Paul Pierce shines, Celtics pull a 94-80 win over the Nets
The Boston Celtics pulled out a 94-80 victory against the New Jersey Nets on 16 February, as the team shot 43 per cent from the field. The Celtics had an amazing comeback in the second half of the game knocking down a nine-point deficit.
Pierce sets another record before entering the NBA All-Star Three-Point contest. The NBA 3-point champion of the year 2010 scored 1,542 three-pointers that left him just 1,022 shy of Ray Allen’s 1,672, the record that he set on 10 February, 2011 against
Los Angeles Lakers. Pierce later said that it was a good thing that they are entering the All-Star Weekend as winners; otherwise it would have been a big upset for them. The Nets however, would now enter the NBA All-Star Break with three losses in a row. Nets
coach Avery Johnson was disappointed as the coach later said, "Ray Allen - the last person we want shooting a 3 in the gym - he makes a 3 on us. We just didn't score from that point. Their defence just clamped down on us."
Pierce rocked throughout the game. The player notched his season-high 13 free throws and carried a game-high 31 points in the clash.
Despite suffering from a wrist injury, the player shot very well and later the coach Doc Rivers complimented his comeback effort as he said, "He's back, because he's a great player and those guys just don't have a lot of back-to-back bad games. He was terrific."
The Celtics showed high defence and held the Nets at a huge gap with their fully charged defence against them. New Jersey Nets could not cross 12.5 per cent shooting from the field and Boston let them pass with just 10 points in the final quarter of the
game.
Brook Lopez scored team-high 18 points for the losing team. Devin Harris posted 16 points and dished out five assists in 30 minutes. Anthony Morrow added 14 points and grabbed four rebounds in the loss. Rajon Rondo could only score seven points and dished
out eight assists along with five rebounds for the Celtics.
The final six minutes of the game were the toughest for the Nets. They could only score two points and those too from two free throws made by Derrick Favors.
Allen was not that awesome with his three-pointers. Although the player shot an amazing 3-pointer that was the first of the night and this flared up a 17-2 run against the Nets. At that point, Boston took command of the game, never looking back. Allen had
just one three-pointer in the game and same goes for Pierce. The players combined for a 2-for-7 shooting from beyond the arc.
Pierce had an amazing game for the Celtics. The player made a great comeback shooting effort and scored all the first four shots of the night coming his way. The ace had scored 10 points in the very start that started the Celtics a 15-point lead over the
opposition.
Sasha Vujacic, who was recently traded to the Nets from Los Angeles Lakers, played a second consecutive off the mark game for the new team. The player could only succumb four points in 29 minutes with a meagre two-of-nine shooting from the field.
Delonte West will return for the first time after his right wrist injury on Tuesday in Celtics’ matchup against Golden State Warriors.
For the Nets, Friday (2/25) @ San Antonio, Saturday @ San Antonio, Monday vs. Phoenix. For the Celtics, Tuesday @ Golden State, Thursday @ Denver, Saturday @ LA Clippers.
Tags: