Live Blog: Celtics vs. 76ers

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Nov 25, 2009

Live Blog: Celtics vs. 76ers Final, Celtics 113-110: It was not the prettiest of wins, but an entertaining one to be sure as the Celtics improve to 11-4.

The last minute had a bit of everything and seemed to take about an hour. Give the Sixers credit for fighting with a limited lineup and keeping it close.


Paul Pierce was easily the best player on the floor throughout. He finishes with 27 points, six rebounds, six assists and no turnovers in 43 minutes.


Some other notable numbers from this one:


– Philly finishes 13-of-20 from 3-point range. The Celtics were 14-of-20 in the first meeting between the teams.


– Boston has just four turnovers in the second half.


Andre Iguodala flirted with a triple-double, leading the Sixers with 25 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.


– After getting 18 second-chance points in the first half, Philadelphia was held to three after the break.


The C’s get a day off to stuff themselves and then are back at it Friday at the Garden hosting Toronto. The tip is 7:30 p.m. and we will be courtside bringing you all the action. Until then, have a great Thanksgiving.


Fourth quarter, 1.8 seconds, Celtics 113-110: With the timeout the Sixers will be able to move the ball beyond halfcourt.


Keep an eye on Jason Kapono here. He will be their first option.


Fourth quarter, 2.7 seconds, Celtics 111-110: The Celtics were fully prepared for Thaddeus Young to intentionally miss the second of those two free throws but he made it and we are at a one-point game again.


Fourth quarter, 4.0 seconds, Celtics 111-108: I spoke too soon, as Andre Iguodala makes a 3-pointer to cut it to one.


Ray Allen then buries both free throws and the Sixers have one last chance.


Philly is 13-of-20 from 3-point range so don’t be shocked if something goes down here. Dribble penetration has yielded tons of open looks for the Sixers. Let’s see if they have enough time.


Fourth quarter, 9.6 seconds, Celtics 109-105: That just might be the dagger.


Rajon Rondo hits a baseline jumper with two seconds on the shot clock and the Sixers face a nearly insurmountable deficit.


Rondo got free underneath and was given a feed from a driving Kevin Garnett. As he dribbled away from the basket and fans screamed for him to shoot it, Rondo turned and fired.


Fourth quarter, 34.3 seconds. Celtics 107-105: We mentioned earlier how solid an effort this has been from Paul Pierce.


It continues. Following a frantic few seconds that saw Rajon Rondo make a steal and the Celtics blow a layup on the other end, Pierce took a charge on Andre Iguodala as the Sixers’ leading scorer drove for what could’ve been the game-tying hoop.


A huge play.


Fourth quarter, 1:20, Celtics 107-105: Andre Iguodala makes two free throws and the Sixers will not go away.


They did the same thing last night in Washington, erasing most of an 11-point deficit in the closing minutes and getting a chance for the win on the final possession, but coming up short.


Fourth quarter, 2:34, Celtics 106-98: The Sixers put together a little 6-2 run to keep it close before Kevin Garnett gets a big hoop before the timeout.


Garnett took a pass from Paul Pierce and turned to find himself completely wide-open in the lane. He almost seemed surprised by it and hesitated before driving in for a layup.


The Celtics will like to attack and perhaps add to their 33 free-throw attempts down the stretch here. The way the Sixers are shooting from 3-point distance they are not out of it, however.


Fourth quarter, 4:19, Celtics 102-94: Kevin Garnett returns after a long spell on the bench, during which Boston took control.


Fourth quarter, 5:57, Celtics 100-91: Paul Pierce has just been a monster tonight.


Pierce just deked Andre Iguodala with a step-back jumper and is at 27 points. This off a 33-point effort at New York on Sunday in which he had the “game-winning” assist.


Expect plenty more Pierce down the stretch.


Fourth quarter, 6:50, Celtics 98-90: Rajon Rondo just had a pair of highlight-reel hoops and then a beautiful pass to Marquis Daniels and it is suddenly a six-point Celtics advantage.


Rondo had been somewhat quiet until late. He now has eight points and six assists.


Fourth quarter, 8:55, Celtics 90-87: The 3-ball is working all of a sudden.


Eddie House, Paul Pierce and Rasheed Wallace have each hit one in recent minutes and Boston has matched its largest lead of the second half.


Before the hot stretch the Celtics had made just 4-of-22 3-pointers.


Fourth quarter, 10:24, Sixers 87-84: Boston scores the first five points of the fourth and has a chance to take the lead but Eddie House’s bid for a second straight 3-pointer rims out.


End of third quarter, Sixers 85-79: With two of its top players out the Sixers needed someone to step up to have a chance tonight.


It’s doubtful anyone saw Jason Kapono and Willie Green as likely candidates.


Kapono and Green have combined for 33 points already. Green scored 12 in the third, including a 3-pointer late to open up the six-point advantage.


Boston has taken 21 more free throws, five more 3-pointers and has fewer turnovers, yet finds itself in another late hole against a lesser opponent.


Third quarter, 2:37, Sixers, 73-72: Another technical foul is issued to Samuel Dalembert and the ensuing free throw makes it a two-point Celtics lead before the Sixers hit another 3-pointer to take it right back.


The officials seem to be calling things tighter here in the third, technicals aside. After being whistled for four fouls the entire first half, Boston has five in the first nine-plus minutes of the third.


Third quarter, 3:13, Celtics 69-68: We had a temporary loss of wireless courtside here but things are back to normal.


Double technical fouls were issued to Kevin Garnett and Thaddeus Young after the two came together before a Garnett free throw and likely said some unpleasant things.


In the meantime this continues to be a see-saw affair, something the Celtics have found themselves in quite a bit of late.


Royal Ivey hit a 3-pointer moments ago to tie it and make the Sixers 7-of-11 from the arc.


Third quarter, 8:34, Celtics 59-56: There have been a couple opponents this season (New Jersey, Golden State) which have played the Celtics with a limited roster due to injuries.


Each time Boston seems to keep the opponent around a bit before asserting itself in the second half.


We may be seeing that again as the Celtics have opened the third quarter on an 8-5 run against the banged-up Sixers.


Paul Pierce has six of the eight points.


Third quarter, 9:16, Celtics 57-56: Paul Pierce has scored four straight points to give Boston the lead again, two on a dunk and two from the line.


Third quarter, 11:48, Sixers 52-51: Underway in the second half here and an interesting stat to pass on.


The Sixers had 18 second-chance points in the first half. The Celtics have not allowed more than 22 in that category for an entire game this season.


Something to watch.


Halftime, Sixers 52-51: A late basket by Jason Smith gives Philly a lead and a miss by Rajon Rondo before the buzzer keeps it that way.


Overall not a great half for the Celtics. They were outrebounded by five, had 10 assists against eight turnovers and shot 45 percent from the floor.


As has been the case often of late, Paul Pierce and Kendrick Perkins have been the most consistent performers for Boston. The pair have a combined 24 points and eight rebounds at the break.


One issue to solve in the locker room is how to stop Jason Kapono, who scored 12 points in the second quarter and had some wide-open looks. He rarely misses those.


Off for a coffee. I’ll be back caffeinated and ready to take you through the second half.


Second quarter, 1:10, Celtics 49-48: Kevin Garnett makes a pair to put the Celtics back on top for the first time since early in the second quarter.


Before Garnett got to the line, Kendrick Perkins led a fantastic fast break for Boston, dribbling out of the pack and finding Rajon Rondo on the wing.


Rondo fed a trailing Paul Pierce for a dunk.


Second quarter, 2:36, Sixers 48-45: Kendrick Perkins has quietly been playing some of his best basketball as a Celtic of late.


If you toss out a foul-marred game against Orlando last Friday, Perkins has scored in double figures six straight times.


With 10 points and five rebounds he is on his way to a third double-double in the last five games.


Some great Boston ball movement gets Paul Pierce a 3-pointer just before the timeout and it is a 7-3 run for the Celtics.


Second quarter, 5:37, Sixers 41-36: This is a 21-9 run for Philadelphia going back to Rodney Carney’s 3-pointer late in the first quarter.


The Sixers have hit 3-pointers in the span. Boston has hit three overall, in 12 attempts.


Second quarter, 5:58, Sixers 41-36: The Celtics are now 7-of-12 from the line after Kevin Garnett splits a pair.


Second quarter, 7:07, Sixers 34-32: The Sixers have been sticking Andre Iguodala on Rasheed Wallace, who has five inches on the Philly guard.


It is a necessity at times with the injuries the Sixers have. They did double Wallace moments ago. Wallace found a streaking Rajon Rondo, who fed Marquis Daniels.


Daniels was fouled and made 1-of-2 from the line.


Some very interesting matchups out there right now.


Second quarter, 8:58, Sixers 30-29: Shooting specialist Jason Kapono hits a 3-pointer from the corner and the Sixers are in front for the first time.


Philly has made 3-of-4 3-pointers. Boston is 3-of-10 already.


Second quarter, 10:20, Celtics 29-25: On the C’s opening possession of the quarter they get four shots up before Ray Allen hits a long jumper.


End of first quarter, Celtics 27-23: After speculating on what caused Doc Rivers to go to his bench so early and often in this one, I am able to recall what the C’s subs did to the Sixers the last time they met.


Rasheed Wallace made six 3-pointers and finished with 20 of the reserves’ 62 points.


Today, Wallace has one from long range and the bench, playing with Paul Pierce, was able to spark a little run before Rodney Carney buried a 3-pointer before time ran out to keep Philly close.


Even little-used Lester Hudson got into the mix.


First quarter, 2:52, Celtics 21-18: Doc Rivers has seemingly gone to his bench a bit earlier than normal of late, and he did so again.


Marquis Daniels and Eddie House were off the bench midway through the first and Rasheed Wallace took his first 3-pointer of the game with about three minutes left in the quarter.


Daniels and House were playing the wings with Paul Pierce bringing the ball up, a scenario we have not seen much of this season.


First quarter, 5:14, Celtics 18-15: After a pair of turnovers that had fans groaning a bit, Kevin Garnett hits a nice turnaround over Samuel Dalembert.


Andre Iguodala has six points on a pair of dunks and a layup, getting to the rim with ease early on for the Sixers.


First quarter, 7:35, Celtics 14-9: Paul Pierce and Ray Allen have combined for all but two of the Celtics points early on.


Allen is one to watch. His struggles have not been discussed as much as those of Kevin Garnett, yet Allen’s 30.4 percent mark from 3-point range is nearly five percentage points below the lowest mark of his career.


First quarter, 7:54, Celtics 11-9: Doc Rivers was asked before the game if he was stressing to his team to get off to a good start after it had had some sluggish starts of late.


Rivers said he had been all season, even before some of the early-game struggles.


Boston scores nine of the game’s first 13 points but the Sixers storm back to tie it.


First quarter, 11:17, Celtics 4-2: We are underway and it took Paul Pierce a full four seconds to score.


Pierce is coming off a season-high 33-point effort Sunday.


7:39: Brian Scalabrine steps to mid-court to wish the fans a Happy Thanksgiving, and we’re just about set to go.


7:22: Starting lineups are in from the Garden, where we are minutes from the tip.


The Celtics go with the usual bunch of Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins.


The Sixers will give rookie Jrue Holiday his first career start in place of the injured Louis Williams. Holiday, who scored a season-high 11 points in Tuesday’s loss at Washington, is joined in the backcourt by Andre Iguodala. Rounding out the starting five is Thaddeus Young, Jason Smith and Samuel Dalembert.


This is the second career start for Smith. He had 14 points and a pair of blocks while filling in for Elton Brand on Tuesday.


Playing a banged-up team on the second half of a back-to-back before a holiday sounds like a perfect recipe for success for the Celtics. We’ll see how it plays out.


7:12 p.m.: Another quick note now that Allen Iverson has officially announced his retirement.


Doc Rivers was rather succinct in his assessment:


“If that’s the case he’s had a great career,” Rivers said.


Also, I mentioned earlier that Marreese Speights would be in the mix if Elton Brand is out. Well, Speights is on the shelf with a knee injury suffered a few games ago. My bad.


Starting lineups in a bit.


7:01 p.m.: Doc Rivers, who will be enjoying Thanksgiving with family in Orlando, said that Tony Allen is not quite ready to return from ankle surgery.


Allen has been at practice and is close, according to Rivers.


Most of the questions directed at Rivers concerned Kevin Garnett, who has struggled at times this season and looked to be in pain during parts of a 4-of-15 performance Sunday in New York.


“It’s just going to take time,” Rivers said of Garnett. “He’s going to have good days and bad days.”


Rivers brushed aside any notion that Garnett’s play is a matter of age.


“They’re all older,” Rivers said of his team. “But I don’t think that’s as much of a factor as it is made out to be.”


Meanwhile, the Sixers are going to be shorthanded for this one after Louis Williams suffered a broken jaw Tuesday night in Washington. Elton Brand also may sit with a hamstring injury. Look for lots of rookie Jrue Holiday and Marreese Speights in their place.


6:36 p.m.: Greetings from the Garden, where Celtics coach Doc Rivers is about to meet with reporters.


We’ll be back in a bit for any pre-game updates on a drizzly night in Boston. Judging by the staffing at the Garden and the number of media members on hand it is apparent several people are already on their way to Grandma’s.


Let’s hope there are enough people in the seats.


4:30 p.m.: Perhaps the Celtics’ best outing this season came on Nov. 3, when they destroyed the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center. Boston will get a chance for a sequel when it hosts Philly at TD Garden, starting at 7:30 p.m.


The C’s made 14 of 20 3-pointers and got 62 points from their bench in a 105-74 rout of the Sixers that night. Paul Pierce scored 21 points and Rasheed Wallace added 20 as Boston pushed its mark to 5-0.

Since then, however, the Celtics are 5-4 and needed overtime to get past lowly New York 107-105 on Sunday. Pierce scored a season-high 33 points and Kevin Garnett, who appeared hobbled throughout much of the game, hit a shot before the buzzer in the extra session to win it.

The Sixers are just 3-7 since their last meeting with Boston and are coming off a 108-107 loss in Washington in which a late comeback fell short.

Philly erased most of an 11-point deficit in the final six minutes, but Lou Williams‘ 3-pointer at the buzzer rimmed out and the club’s losing streak reached three. Williams had 26 points in the loss.

The Sixers have lost three straight on the second half of back-to-backs. The Celtics have won five in a row in the series.

We will have all the action courtside, so make sure to check back.

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