Five players score in double figures as the Boston Celtics conquer their 13th straight win Sunday night
The Boston Celtics rose to their 13th straight win after defeating the Indiana Pacers 99-88 who lost their fourth game out of the last five. Paul Pierce awed the audience and the opponent team as he scored his first triple double in four years.
He scooped 18 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and gave 12 assists to clinch his career’s seventh triple double.
Danny Granger scored for the team and gave a high 19 points for the Pacers.
Missing players
Rajon Rondo was not present to enjoy the 13th win of his team as he is resting for a couple of weeks because of a sprained left ankle.
Quote it
"That's the point we make with this team. When the ball moves, there's assists," said a beaming Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "Guys are going to get assists and they're getting that."
Pierce had the game move in his direction as he launched himself on the Pacers. He earned his sixth regular-season triple double, which makes it even more terrific.
The Pacers had a tight defense against the Celtics after the first half but who can stop Pierce when he sets himself in action? He set out on a 10-2 run as he scored six of Boston’s 10 points with his scathing demeanor. This proved to be a catalyst as the
Celtics pushed a nine point lead with just 7:33 on the clock and would not let the Pacers get any closer than six.
Ouch
"They're a heck of a basketball team and they're stingy in the fourth quarter. We didn't stop them enough times to give us our chance to make a run." Said a very disappointed Indiana coach Jim O'Brien.
Shaquille O’Neal was strength and charm personified as he hit 11 of the first 17 points for the Celtics. Even after missing so much and not playing after Dec. 8, O’Neal still had much to give to his team. He even had his dangerous moves recalculated as he
back lashed Pacers forward Jeff Green with one of his alley-oop dunks.
The Weakest link
Granger could not make the shots he usually makes. He seemed put out and was in a state of constant struggle as he hit just 25 percent in his 20 attempts.
Pierce was the leading contender of the game. He filled in for missing Rondo and performed as well as he could for his team. He was in tune with customary distribution of the ball and suited his point forward role to perfection. His even distribution of
the ball boosted Boston’s defense and they calculated 30 points in the fourth quarter to lead the game till the end.
Game stats
Boston had 45 rebounds whereas Pacers scored 43. Boston captured four offensive rebounds and the Pacers had 16. Celtics gave away a large number of turnovers, that is 18 and the Pacers gave 13 only.
The Celtics scored 23 fast break points and the Pacers had 14. The Celtics took the biggest lead with 13 points and the Pacers with two only. The Celtics had 40 points in the paint and the Pacers had 30.
Coming up next
For the Pacers, Monday vs. New Orleans, Sunday vs. Memphis, Tuesday vs. Boston. For the Celtics, Wednesday vs. Philadelphia, Saturday @ Orlando, Tuesday @ Indiana.
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