, helping Boston to a 47-43 leadat the break.


The Celtics maintained a slim lead throughout the third period,before Rondo sparked a 9-2 spurt that provided the league's topteam with a 63-52 cushion with 3:16 left in the period.

The inconsistent outside-shooting Rondo started the run withconsecutive jumpers before penetrating the lane and kicking tothe left corner to sharpshooter Ray Allen, who knocked down ashot from the arc. Paul Pierce capped the run by nailing twofree throws.


Rondo, who entered averaging 8.3 points and shooting 53 percentfrom the floor, finished 9-of-13 with seven rebounds and fiveassists.


Boston, which held Chicago to 36 percent (31-of-86) shooting forthe game, clamped down on guards Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich inthe third. They were scoreless on six shots after combiningfor 25 points in the first half.


The Celtics opened more of a cushion by scoring seven straightpoints to take an 86-70 edge with 5:22 left in the game.Garnett hit two consecutive jumpers, James Posey added a freethrow and Allen a layup to cap the spurt.


Chicago pulled within 86-81 in the game's final minute, butGarnett hit a fallaway jumper from the left wing with 37 secondsto ice it. Garnett finished 8-of-11 from the floor and addednine rebounds and three assists.


Allen led Boston with 21 points and rookie Glen Davis addedeight and 12 rebounds off the bench.


The Bulls, who were coming off a tough 98-91 victory Friday overDetroit, couldn't keep up with the fresher Celtics. AndresNocioni scored 18 points and Hinrich finished with 16 for theBulls, who had won four of their last five games. Gordon scored11 points in the first period but just two thereafter.

Chicago scored the first six points of the game, but Bostoncountered with the next seven and took a 21-18 lead after thefirst quarter. The Celtics scored the first five points of thesecond stanza, but the Bulls got a jumper by Joe Smith and alayup by Luol Deng to take a 38-35 lead with 4:37 left.

Rondo then sparked a period-ending 12-5 run with six points asBoston took a 47-43 lead into the locker room.

 

NBA: BOSTON at CHICAGO

<div class="pre">BOSTON (92) AT CHICAGO (81)

BOSTON

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

R RONDO G 42:30 9-13 0-0 1 6 7 5 2 0 1 18
R ALLEN G 43:55 6-16 5-5 2 1 3 3 1 1 4 21
P PIERCE F 38:08 1-8 8-8 0 6 6 7 4 2 6 10
K GARNETT F 37:07 8-11 0-0 0 9 9 3 1 0 2 16
K PERKINS C 11:29 2-2 0-2 0 3 3 1 4 0 1 4
G DAVIS 26:19 3-3 2-2 3 9 12 0 3 1 1 8
J POSEY 21:05 3-8 3-3 0 4 4 1 3 0 0 11
E HOUSE 12:30 1-2 0-0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 3
T ALLEN 6:57 0-1 1-2 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1

TOTALS 240:00 33-64 19-22 7 38 45 22 20 5 17 92
(.516) (.864) TEAM REBS: 4 TOTAL TO: 19 (0 PTS)

CHICAGO

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

K HINRICH G 43:14 5-11 4-4 0 3 3 6 5 3 1 16
B GORDON G 39:01 5-20 3-5 1 2 3 2 1 1 2 13
J SMITH 21:20 4-10 2-2 2 2 4 1 3 0 0 10
L DENG F 40:57 6-17 3-5 4 3 7 4 0 1 2 15
B WALLACE C 40:33 3-7 2-3 4 10 14 3 3 0 1 8
A NOCIONI 24:19 8-19 1-1 1 2 3 1 4 2 3 18
C DUHON 13:45 0-1 1-2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1
J NOAH 12:07 0-1 0-0 1 2 3 0 1 0 0 0
T SEFOLOSHA 4:44 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 31-86 16-22 13 24 37 20 18 8 9 81
(.360) (.727) TEAM REBS: 9 TOTAL TO: 9 (0 PTS)

BOSTON 21 26 22 23 - 92
CHICAGO 18 25 16 22 - 81

BLOCKED SHOTS: BOSTON - K GARNETT 7, J POSEY, K PERKINS. CHICAGO -
B WALLACE 2, B GORDON.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: BOSTON 7-23 (.304), R ALLEN 4-10, P PIERCE 0-4,
J POSEY 2-7, E HOUSE 1-2. CHICAGO 3-16 (.188), K HINRICH 2-4, B GORDON 0-
4, A NOCIONI 1-7, C DUHON 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NONE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: JASON PHILLIPS, LEROY RICHARDSON, TOM WASHINGTON.
A - 22,778. T - 2:10.</div>

 

NBA: BOSTON at CHICAGO

<div class="pre">BOSTON (92)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Rondo 42:30 9-13 0-0 1-7 5 2 18
R Allen 43:55 6-16 5-5 2-3 3 1 21
P Pierce 38:08 1-8 8-8 0-6 7 4 10
K Garnett 37:07 8-11 0-0 0-9 3 1 16
K Perkins 11:29 2-2 0-2 0-3 1 4 4
G Davis 26:19 3-3 2-2 3-12 0 3 8
J Posey 21:05 3-8 3-3 0-4 1 3 11
E House 12:30 1-2 0-0 0-0 1 1 3
T Allen 6:57 0-1 1-2 1-1 1 1 1

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 33-64 19-22 7-45 22 20 92
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.516, FT-.864. 3-Point Goals:
7-23, .304 (R Allen 4-10, P Pierce 0-4, J
Posey 2-7, E House 1-2). Team Rebounds: 4.
Blocked Shots:9 (K Garnett 7, J Posey, K
Perkins). Turnovers:17 (P Pierce 6, R Allen
4, K Garnett 2, E House, T Allen, K Perkins,
R Rondo, G Davis). Steals: 5 (P Pierce 2, R
Allen, G Davis, E House).


CHICAGO (81)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
K Hinrich 43:14 5-11 4-4 0-3 6 5 16
B Gordon 39:01 5-20 3-5 1-3 2 1 13
J Smith 21:20 4-10 2-2 2-4 1 3 10
L Deng 40:57 6-17 3-5 4-7 4 0 15
B Wallace 40:33 3-7 2-3 4-14 3 3 8
A Nocioni 24:19 8-19 1-1 1-3 1 4 18
C Duhon 13:45 0-1 1-2 0-0 2 0 1
J Noah 12:07 0-1 0-0 1-3 0 1 0
T Sefolosha 4:44 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 1 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 31-86 16-22 13-37 20 18 81
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.360, FT-.727. 3-Point Goals:
3-16, .188 (K Hinrich 2-4, B Gordon 0-4, A
Nocioni 1-7, C Duhon 0-1). Team Rebounds: 9.
Blocked Shots:3 (B Wallace 2, B Gordon).
Turnovers:9 (A Nocioni 3, B Gordon 2, L Deng
2, K Hinrich, B Wallace). Steals: 8 (K
Hinrich 3, A Nocioni 2, B Gordon, L Deng, T
Sefolosha).

-------------------------------------------
BOSTON 21 26 22 23 - 92
CHICAGO 18 25 16 22 - 81
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: None.
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 22,778. T: 2:10.
Officials: Jason Phillips, Leroy Richardson,
Tom Washington.</div>

 

NBA: BOSTON at CHICAGO

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
BOSTON 92
CHICAGO 81 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: BOSTON at CHICAGO

<div class="pre">BOSTON (92) AT CHICAGO (81)

BOSTON

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

R RONDO G 42:30 9-13 0-0 1 6 7 5 2 0 1 18
R ALLEN G 43:55 6-16 5-5 2 1 3 3 1 1 4 21
P PIERCE F 38:08 1-8 8-8 0 6 6 7 4 2 6 10
K GARNETT F 37:07 8-11 0-0 0 9 9 3 1 0 2 16
K PERKINS C 11:29 2-2 0-2 0 3 3 1 4 0 1 4
G DAVIS 26:19 3-3 2-2 3 9 12 0 3 1 1 8
J POSEY 21:05 3-8 3-3 0 4 4 1 3 0 0 11
E HOUSE 12:30 1-2 0-0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 3
T ALLEN 6:57 0-1 1-2 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1
S POLLARD DNP - COACH'S DECISION
B SCALABRINE DNP - COACH'S DECISION
L POWE DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 33-64 19-22 7 38 45 22 20 5 17 92
(.516) (.864) TEAM REBS: 4 TOTAL TO: 19 (23 PTS)

CHICAGO

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

K HINRICH G 43:14 5-11 4-4 0 3 3 6 5 3 1 16
B GORDON G 39:01 5-20 3-5 1 2 3 2 1 1 2 13
J SMITH 21:20 4-10 2-2 2 2 4 1 3 0 0 10
L DENG F 40:57 6-17 3-5 4 3 7 4 0 1 2 15
B WALLACE C 40:33 3-7 2-3 4 10 14 3 3 0 1 8
A NOCIONI 24:19 8-19 1-1 1 2 3 1 4 2 3 18
C DUHON 13:45 0-1 1-2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1
J NOAH 12:07 0-1 0-0 1 2 3 0 1 0 0 0
T SEFOLOSHA 4:44 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0
A GRIFFIN DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A GRAY DNP - COACH'S DECISION
T THOMAS DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 31-86 16-22 13 24 37 20 18 8 9 81
(.360) (.727) TEAM REBS: 9 TOTAL TO: 9 (13 PTS)

BOSTON 21 26 22 23 - 92
CHICAGO 18 25 16 22 - 81

BLOCKED SHOTS: BOSTON - K GARNETT 7, J POSEY, K PERKINS. CHICAGO -
B WALLACE 2, B GORDON.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: BOSTON 7-23 (.304), R ALLEN 4-10, P PIERCE 0-4,
J POSEY 2-7, E HOUSE 1-2. CHICAGO 3-16 (.188), K HINRICH 2-4, B GORDON 0-
4, A NOCIONI 1-7, C DUHON 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: CHICAGO - DEFENSIVE THREE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: JASON PHILLIPS, LEROY RICHARDSON, TOM WASHINGTON.
A - 22,778. T - 2:10.</div>

 

NBA: BOSTON at CHICAGO

<div class="pre">BOSTON (92)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Rondo 42:30 9-13 0-0 1-7 5 2 18
R Allen 43:55 6-16 5-5 2-3 3 1 21
P Pierce 38:08 1-8 8-8 0-6 7 4 10
K Garnett 37:07 8-11 0-0 0-9 3 1 16
K Perkins 11:29 2-2 0-2 0-3 1 4 4
G Davis 26:19 3-3 2-2 3-12 0 3 8
J Posey 21:05 3-8 3-3 0-4 1 3 11
E House 12:30 1-2 0-0 0-0 1 1 3
T Allen 6:57 0-1 1-2 1-1 1 1 1
S Pollard DNP - COACH'S DECISION
B Scalabrine DNP - COACH'S DECISION
L Powe DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 33-64 19-22 7-45 22 20 92
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.516, FT-.864. 3-Point Goals:
7-23, .304 (R Allen 4-10, P Pierce 0-4, J
Posey 2-7, E House 1-2). Team Rebounds: 4.
Blocked Shots:9 (K Garnett 7, J Posey, K
Perkins). Turnovers:17 (P Pierce 6, R Allen
4, K Garnett 2, E House, T Allen, K Perkins,
R Rondo, G Davis). Steals: 5 (P Pierce 2, R
Allen, G Davis, E House).


CHICAGO (81)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
K Hinrich 43:14 5-11 4-4 0-3 6 5 16
B Gordon 39:01 5-20 3-5 1-3 2 1 13
J Smith 21:20 4-10 2-2 2-4 1 3 10
L Deng 40:57 6-17 3-5 4-7 4 0 15
B Wallace 40:33 3-7 2-3 4-14 3 3 8
A Nocioni 24:19 8-19 1-1 1-3 1 4 18
C Duhon 13:45 0-1 1-2 0-0 2 0 1
J Noah 12:07 0-1 0-0 1-3 0 1 0
T Sefolosha 4:44 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 1 0
A Griffin DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A Gray DNP - COACH'S DECISION
T Thomas DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 31-86 16-22 13-37 20 18 81
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.360, FT-.727. 3-Point Goals:
3-16, .188 (K Hinrich 2-4, B Gordon 0-4, A
Nocioni 1-7, C Duhon 0-1). Team Rebounds: 9.
Blocked Shots:3 (B Wallace 2, B Gordon).
Turnovers:9 (A Nocioni 3, B Gordon 2, L Deng
2, K Hinrich, B Wallace). Steals: 8 (K
Hinrich 3, A Nocioni 2, B Gordon, L Deng, T
Sefolosha).

-------------------------------------------
BOSTON 21 26 22 23 - 92
CHICAGO 18 25 16 22 - 81
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Chicago - 1 (Defensive
Three, 11:50 2nd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 22,778. T: 2:10.
Officials: Jason Phillips, Leroy Richardson,
Tom Washington.</div>

 

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Although the Boston Celtics have KevinGarnett, it was a role player that helped them end a long skidagainst the Chicago Bulls.


Rajon Rondo scored 12 of his career high-tying 18 points in thefirst half and sparked a decisive third-quarter burst as theCeltics snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Bulls with a92-81 victory on Saturday night.


Garnett, a Chicago native who was acquired from Minnesota in theoffseason and has been the key cog in Boston's league-best 17-2start, had 16 points and seven blocks in the Celtics' first winagainst the Bulls since January 29, 2005.


"The last eight times Chicago was the better team," Rivers said."It's nice to get that win and get it on the road afterback-to-back games for both teams."


But it was Rondo, the second-year point guard, who was thecatalyst in Boston's sixth straight win and second in twonights. Boston routed Toronto, 112-84, on Friday.

Rondo shot 6-of-9 from the floor in the first half and addedthree rebounds and three assists, helping Boston to a 47-43 leadat the break.


"I just wanted to come out and be aggressive," Rondo said. "Thelast two games the team had slow starts, thing's start with thepoint guard. I wanted to get us going right from the tip."

The Celtics maintained a slim lead throughout the third period,before Rondo sparked a 9-2 spurt that provided the league's topteam with a 63-52 cushion with 3:16 left in the period.

The inconsistent outside-shooting Rondo started the run withconsecutive jumpers before penetrating the lane and kicking tothe left corner to sharpshooter Ray Allen, who knocked down ashot from the arc. Paul Pierce capped the run by nailing twofree throws.


"Rondo being aggressive like he was, allowed us to stay spaced."Allen said. "That gives us another angle to our offense."

Rondo, who entered averaging 8.3 points and shooting 53 percentfrom the floor, finished 9-of-13 with seven rebounds and fiveassists.


"Rondo's work ethic really stands out to me," Garnett said. "Heis always the first guy in the building trying to improve.That's why I am a huge fan of his."


Boston, which held Chicago to 36 percent (31-of-86) shooting forthe game, clamped down on guards Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich inthe third. They were scoreless on six shots after combiningfor 25 points in the first half.


"Not being able to knock down open shots has been a problem in alot of our games," Buls coach Scott Skiles said. "We had somepretty good looks, we just didn't look ready to take them."

The Celtics opened more of a cushion by scoring seven straightpoints to take an 86-70 edge with 5:22 left in the game. Garnetthit two consecutive jumpers, James Posey added a free throw andAllen a layup to cap the spurt.


"We are locked in to trying to get better," Garnett said. "Doc(coach-Rivers) has done a great job keeping the air out of ourballoon and keeping us level. That is our mindset right now."

Chicago pulled within 86-81 in the game's final minute, butGarnett hit a fallaway jumper from the left wing with 37 secondsto ice it. Garnett finished 8-of-11 from the floor and addednine rebounds and three assists.


"I thought we did a good job on Garnett and a good job on Ray(Allen)," Skiles said. "I thought our defense was good enough towin, but we were playing a team that was 16-2 and we only shot36 percent. That's not going to get it done."


Allen led Boston with 21 points and rookie Glen Davis addedeight and 12 rebounds off the bench.


The Bulls, who were coming off a tough 98-91 victory Friday overDetroit, couldn't keep up with the fresher Celtics. AndresNocioni scored 18 points and Hinrich finished with 16 for theBulls, who had won four of their last five games. Gordon scored11 points in the first period but just two thereafter.

Chicago scored the first six points of the game, but Bostoncountered with the next seven and took a 21-18 lead after thefirst quarter. The Celtics scored the first five points of thesecond stanza, but the Bulls got a jumper by Joe Smith and alayup by Luol Deng to take a 38-35 lead with 4:37 left.

Rondo then sparked a period-ending 12-5 run with six points asBoston took a 47-43 lead into the locker room.

 

Re: NBA: BOSTON (16-2) at CHICAGO (6-11)

You guys can check out my game recap by clicking this link.</p>

 

Re: NBA: BOSTON (16-2) at CHICAGO (6-11)

Pierce, Allen, and KG, didn't do too well offensively, but Rondo had a crazy game and drove by Gordon any time he wanted. That was the difference and the main reason the Celtics won in my opinion. In Gordon't defense, I'm not sure Duhon or Hinrich can stay in front of Rondo, either.</p>

I probably wouldn't have had Wallace guard KG down the stretch - I knew eventually KG was going to post up and hit a dagger - but Wallace was playing so well it would have been a shame to sit him. It's hard to fault Skiles for staying with Wallace. And it's not like we could take Nocioni or Deng off the floor for Joe Smith with our offense struggling.</p>

Tough loss.</p>