Tag: Boston

LBJ’s big dunk punctuates Super Sunday S&D effort

 An angry LeBron James didn’t want to leave anything to chance.

The Miami All-Star forward was fouled hard on the previous play by Toronto. So when he made a key steal late in the Heat’s 95-89 victory, he made absolutely sure of his basket.

James’ rim-rattling dunk punctuated a 30-point effort in the Heat’s victory as it helped put away the pesky Raptors.

“You have to create energy for yourself, especially in these early games,” James told ESPN.com’s Heat Index. “I was just trying to create energy for myself and my teammates.” 

It enabled Miami to claim its 10th victory in 12 games and moved within one game of Chicago for the best record in the Eastern Conference.

The late surge also enabled James to lead Sunday’s Studs and Duds on an abbreviated Super Sunday schedule. 

STUDS

Miami F LeBron James: Notched 30 points, nine rebounds and was plus-11 in the Heat’s triumph over Toronto.

Miami G Dwyane Wade: Produced 25 points, three assists, two rebounds, two blocked shots and was plus-16 in the Heat’s victory over  the Raptors.

Boston F Kevin Garnett: Went for 24 points, nine rebounds, two assists and was plus-12 in the Celtics’ victory over  Memphis.

Boston F Paul Pierce: Notched 21 points, six rebounds, six assists and was a game-best plus-28 in the Grizzlies’ triumph over the Grizzlies.

DUDS

Memphis C Marc Gasol: Limited to seven points on 3-for-14 shooting, had seven turnovers and was minus-26 in the Grizzlies’ loss to Boston.

Memphis G Mike Conley: Went 2 for 8 from the field with three turnovers and was minus-25 in the Grizzlies’ loss to the Celtics.  

Toronto G Jose Calderon: Held to eight points with five turnovers and was a team-worst minus-13 in the Raptors’ loss to Miami.

Rondo provides triple-double S&D effort, but is silent afterwards

Rajon Rondo didn’t have to face the formidable challenge of matching with reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose Sunday afternoon.

Rose’s absence likely helped contribute to Rondo’s 15th career triple-double, as the Boston point guard sliced through Boston for 32 points, 10 rebounds and 15 assists in the Celtics’ 95-91 victory.

It was a big turnaround after Rondo’s struggles Friday night against Toronto, when he matched his season low with five points.

Rondo didn’t share any thoughts about his big game or his struggles in the previous game as he chose not to speak with the media after the victory against Chicago.

Boston coach Doc Rivers gave a small glimpse  of why he thought his point guard rebounded like he did from the poor previous game.

“Oh, I don’t know. I’m going to let you guys be that deep. I wish I could get in someone’s head that deep,” Rivers said. “I just think he wanted to win.”

Boston forward Paul Pierce added to the praise for  Rondo.

“When he’s assertive, aggressive, the way he plays, we’re a tough team to stop,” Pierce told reporters after  the game. “When he’s out in transition, pushing the ball, taking the shots right there, rebounding, he’s just all energy. He just did it all. He was great to watch.”

Whatever the reason, Rondo came up big when his team needed him to, leading Sunday’s Studs and Duds.

STUDS

Boston G Rajon Rondo: Produced his 15th career triple-double with 32 points, 10 rebounds, 15 assists and was plus-8 in the Celtics’ victory over Chicago.

Golden State G Monta Ellis: Went for 33 points, five rebounds, seven assists, two steals, a block and was plus-10 in the Warriors’ victory over Houston. 

Los Angeles Lakers G Kobe Bryant: Hit the game-winning shot to win at Toronto, notching 27 points and was plus-7 in the triumph over the Raptors.

Utah F Al Jefferson: Produced 21 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and was plus-8 in the Jazz’s victory at Memphis.

Miami F LeBron James: Filled the stat sheet with 23 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and was a team-best plus-26 in the Heat’s victory at Atlanta.

DUDS

Detroit G Brandon Knight: Went 1 for 9 from the field with three turnovers and was minus-17 in the Pistons’ loss to Washington.

Washington G Jordan Crawford: Clanked through a 2-for-12 shooting effort in the Wizards’ victory over Detroit.

Toronto G DeMar DeRozan: Went 2 of 13 from the field with four turnovers and was minus-4 in the Raptors’ loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Chicago F Luol Deng: Struggled through a 3-for-12 shooting effort with two turnovers and was minus-4 in the Bulls’ loss at Boston.

Detroit F Jonas Jerebko: Hit 3 for 8 from the field with three turnovers and was a team-worst minus-28 in the Pistons’ loss to Washington.

Pierce’s big finish sparks wild Boston comeback to head S&Ds

After struggling earlier in the game, Paul Pierce and the short-handed Boston Celtics were determined to rebound from a daunting early deficit.

Even a 27-point deficit without three missing starters didn’t deter them. as the Celtics surged back for a wild 91-83 victory Thursday night over Orlando.

Pierce accounted for 24 points, six rebounds and 10 assists as the Celtics  took control with a 15-1 run to start the fourth quarter. He combined with rookie guard E’Twaun Moore to score  20 points in the fourth-quarter comeback.

“Everybody was big,” Pierce told the Associated Press. “Obviously, when you got a rookie (Moore) who hasn’t played too much to come in and do the things he did — that’s big for us. The team decided to stand up and fight.”

The victory stretched a three-game winning streak for the Celtics, which also includes a 31-point victory over the Magic earlier this week in Boston.

Thursday’s victory came despite a 21-point halftime deficit that Boston coach Doc Rivers kept preaching was achievable during the break.

They were helped by a frigid Magic collapse as they missed seven field-goal attempts, missed five of six free throws and committed three turnovers during Boston’s fourth-quarter charge.

“That was a character builder for our team, it really was,” Rivers said. “It’s all that we talked about at halftime. Not a big game plan, we didn’t make any big changes. We just kept talking about it being a character builder for this basketball team.

“We needed every single guy today and that was terrific.”

The big nights by Pierce and Moore headed Thursday’s Studs and Duds on an abbrievated night across the association.

STUDS

Boston F Paul Pierce: Don’t write him off yet. The 14-year-veteran went for 24 points, six rebounds, 10 assists and was plus-9 in the Celtics’ wild comeback victory at Orlando.

Los Angeles Clippers F Blake Griffin: Went for 20 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, blocked two shots and was plus-5 in the Clippers’ victory over Memphis.

Los Angeles Clippers G Chris Paul: Filled the stat sheet for 18 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and was a team-best plus-18 in the Clippers’ victory over Memphis.

Boston G E’Twaun Moore: Came off the bench to score 16 points on 5 of 6 shooting and was a team-best plus-27 in the Celtics’ victory at Orlando.  

DUDS

Orlando F Glen Davis: “Big Baby” struggled against  his old teammates in a 3-for-11 shooting effort and was minus-4 in the Magic’s loss to Boston.

Memphis’ guards: Starters Mike Conley and Tony Allen combined to hit 5 of 19 from the field with four turnovers and were a combined minus-26 in the Grizzlies’ loss at the Clippers.

Memphis G O.J. Mayo: Went 5 of 19 from the field in the Grizzlies’ loss  at the Clippers.

Orlando’s offense: The Magic collapsed in the fourth quarter, hitting 2 for 17 from the field and scoring eight points as they squandered an earlier 27-point lead in their loss to Boston.