NBA -- Celtics cool Heat in 2OT
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 28 Jan 2013
CHICAGO -- While the news of Rajon Rondo's season-ending torn ACL began to circulate around the TD Boston Garden on a wintry cold Sunday afternoon, Paul Pierce was burning the harcourt with one of his best performances, scoring a rare triple-double that lifted the Celtics over the Miami Heat in a double-overtime thriller, 100-98.
The 6-foot-7 Pierce, a 10-time All-Star who has been slumping of late, came to life with 17 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. Piece's eruption provided an emotional lift to the difficult reality the Celtics are facing. The win, which also lifted Boston to 21-23, snapped the Celtics' six-game losing streak.
The Celtics shot just 40.9 percent from the field and 20 percent above the 3-point arc, but they got a great effort from another All-Star, Kevin Garnett, who logged 24 points and 11 rebounds. Jason Terry drilled 13 while Jeff Green added 11.
Although Rondo will be out for at least eight months and up to a year, Celtics head coach Doc Rivers told reporters "We're going nowhere.... I'm not making the obituary." Boston currently holds the 8th and last playoffs spot in the Eastern Conference, just 2 1/2 games over the 18-25 Philadelphia 76ers.
Even Heat forward LeBron James felt awful about the whole thing. "I think it's terrible. As much as a a competitor and as much as I've been a rival with Boston for over the years, I never want to see anyone go down. I think it's terrible. Not only for their team, but for the league," he told NBA.com.
James also flirted with a triple-double but fell a little short with 34 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists. LeBron sent the game into overtime by nailing a big 3 with seven seconds left in regulation.
But the reigning league MVP cannot save the Heat from Pierce, who drilled a pull-up jumper than gave the Celtic the lead for good, 99-98, with 30.4 seconds left in the second overtime. Pierce made one free in the final 5.6 seconds of play to seal the deal. (HDS)
Photo: With Rajon Rondo out for the season with a torn ACL, Paul Pierce notched a triple-double -- 17 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists -- to carry the Boston Celtics over the Miami Heat in double overtime, 100-98, at the TD Boston Garden.
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