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NBA: Rando helps Celtics top Mavericks
By Jimmy Golen, AP Sports Writer
Friday, February 01, 2008 | No comments posted.
BOSTON — The Boston Celtics only had two of their Big Three and one little point guard who made up for the absence of Kevin Garnett.
Six-foot-1 Rajon Rondo had a season-high 12 rebounds on Thursday night, grabbing the ball away from 6-11 Dirk Nowitzki before putting up the game-winning basket to lead the Celtics to a 96-90 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
“I had the rebound in my hand,” Nowitzki said, “and then Rondo came out of nowhere and snuck it up to the basket before I could react.”
The Celtics improved to 2-1 since Garnett went out with an abdominal strain, with a previous victory over last-place Miami and a loss to Southeast Division-leading Orlando. Boston is 13-0 against the Western Conference, but Dallas is the best team from the West the Celtics have beaten.
“Any game we win without Kevin is important for us, part of our growth process,” coach Doc Rivers said. “Dallas is a team that we are still trying to catch, in our minds. They’ve been there. So when we play those types of teams, they’re important.”
Paul Pierce and Ray Allen scored 26 points apiece to help the Celtics overcome 31 points and 11 rebounds from Nowitzki.
Nowitzki, who along with Pierce was picked as an All-Star reserve about an hour before the game, made a pair of free throws with 58 seconds left to tie it at 90. The Celtics got the ball to Pierce, but his shot went around the rim and out.
Along came Rondo to grab the ball away from Nowitzki and put in the game-winner.
“He didn’t block me out, so I went up under and got the ball,” Rondo said. “I just wanted to get it up quickly before the defense recognized that I had the ball.”
A miss and an offensive rebound gave the Mavericks the ball out of bounds with 17 seconds left, but Jason Terry’s runner was altered to avoid a blocked shot and James Posey came down with the rebound. Posey hit two foul shots, then tipped the ball away from Terry at halfcourt in the closing seconds to ice it.
“Late in the season, we’re going to need these guys,” Pierce said. “And in playoff situations these guys are going to be seasoned and getting the job done.”
The nationally televised game between two of the NBA’s top teams drew the usual collection of celebrities at courtside, including Red Sox players Jonathan Papelbon and Coco Crisp. Celtics Hall of Famer Bill Russell got a big cheer when he took his seat near the Mavericks bench.
No players from the New England Patriots this time, though: They’re down in Arizona preparing for Sunday’s Super Bowl against the New York Giants.
The Celtics had lost two of their last four and five of their last 11 since opening the season 29-3 to earn Rivers the honor of coaching the Eastern Conference at the Feb. 17 All-Star game in New Orleans. Dallas’ loss deprived Mavericks coach Avery Johnson of the chance to coach the West, which instead went to the Hornets’ Byron Scott.
Spurs 84, Suns 81
In Phoenix, Tim Duncan banked in a shot with 30.9 seconds remaining, Manu Ginobili hit four late free throws and undermanned San Antonio ended a three-game losing streak.
Ginobili finished with 19 points, shooting 12-of-12 from the line. Duncan had 16 points and 17 rebounds, and Jacque Vaughn scored a season-high 17 for San Antonio.
Shawn Marion led the Suns with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Steve Nash had 17 points and eight assists, and Stoudemire finished with 16 points and nine rebounds.
Pistons 90, Lakers 89
In Auburn Hills, Mich., Tayshaun Prince’s 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds left lifted Detroit over Los Angeles, overcoming Kobe Bryant’s big night.
Bryant had 39 points and 10 rebounds, but didn’t get a shot on the final possession, which ended with Lamar Odom’s airball. Bryant had an unusual triple-double, adding a career-high 11 turnovers to his scoring and rebounding numbers.
The Pistons have won nine straight at home over the Lakers, including three games to win the 2004 NBA finals.
Prince led the Pistons with 22 points.
SuperSonics 101, Cavaliers 95
In Seattle, Chris Wilcox scored Seattle’s first 10 points, Kevin Durant had 12 of his 24 in the first quarter, and the SuperSonics held off a late surge to surge to beat Cleveland, which played without LeBron James.
Two nights after snapping their franchise-record, 14-game losing streak by beating the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs — without Tony Parker — the Sonics took out the Eastern Conference champ Cavs.
Of course this win isn’t as impressive since James, the NBA’s leading scorer at 30.1 points per game, sat on the bench in a brown blazer and jeans after he sprained his right ankle late in the second quarter of Wednesday night’s win over Portland.
Larry Hughes scored 28 points and Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 17.
Six-foot-1 Rajon Rondo had a season-high 12 rebounds on Thursday night, grabbing the ball away from 6-11 Dirk Nowitzki before putting up the game-winning basket to lead the Celtics to a 96-90 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
“I had the rebound in my hand,” Nowitzki said, “and then Rondo came out of nowhere and snuck it up to the basket before I could react.”
The Celtics improved to 2-1 since Garnett went out with an abdominal strain, with a previous victory over last-place Miami and a loss to Southeast Division-leading Orlando. Boston is 13-0 against the Western Conference, but Dallas is the best team from the West the Celtics have beaten.
“Any game we win without Kevin is important for us, part of our growth process,” coach Doc Rivers said. “Dallas is a team that we are still trying to catch, in our minds. They’ve been there. So when we play those types of teams, they’re important.”
Paul Pierce and Ray Allen scored 26 points apiece to help the Celtics overcome 31 points and 11 rebounds from Nowitzki.
Nowitzki, who along with Pierce was picked as an All-Star reserve about an hour before the game, made a pair of free throws with 58 seconds left to tie it at 90. The Celtics got the ball to Pierce, but his shot went around the rim and out.
Along came Rondo to grab the ball away from Nowitzki and put in the game-winner.
“He didn’t block me out, so I went up under and got the ball,” Rondo said. “I just wanted to get it up quickly before the defense recognized that I had the ball.”
A miss and an offensive rebound gave the Mavericks the ball out of bounds with 17 seconds left, but Jason Terry’s runner was altered to avoid a blocked shot and James Posey came down with the rebound. Posey hit two foul shots, then tipped the ball away from Terry at halfcourt in the closing seconds to ice it.
“Late in the season, we’re going to need these guys,” Pierce said. “And in playoff situations these guys are going to be seasoned and getting the job done.”
The nationally televised game between two of the NBA’s top teams drew the usual collection of celebrities at courtside, including Red Sox players Jonathan Papelbon and Coco Crisp. Celtics Hall of Famer Bill Russell got a big cheer when he took his seat near the Mavericks bench.
No players from the New England Patriots this time, though: They’re down in Arizona preparing for Sunday’s Super Bowl against the New York Giants.
The Celtics had lost two of their last four and five of their last 11 since opening the season 29-3 to earn Rivers the honor of coaching the Eastern Conference at the Feb. 17 All-Star game in New Orleans. Dallas’ loss deprived Mavericks coach Avery Johnson of the chance to coach the West, which instead went to the Hornets’ Byron Scott.
Spurs 84, Suns 81
In Phoenix, Tim Duncan banked in a shot with 30.9 seconds remaining, Manu Ginobili hit four late free throws and undermanned San Antonio ended a three-game losing streak.
Ginobili finished with 19 points, shooting 12-of-12 from the line. Duncan had 16 points and 17 rebounds, and Jacque Vaughn scored a season-high 17 for San Antonio.
Shawn Marion led the Suns with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Steve Nash had 17 points and eight assists, and Stoudemire finished with 16 points and nine rebounds.
Pistons 90, Lakers 89
In Auburn Hills, Mich., Tayshaun Prince’s 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds left lifted Detroit over Los Angeles, overcoming Kobe Bryant’s big night.
Bryant had 39 points and 10 rebounds, but didn’t get a shot on the final possession, which ended with Lamar Odom’s airball. Bryant had an unusual triple-double, adding a career-high 11 turnovers to his scoring and rebounding numbers.
The Pistons have won nine straight at home over the Lakers, including three games to win the 2004 NBA finals.
Prince led the Pistons with 22 points.
SuperSonics 101, Cavaliers 95
In Seattle, Chris Wilcox scored Seattle’s first 10 points, Kevin Durant had 12 of his 24 in the first quarter, and the SuperSonics held off a late surge to surge to beat Cleveland, which played without LeBron James.
Two nights after snapping their franchise-record, 14-game losing streak by beating the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs — without Tony Parker — the Sonics took out the Eastern Conference champ Cavs.
Of course this win isn’t as impressive since James, the NBA’s leading scorer at 30.1 points per game, sat on the bench in a brown blazer and jeans after he sprained his right ankle late in the second quarter of Wednesday night’s win over Portland.
Larry Hughes scored 28 points and Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 17.
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