Rajon Rondo’s brilliant triple-double lifts Boston Celtics to 95 – 91 win over Chicago Bulls – NBA Recap(Part 1)
The Boston Celtics have found it tough this NBA season but there can still be no doubting their pedigree. On Sunday, the Celtics rallied behind a momentous display by Rajon Rondo to outlast the Chicago Bulls for a 95 – 91 win, sending the packed TD Garden
crowd into frenzy.
Rondo was everywhere on the court, and he there was nothing he couldn’t do. The point guard, who has only recently returned from an injury induced layoff, ran the show with 32 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds. Everyone at the TD Garden was overawed by
the performance, and the tributes came fast after the game.
"Oh, man, he played great," JaJuan Johnson said of his teammate, going as far as to label him the best point guard in the NBA. "I don't think anyone expects anything less from him. The way he played today, he's a great player - obviously. Best point guard
in the league, and he played great."
Chicago Bulls super star Derrick Rose might have something to say about that, but the reigning NBA MVP didn’t play the game because of a back problem. In his absence, additional responsibility fell on the shoulders of C.J. Watson, Joakim Noah and Carlos
Boozer.
They couldn’t stop Rondo, who put in a scintillating effort that warranted applause, even from the Bulls.
Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau, who has spent time with Rondo as an assistant coach at the Celtics, also praised his performance, calling him a “great player”.
"Rondo's a great player. Even if you are defending him well, he still has the ability to make great plays and that team is very experienced and I think they're playing at a very high level."
4 other players got into double figures for Boston. These included Johnson, Chris Wilcox, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, who had a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Boston’s head coach Doc Rivers, although appreciative of Rondo, spoke about the commitment and effort of the team as a whole, which had pleased him.
"I thought we played at a better pace today. You could see it: we were trying to run today and that's how we have to play. If we didn't turn the ball over we would've had far more points."
The game was an entertaining one and the Celtics held a slight advantage for the larger part of it. They took the Bulls by surprise early on with a blistering 12 – 4 start and proceeded to stay in the driver’s seat for the duration of the first period. It
ended 28 – 23.
The pace slowed down considerably in the second period as the defences on both sides woke up. The attackers found it difficult in a quarter where both teams managed 20 points. Boston were never really put under much pressure and headed into the halftime
break up at 48 – 43.
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