After squandering a 12-point second half lead, the Celtics lead 82-80 with 6 minutes left in the game. Lead by Chris Paul and Peja Stojakovic, the Hornets had all the momentum. Following a Celtics timeout the Cs went on a 15-6 run. Here's the breakdown:
- Kevin Garnett makes 9-foot two point shot
- Kevin Garnett makes 6-foot two point shot
- Ray Allen makes jumper (Rajon Rondo assists)
- Paul Pierce makes 7-foot two point shot
- Rajon Rondo makes two point shot (Kevin Garnett assists)
- Paul Pierce makes 24-foot three point jumper (Kevin Garnett assists)
- Kendrick Perkins makes 7-foot jumper (Kevin Garnett assists)
Prior to that timeout, the Celtics were getting scorched on defense and playing sloppy on offense. I'm not sure what Doc said, or what the players said to one another, but they clearly flipped a switch, played clean team basketball and finished off the Hornets.
Chris Paul does not like Rajon Rondo and vice versa. They were slapped with double technical fouls in the 2nd quarter for getting too touchy under the basket. And then Paul had some words for Rajon Rondo has some words for Paul after the game. High-angle video showed Rondo instigated the post-game dust-up.
Here's the head-to-head matchup:
Rondo: 6 pts, 3-7 FG, 10 assists, 3 reb, 4 TO
Paul gets the nod tonight, thanks to a big 3rd quarter. It wasn't Rondo's best effort, but it's tough to complain when the guy gets double digit assists.
Other observations:
Pierce dropped 20 of his 27 points in the 1st half. Here's his stat line if you combined the 2nd half from the Bulls game with the 1st half from tonight - 40 points, 15-17 FG, 7-8 3 FG
Hornets guard Bobby Brown (3-12 FG) took way too many shots for a role player.
Another solid performance by Sheed (12 points, 5 rebounds). He had 8 big points (including 2 threes) late in the 3rd/early 4th when the Celtics were fighting off the Hornets big run.
More photos from the game...after the jump.