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NBA: Bobcats stun backsliding Celtics
By The Associated Press
Wednesday, January 07, 2009 | No comments posted.
The team that pushed around the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA finals now isn’t even tough enough for the Charlotte Bobcats.
Suddenly, the slumping Boston Celtics aren’t scaring anyone.
“They come in and intimidate you and try to punk you,” Bobcats rookie D.J. Augustin said. “But if you don’t back down from them, they kind of fold.”
Raymond Felton scored 25 points, Augustin added 11 of his 20 points in overtime, and the Bobcats stunned Boston 114-106 on Tuesday to continue the Celtics’ sudden slide.
After a team-record 19-game winning streak and an NBA-record 27-2 start, the Celtics lost for the fifth time in seven games.
“We told our team before the season it will be 82 Game 7s. Every time we play it’s a Game 7 for the other team,” coach Doc Rivers said. “On the nights we’re not ready mentally for that, we’re going to have to get lucky and play over our head to win.”
The Lakers lost, too, as David West scored 15 of his 40 points in the final period to outscore Los Angeles by himself in New Orleans’ 116-105 victory. The Hornets held Kobe Bryant to two points in the fourth quarter after he had 37 through three and snapped the Lakers’ 15-game home winning streak.
“We felt pretty confident that if we were somehow able to slow (Bryant) down, we would have a good chance to win,” West said. “We needed this one tonight. The first two times we played these guys, they jumped on us.”
In Los Angeles, West shot 14-of-23 from the floor and 12-of-13 from the foul line in matching his career high. He also grabbed 11 rebounds as the Hornets (21-10) won for the 16th time in 21 games and avenged two losses to the Lakers in New Orleans earlier this season.
“He was rolling,” said Hornets star Chris Paul, who had 32 points and 15 assists. “When he’s going like that, we are going to feed him the rest of the game. He was hitting all types of shots — floaters in the lane, step-backs, and that’s why he’s an All-Star.”
In Charlotte, N.C., the Bobcats dominated the extra period, despite playing again without Raja Bell (groin), getting five straight defensive stops to pick up one of Larry Brown’s biggest wins since taking over his record ninth NBA team.
Paul Pierce scored 28 points, but had a key turnover in overtime. Ray Allen scored 20 points, but shot 7-for-20. Rajon Rondo committed nine turnovers. Kevin Garnett had 14 points and 13 rebounds, but shot only 7-of-18 and was called for traveling in Charlotte’s decisive spurt.
Magic 89, Wizards 80
At Orlando, Fla., Hedo Turkoglu scored 22 points and the Magic held off a late scoring burst by Caron Butler, who had 29 points, all in the second half.
Dwight Howard had his league-leading 25th double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds. Jameer Nelson added 14 points for the Magic, who rebounded from a loss at Toronto on Sunday.
76ers 104, Rockets 96
At Philadelphia, Andre Iguodala scored 28 points and the 76ers won in their return home after a 1-5 road trip.
Luis Scola led six Rockets in double figures with 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. Houston has dropped five straight on the road for the first time since 2004 and three straight overall for the first time this season.
Mavericks 107, Clippers 102
At Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki scored 34 points, including the go-ahead jumper with 37 seconds left right after he blocked a shot, and the Mavericks held off the short-handed Clippers.
The Mavericks needed a game-ending 11-1 run to avoid being upset at home by Los Angeles, which had only eight players in uniform because of injuries and a suspension.
Timberwolves 94, Grizzlies 87
At Memphis, Tenn., Randy Foye scored 23 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 40 seconds left, and Minnesota won its third straight — its longest winning streak since January 2007.
Al Jefferson added 19 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks for Minnesota, which scored the final seven points, five by Foye.
Thunder 107, Knicks 99
At Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant had 27 points and 12 rebounds, Jeff Green scored 27 points and the Thunder held on after nearly blowing a 23-point, second-half lead.
Al Harrington scored 21 points and Chris Duhon added 18 for the Knicks, who were coming off a victory over defending NBA champion Boston. New York, which beat the Thunder by 10 points on Nov. 14, shot 39.8 percent.
Bulls 99, Kings 94
At Chicago, Ben Gordon scored 24 points to help the Bulls snap a three-game losing streak.
Kevin Martin had 29 points for the lowly Kings, who have dropped 10 of 11.
Suddenly, the slumping Boston Celtics aren’t scaring anyone.
“They come in and intimidate you and try to punk you,” Bobcats rookie D.J. Augustin said. “But if you don’t back down from them, they kind of fold.”
Raymond Felton scored 25 points, Augustin added 11 of his 20 points in overtime, and the Bobcats stunned Boston 114-106 on Tuesday to continue the Celtics’ sudden slide.
After a team-record 19-game winning streak and an NBA-record 27-2 start, the Celtics lost for the fifth time in seven games.
“We told our team before the season it will be 82 Game 7s. Every time we play it’s a Game 7 for the other team,” coach Doc Rivers said. “On the nights we’re not ready mentally for that, we’re going to have to get lucky and play over our head to win.”
The Lakers lost, too, as David West scored 15 of his 40 points in the final period to outscore Los Angeles by himself in New Orleans’ 116-105 victory. The Hornets held Kobe Bryant to two points in the fourth quarter after he had 37 through three and snapped the Lakers’ 15-game home winning streak.
“We felt pretty confident that if we were somehow able to slow (Bryant) down, we would have a good chance to win,” West said. “We needed this one tonight. The first two times we played these guys, they jumped on us.”
In Los Angeles, West shot 14-of-23 from the floor and 12-of-13 from the foul line in matching his career high. He also grabbed 11 rebounds as the Hornets (21-10) won for the 16th time in 21 games and avenged two losses to the Lakers in New Orleans earlier this season.
“He was rolling,” said Hornets star Chris Paul, who had 32 points and 15 assists. “When he’s going like that, we are going to feed him the rest of the game. He was hitting all types of shots — floaters in the lane, step-backs, and that’s why he’s an All-Star.”
In Charlotte, N.C., the Bobcats dominated the extra period, despite playing again without Raja Bell (groin), getting five straight defensive stops to pick up one of Larry Brown’s biggest wins since taking over his record ninth NBA team.
Paul Pierce scored 28 points, but had a key turnover in overtime. Ray Allen scored 20 points, but shot 7-for-20. Rajon Rondo committed nine turnovers. Kevin Garnett had 14 points and 13 rebounds, but shot only 7-of-18 and was called for traveling in Charlotte’s decisive spurt.
Magic 89, Wizards 80
At Orlando, Fla., Hedo Turkoglu scored 22 points and the Magic held off a late scoring burst by Caron Butler, who had 29 points, all in the second half.
Dwight Howard had his league-leading 25th double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds. Jameer Nelson added 14 points for the Magic, who rebounded from a loss at Toronto on Sunday.
76ers 104, Rockets 96
At Philadelphia, Andre Iguodala scored 28 points and the 76ers won in their return home after a 1-5 road trip.
Luis Scola led six Rockets in double figures with 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. Houston has dropped five straight on the road for the first time since 2004 and three straight overall for the first time this season.
Mavericks 107, Clippers 102
At Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki scored 34 points, including the go-ahead jumper with 37 seconds left right after he blocked a shot, and the Mavericks held off the short-handed Clippers.
The Mavericks needed a game-ending 11-1 run to avoid being upset at home by Los Angeles, which had only eight players in uniform because of injuries and a suspension.
Timberwolves 94, Grizzlies 87
At Memphis, Tenn., Randy Foye scored 23 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 40 seconds left, and Minnesota won its third straight — its longest winning streak since January 2007.
Al Jefferson added 19 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks for Minnesota, which scored the final seven points, five by Foye.
Thunder 107, Knicks 99
At Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant had 27 points and 12 rebounds, Jeff Green scored 27 points and the Thunder held on after nearly blowing a 23-point, second-half lead.
Al Harrington scored 21 points and Chris Duhon added 18 for the Knicks, who were coming off a victory over defending NBA champion Boston. New York, which beat the Thunder by 10 points on Nov. 14, shot 39.8 percent.
Bulls 99, Kings 94
At Chicago, Ben Gordon scored 24 points to help the Bulls snap a three-game losing streak.
Kevin Martin had 29 points for the lowly Kings, who have dropped 10 of 11.
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