GAME THREAD: NBA: BOSTON at MINNESOTA

NBA: BOSTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AT LONDON

NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
BOSTON 23 27 25 17 92
MINNESOTA 22 21 20 18 81 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: BOS - RAY ALLEN 28, KENDRICK PERKINS 11, KEVIN
GARNETT 9
MIN - RICKY DAVIS 18, RASHAD MCCANTS 11,
SEBASTIAN TELFAIR 9</div>

 

NBA: BOSTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AT LONDON

** CONFIRMED **
NBA
BOSTON 92
MINNESOTA 81 FINAL</div>

 

LONDON (Ticker) -- Kevin Garnett was in an unfamiliar position- playing against the Minnesota Timberwolves.


Taking on his former club, Garnett scored just nine points asthe Boston Celtics posted a 92-81 victory over the Timberwolvesin a preseason game on Wednesday afternoon.


Ray Allen scored 28 points and Kendrick Perkins added 11 for theCeltics, who faced off with the Timberwolves for the first timesince the two teams pulled off an unprecedented seven-for-onedeal this summer.


Boston acquired Garnett, who was a 10-time All-Star inMinnesota, winning the MVP in the 2003-04 campaign. The 6-11,220-pounder was the Timberwolves' franchise centerpiece for 12campaigns.


But in this one, he played in his second preseason game withBoston - both overseas. He shot 3-of-6 from the field andgrabbed six rebounds in 28 minutes on Wednesday.


Allen, who was the Celtics' other much-hyped offseasonacquisition, was the offensive star - shooting 11-of-14 from thefield, including 5-of-8 from the arc. He was one of just twodouble-figure scorers for Boston.


The Timberwolves showcased the package of players they receivedin the deal as former Celtics Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfairand Ryan Gomes started. The trio combined to score 24 points on9-of-18 shooting.


Ricky Davis scored 18 points for Minnesota, which shot just 40percent (27-of-68) from the field.

 

NBA: BOSTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AT LONDON

BOSTON (92) AT MINNESOTA (81)

BOSTON

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

P PIERCE F 28:56 1-6 6-11 0 5 5 4 2 1 1 8
K GARNETT F 28:56 3-6 3-4 1 5 6 2 1 2 6 9
K PERKINS C 24:00 3-5 5-6 2 3 5 3 4 1 1 11
R ALLEN G 26:53 11-14 1-2 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 28
R RONDO G 26:38 2-3 0-0 0 1 1 6 3 4 2 4
T ALLEN 21:28 1-8 2-5 0 3 3 1 2 2 1 4
J POSEY 16:40 0-2 2-4 0 3 3 1 1 1 0 2
E HOUSE 14:02 1-3 0-0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 2
B SCALABRINE 12:25 3-5 0-0 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 8
E BATISTA 19:04 2-4 3-4 2 3 5 1 3 2 1 7
G DAVIS 7:20 2-5 0-0 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 4
G PRUITT 7:20 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
D JONES 6:18 2-2 1-3 0 2 2 0 1 0 0 5
S POLLARD DNP - NOT WITH TEAM
J MANUEL DNP - COACH'S DECISION
L POWE DNP - COACH'S DECISION
B WALLACE DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 31-63 23-39 5 28 33 23 24 13 15 92
(.492) (.590) TEAM REBS: 18 TOTAL TO: 17 (14 PTS)

MINNESOTA

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

R GOMES F 21:07 3-6 2-4 1 3 4 1 2 0 1 9
J HOWARD F 16:20 0-4 1-2 0 3 3 1 1 1 0 1
T RATLIFF C 17:28 3-5 0-0 1 1 2 0 4 0 1 6
R DAVIS G 27:16 7-12 0-0 0 2 2 3 2 1 3 18
S TELFAIR G 22:07 3-7 2-2 1 1 2 3 3 0 2 9
C BREWER 18:41 1-3 0-2 0 2 2 1 5 1 2 2
A JEFFERSON 24:10 2-5 1-1 2 4 6 1 2 0 1 5
R FOYE 7:40 0-2 0-0 0 1 1 1 2 0 3 0
C SMITH 23:34 2-7 3-3 1 6 7 1 4 0 2 7
G GREEN 10:04 1-2 2-2 1 1 2 0 1 0 1 4
R MCCANTS 24:00 3-7 3-4 1 3 4 2 4 0 2 11
M JARIC 18:13 1-6 5-6 0 1 1 4 3 2 3 7
C RICHARD 9:20 1-2 0-0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 2
G BUCKNER DNP - COACH'S DECISION
M BLOUNT DNP - COACH'S DECISION
M MADSEN DNP - SHOULDER
J EDWARDS DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 27-68 19-26 9 28 37 18 34 5 21 81
(.397) (.731) TEAM REBS: 8 TOTAL TO: 21 (32 PTS)

BOSTON 23 27 25 17 - 92
MINNESOTA 22 21 20 18 - 81

BLOCKED SHOTS: BOSTON - K GARNETT 3, K PERKINS. MINNESOTA - T RATLIFF 2,
A JEFFERSON 2, C RICHARD.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: BOSTON 7-18 (.389), P PIERCE 0-2, R ALLEN 5-8, T ALLEN 0-
3, J POSEY 0-1, E HOUSE 0-1, B SCALABRINE 2-3. MINNESOTA 8-19 (.421),
R GOMES 1-2, R DAVIS 4-7, S TELFAIR 1-2, C BREWER 0-1, R FOYE 0-1,
R MCCANTS 2-5, M JARIC 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NONE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
A - 18,689. T - 1:58.</div>

 

NBA: BOSTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AT LONDON

BOSTON (92)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
P Pierce 28:56 1-6 6-11 0-5 4 2 8
K Garnett 28:56 3-6 3-4 1-6 2 1 9
K Perkins 24:00 3-5 5-6 2-5 3 4 11
R Allen 26:53 11-14 1-2 0-1 1 2 28
R Rondo 26:38 2-3 0-0 0-1 6 3 4
T Allen 21:28 1-8 2-5 0-3 1 2 4
J Posey 16:40 0-2 2-4 0-3 1 1 2
E House 14:02 1-3 0-0 0-0 2 0 2
B Scalabrine 12:25 3-5 0-0 0-1 1 2 8
E Batista 19:04 2-4 3-4 2-5 1 3 7
G Davis 7:20 2-5 0-0 0-1 1 2 4
G Pruitt 7:20 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
D Jones 6:18 2-2 1-3 0-2 0 1 5
S Pollard DNP - NOT WITH TEAM
J Manuel DNP - COACH'S DECISION
L Powe DNP - COACH'S DECISION
B Wallace DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 31-63 23-39 5-33 23 24 92
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.492, FT-.590. 3-Point Goals:
7-18, .389 (P Pierce 0-2, R Allen 5-8, T
Allen 0-3, J Posey 0-1, E House 0-1, B
Scalabrine 2-3). Team Rebounds: 18. Blocked
Shots:4 (K Garnett 3, K Perkins).
Turnovers:15 (K Garnett 6, R Rondo 2, G
Pruitt 2, E House, T Allen, P Pierce, K
Perkins, E Batista). Steals: 13 (R Rondo 4, K
Garnett 2, T Allen 2, E Batista 2, J Posey, P
Pierce, K Perkins).


MINNESOTA (81)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Gomes 21:07 3-6 2-4 1-4 1 2 9
J Howard 16:20 0-4 1-2 0-3 1 1 1
T Ratliff 17:28 3-5 0-0 1-2 0 4 6
R Davis 27:16 7-12 0-0 0-2 3 2 18
S Telfair 22:07 3-7 2-2 1-2 3 3 9
C Brewer 18:41 1-3 0-2 0-2 1 5 2
A Jefferson 24:10 2-5 1-1 2-6 1 2 5
R Foye 7:40 0-2 0-0 0-1 1 2 0
C Smith 23:34 2-7 3-3 1-7 1 4 7
G Green 10:04 1-2 2-2 1-2 0 1 4
R McCants 24:00 3-7 3-4 1-4 2 4 11
M Jaric 18:13 1-6 5-6 0-1 4 3 7
C Richard 9:20 1-2 0-0 1-1 0 1 2
G Buckner DNP - COACH'S DECISION
M Blount DNP - COACH'S DECISION
M Madsen DNP - SHOULDER
J Edwards DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 27-68 19-26 9-37 18 34 81
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.397, FT-.731. 3-Point Goals:
8-19, .421 (R Gomes 1-2, R Davis 4-7, S
Telfair 1-2, C Brewer 0-1, R Foye 0-1, R
McCants 2-5, M Jaric 0-1). Team Rebounds: 8.
Blocked Shots:5 (T Ratliff 2, A Jefferson 2,
C Richard). Turnovers:21 (R Davis 3, R Foye
3, M Jaric 3, R McCants 2, S Telfair 2, C
Brewer 2, C Smith 2, T Ratliff, A Jefferson,
G Green, R Gomes). Steals: 5 (M Jaric 2, J
Howard, C Brewer, R Davis).

-------------------------------------------
BOSTON 23 27 25 17 - 92
MINNESOTA 22 21 20 18 - 81
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: None.
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 18,689. T: 1:58.</div>

 

NBA: BOSTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AT LONDON

BOSTON (92) AT MINNESOTA (81)

BOSTON

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

P PIERCE F 28:56 1-6 6-11 0 5 5 4 2 1 1 8
K GARNETT F 28:56 3-6 3-4 1 5 6 2 1 2 6 9
K PERKINS C 24:00 3-5 5-6 2 3 5 3 4 1 1 11
R ALLEN G 26:53 11-14 1-2 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 28
R RONDO G 26:38 2-3 0-0 0 1 1 6 3 4 2 4
T ALLEN 21:28 1-8 2-5 0 3 3 1 2 2 1 4
J POSEY 16:40 0-2 2-4 0 3 3 1 1 1 0 2
E HOUSE 14:02 1-3 0-0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 2
B SCALABRINE 12:25 3-5 0-0 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 8
E BATISTA 19:04 2-4 3-4 2 3 5 1 3 2 1 7
G DAVIS 7:20 2-5 0-0 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 4
G PRUITT 7:20 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
D JONES 6:18 2-2 1-3 0 2 2 0 1 0 0 5
S POLLARD DNP - NOT WITH TEAM
J MANUEL DNP - COACH'S DECISION
L POWE DNP - COACH'S DECISION
B WALLACE DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 31-63 23-39 5 28 33 23 24 13 15 92
(.492) (.590) TEAM REBS: 18 TOTAL TO: 17 (14 PTS)

MINNESOTA

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

R GOMES F 21:07 3-6 2-4 1 3 4 1 2 0 1 9
J HOWARD F 16:20 0-4 1-2 0 3 3 1 1 1 0 1
T RATLIFF C 17:28 3-5 0-0 1 1 2 0 4 0 1 6
R DAVIS G 27:16 7-12 0-0 0 2 2 3 2 1 3 18
S TELFAIR G 22:07 3-7 2-2 1 1 2 3 3 0 2 9
C BREWER 18:41 1-3 0-2 0 2 2 1 5 1 2 2
A JEFFERSON 24:10 2-5 1-1 2 4 6 1 2 0 1 5
R FOYE 7:40 0-2 0-0 0 1 1 1 2 0 3 0
C SMITH 23:34 2-7 3-3 1 6 7 1 4 0 2 7
G GREEN 10:04 1-2 2-2 1 1 2 0 1 0 1 4
R MCCANTS 24:00 3-7 3-4 1 3 4 2 4 0 2 11
M JARIC 18:13 1-6 5-6 0 1 1 4 3 2 3 7
C RICHARD 9:20 1-2 0-0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 2
G BUCKNER DNP - COACH'S DECISION
M BLOUNT DNP - COACH'S DECISION
M MADSEN DNP - SHOULDER
J EDWARDS DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 27-68 19-26 9 28 37 18 34 5 21 81
(.397) (.731) TEAM REBS: 8 TOTAL TO: 21 (32 PTS)

BOSTON 23 27 25 17 - 92
MINNESOTA 22 21 20 18 - 81

BLOCKED SHOTS: BOSTON - K GARNETT 3, K PERKINS. MINNESOTA - T RATLIFF 2,
A JEFFERSON 2, C RICHARD.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: BOSTON 7-18 (.389), P PIERCE 0-2, R ALLEN 5-8, T ALLEN 0-
3, J POSEY 0-1, E HOUSE 0-1, B SCALABRINE 2-3. MINNESOTA 8-19 (.421),
R GOMES 1-2, R DAVIS 4-7, S TELFAIR 1-2, C BREWER 0-1, R FOYE 0-1,
R MCCANTS 2-5, M JARIC 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NONE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: COURTNEY KIRKLAND, DICK BAVETTA, VIOLET PALMER.
A - 18,689. T - 1:58.</div>

 

NBA: BOSTON at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AT LONDON

BOSTON (92)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
P Pierce 28:56 1-6 6-11 0-5 4 2 8
K Garnett 28:56 3-6 3-4 1-6 2 1 9
K Perkins 24:00 3-5 5-6 2-5 3 4 11
R Allen 26:53 11-14 1-2 0-1 1 2 28
R Rondo 26:38 2-3 0-0 0-1 6 3 4
T Allen 21:28 1-8 2-5 0-3 1 2 4
J Posey 16:40 0-2 2-4 0-3 1 1 2
E House 14:02 1-3 0-0 0-0 2 0 2
B Scalabrine 12:25 3-5 0-0 0-1 1 2 8
E Batista 19:04 2-4 3-4 2-5 1 3 7
G Davis 7:20 2-5 0-0 0-1 1 2 4
G Pruitt 7:20 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
D Jones 6:18 2-2 1-3 0-2 0 1 5
S Pollard DNP - NOT WITH TEAM
J Manuel DNP - COACH'S DECISION
L Powe DNP - COACH'S DECISION
B Wallace DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 31-63 23-39 5-33 23 24 92
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.492, FT-.590. 3-Point Goals:
7-18, .389 (P Pierce 0-2, R Allen 5-8, T
Allen 0-3, J Posey 0-1, E House 0-1, B
Scalabrine 2-3). Team Rebounds: 18. Blocked
Shots:4 (K Garnett 3, K Perkins).
Turnovers:15 (K Garnett 6, R Rondo 2, G
Pruitt 2, E House, T Allen, P Pierce, K
Perkins, E Batista). Steals: 13 (R Rondo 4, K
Garnett 2, T Allen 2, E Batista 2, J Posey, P
Pierce, K Perkins).


MINNESOTA (81)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Gomes 21:07 3-6 2-4 1-4 1 2 9
J Howard 16:20 0-4 1-2 0-3 1 1 1
T Ratliff 17:28 3-5 0-0 1-2 0 4 6
R Davis 27:16 7-12 0-0 0-2 3 2 18
S Telfair 22:07 3-7 2-2 1-2 3 3 9
C Brewer 18:41 1-3 0-2 0-2 1 5 2
A Jefferson 24:10 2-5 1-1 2-6 1 2 5
R Foye 7:40 0-2 0-0 0-1 1 2 0
C Smith 23:34 2-7 3-3 1-7 1 4 7
G Green 10:04 1-2 2-2 1-2 0 1 4
R McCants 24:00 3-7 3-4 1-4 2 4 11
M Jaric 18:13 1-6 5-6 0-1 4 3 7
C Richard 9:20 1-2 0-0 1-1 0 1 2
G Buckner DNP - COACH'S DECISION
M Blount DNP - COACH'S DECISION
M Madsen DNP - SHOULDER
J Edwards DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 27-68 19-26 9-37 18 34 81
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.397, FT-.731. 3-Point Goals:
8-19, .421 (R Gomes 1-2, R Davis 4-7, S
Telfair 1-2, C Brewer 0-1, R Foye 0-1, R
McCants 2-5, M Jaric 0-1). Team Rebounds: 8.
Blocked Shots:5 (T Ratliff 2, A Jefferson 2,
C Richard). Turnovers:21 (R Davis 3, R Foye
3, M Jaric 3, R McCants 2, S Telfair 2, C
Brewer 2, C Smith 2, T Ratliff, A Jefferson,
G Green, R Gomes). Steals: 5 (M Jaric 2, J
Howard, C Brewer, R Davis).

-------------------------------------------
BOSTON 23 27 25 17 - 92
MINNESOTA 22 21 20 18 - 81
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: None.
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 18,689. T: 1:58.
Officials: Courtney Kirkland, Dick Bavetta,
Violet Palmer.</div>

 

By Ian Parker
Special to PA SportsTicker


LONDON (Ticker) -- Ray Allen lived in the United Kingdom in hisyouth, and he looked right at home in London on Wednesday night.

The All-Star guard scored 28 points to lead the Boston Celticsto a 92-81 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in preseasonaction.


Former Minnesota star Kevin Garnett scored just nine points forthe Celtics, who faced off with the Timberwolves for the firsttime since the two teams pulled off an unprecedentedseven-for-one deal this summer.


But Allen, who is the Celtics' other big offseason acquisition,was the offensive star.


"We knew we had a job to do," Allen said. "We took care ofbusiness in Rome and we came to London and took care ofbusiness. We did some things we were not to fond of, a lot ofturnovers, some missed free throws, but we're building, it'sexciting."


A sellout crowd at the O2 Arena was treated to a close game inthe early stages with the lead changing hands constantly.

Most fans had come to see Boston's star trio of Garnett, Allenand Paul Pierce, but it was Ricky Davis who stole the limelightearly on - scoring 16 of his 18 points in the first half to keepMinnesota in the game.


In contrast, Garnett - playing against the team where he spentthe first 12 years of his career before being traded this summer- was slow to get into the action as the Celtics worked to gettheir revamped offense into gear.


When it did click, it was Allen who had the hot hand. He made11-of-14 shots from the field, including 5-of-8 from the arc, totorch Minnesota's defense.


With Allen in such fine form, his teammates could take abackseat.


"Some nights there'll be one guy who really gets it going andwe're going to milk that," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "Somenights when one guy gets going the others will have to wait,but they embrace that. When all three get it going, those gamesare going to be fun."


Garnett still made his mark, shooting 3-of-6 from the field andcollecting six rebounds and three blocks.


Leading by seven points at halftime, it was the start of thethird quarter when Boston began to pull ahead. It took a15-point advantage, but there was time for the Timberwolves toclaw their way back into the game.


Rashad McCants nailed a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter tobring Minnesota within seven.


When Craig Smith sank two free throws with 6:50 to go,Minnesota's deficit was down to just five at 80-75. But itwould get no closer as Boston dug deep to re-open its advantageand cruise to victory.


Throughout the night, both teams were cheered on by anenthusiastic crowd getting its first chance to watch live NBAaction for over a decade. Players on both sides were impressedby the atmosphere.


"I said it on the bench, this is the NBA right here," Allensaid. "You saw everything you see in the NBA."


"The fans were great," Timberwolves forward Ryan Gomes said."There was a lot of cheering for both teams. We had a greattime out there, we just didn't get the win."

 

Re: NBA: BOSTON at MINNESOTA

Check out my game recap by clicking this link. </p>