The Boston Celtics won their 14th straight game to hit the Philadelphia 76ers hard 84-80
In a game that showed their least impressive performance and the Boston Celtics shooting just 38.8 percent from the floor, Boston Celtics held the Philadelphia 76ers to a 84-80 loss at the TD Garden, Boston. This low score was not expected from the team
that scored 99 against the Indiana Pacers 88 on Dec, 19th and 102 against the Atlanta Hawks 90 on Dec 16th.
Grabbing 43 rebounds against Sixers’ 40 and dishing out 34 points in the paint, the Celtics were at least far better in the game than the Sixers. Elton Brand scored 16 points, the highest among the losing team and even the winning team was not that good
as Ray Allen topped them with just 22 points.
Game stats
The Celtics gave away 10 turnovers and the Sixers gave away as many as 13.
The Celtics were shooting just 25 percent from the field in the final quarter of the game. They went 4 for 16 while maintaining a low key 25 percent shooting and reached the line for as many as 14 times in the final 12 minutes of the game. They took 14 fast
break points and the Sixers had seven only.
Turning point
It was Kevin Garnett who made it for the Celtics in the last minute of the game when they were leading the Sixers with just two points. He blocked Sixers’ Andre Iguodala on his way to the basket and played the most defensive shots for the Celtics.
Hottest player
Allen’s game was on rage in the first quarter. He brought out what the Celtics were lacking in the game, ‘spirit’. He netted five of the first seven shots he had, and that also included a jumper that he dunked in when the buzzer rang. In the very first quarter
he scored 11 points which was really good considering the rate at which that team was shooting.
Pierce was not found anywhere in the game throughout the four quarters. There was some defensive spark in the performance by Iguodala that kept the Celtics at some distance and limited their shooting percentage. Boston missed their first seven shots and
shot just 4 for 15 in the evening.
Quote it
"We've won games in the 100's. We've won games in the 80's. And we’re just finding ways to grind it out cause we don’t have the healthy bodies,” Pierce said. The 6’7” tall, no. 34 later added, “You don’t know who’s going to be in there night-in and night-out.”
Box Score
Players’ Stats
Philadelphia 76ers (11-18)
Elton Brand: 16 points, 12 rebounds, one assist
Jrue Holiday: 15 points, five rebounds, five assists
Louis Williams: 12 points, two rebounds, two assists
Tony Battie: 10 points, six rebounds
Team rebounds: five
Boston Celtics (23-4)
Ray Allen: 22 points, four rebounds, six assists
Shaquille O’Neal: 13 points, nine rebounds, one assist
Kevin Garnett: 12 points, seven rebounds, one assist
Paul Pierce: 11 points, four rebounds, two assists
Scoring
The lead changed as many as 14 times as the ball kept dribbling under different players’ hands and the game was tied 10 times.
Quarter to quarter
First quarter
PHI: 17, BOS: 23
Second Quarter
PHI: 27, BOS: 15
Third Quarter
PHI: 17, BOS: 26
Fourth Quarter
PHI: 19, BOS: 20
More to watch
For the 76ers, Sunday @ Denver, Monday @ Golden State, Wednesday @ Phoenix.
For the Celtics, Saturday @ Orlando, Tuesday @ Indiana Wednesday @ Detroit.
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