新聞出處(必填):
http://www.nba.com/games/20091218/PHIBOS/gameinfo.html
作者:
The Boston Celtics' winning streak has been snapped at 11. And on their home
court, no less.
For the third time in the first 60 days of the season, the Philadelphia 76ers
took on the Celtics. And for the second time at TD Garden in three weeks, the
visitors stuck around much longer than expected. Only this time, they won.
Without starting guards Louis Williams and Allen Iverson, the 76ers (7-19)
shocked Boston with a 98-97 victory on a game-winning tip-in by Elton Brand
with 7.7 seconds remaining. A win that can easily be labeled Philadelphia's
biggest of the season and one of Boston's ugliest.
"For a long time, we've lost these types of games," 76ers coach Eddie Jordan
said. "We just kept saying we couldn't get a break and we came to the
conclusion that we have to make our breaks."
As heartbreaking as the loss was for 20-5 Boston -- which held a 15-point
lead in the second quarter -- it still stands 10 games ahead in the Atlantic
Division. The bigger problem was all of their reoccurring shortcomings
cropping up in the final two and a half lethargic quarters. The most
crippling: rebounding.
Those problems looked better after the Celtics finished the first quarter
leading by seven with a 20-10 advantage on the glass and a 6-2 lead on
offensive boards. But by the end of the game, Philly had closed the
rebounding gap to 46-45, nabbing 17 offensive rebounds as the Celtics yielded
extra possession after extra possession. The last of which was the death
knell.
"I don't know if it was [lack of] energy," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "I
thought it was [the lack of] urgency. And that manifested itself into [a lack
of] energy."
"Our energy sucked all night," Garnett said.
Jordan began the game with a small-ball lineup, giving Thaddeus Young the nod
at power forward. But the team rode the bench efforts of Brand (23 points, 8
rebounds) and Marreese Speights (17 and 10) nonetheless. A pair of bigs
responsible for nine offensive boards and Philadelphia's final four points.
"Wherever it is -- starting, off the bench -- you know I'm going to produce
out there and give it my all," Brand said. "We've been close so many times so
it feels good to get the breaks finally."
After leading 53-42 at the break, an ugly start to the second half for Boston
helped the 76ers get back within single digits with a flurry of easy buckets.
Had the rest of the quarter held to the script set by so many games -- a
script that possible played to the detriment of Boston -- the Celtics would
have been back up a dozen in short fashion.
But without Rasheed Wallace -- ejected in the second quarter with two
technicals -- the Boston bench was ill-equipped to extend a lead. They did
preserve it, though, which is more than the Celtics' starters could say. With
5:52 remaining in the game, Philly led by two.
"Philly is going to be a team that's going to scrap for 48 minutes and we
didn't put them away when we were supposed to," Garnett said.
Rajon Rondo earned a layup and a trip to the line soon after, but the missed
free throw was tapped back to Ray Allen, who sunk a no-hesitation three to
regain the lead. It was a lead that lasted until Andre Iguodala (18 points)
dropped in a leaning and-one.
With 29.4 seconds remaining, Speights was fouled going for an offensive
rebound, knocking down a pair of freebies to put the 76ers up one. Then Kevin
Garnett responded with two free throws of his own, beneficiary of a delayed
whistle when an alley-oop from Rondo rimmed out.
Following the Brand tip-in, Boston was as predictable as it was unsuccessful,
dialing up a Paul Pierce turnaround jumper from the right elbow that struck
back iron.
"They played all game like they were going to win the game," Rivers said.
"It's one thing to have the winning swagger where you go out and play. It's
another thing when you show up and think the other team is going to fall over
because you're the Celtics."
Months from now, the Celtics might just remember their third dose of the
shorthanded 76ers for finally shocking their system.
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