GAME 4: 76ERS 92, CELTICS 83
Sixers rally to stun Celtics, even series
Posted: Saturday, May 19, 2012 12:52 am | Updated: 3:03 am,
Sat May 19, 2012.
By Tom Moore Staff writer
http://tinyurl.com/7m9cltz
PHILADELPHIA — Doc Rivers said the Celtics stole the series
opener in Boston by winning a game the 76ers led for most of
the way.
If that was the case, then the Sixers’ stunning 92-83 victory
in Game 4 Friday night at the Wells Fargo Center was highway
robbery.
The Celtics scored the game’s first 14 points and led by 18
early in the third quarter, only for the Sixers to close it
out with a 61-34 run.
“I don’t even know where to start,” said Sixers coach Doug
Collins afterward. “Our guys are pretty amazing. They really,
really are.”
A team that managed nine field goals on 23.1 percent shooting
in the first half had 22 baskets on 51.2 percent shooting
after intermission.
As a result, the Sixers head to Boston for Game 5 Monday night
(7, TNT) tied at 2-2. Game 6 will be Wednesday evening in
South Philadelphia (time TBA).
“Down 3-1 is a totally different mentality than being even at
2-2,” said Andre Iguodala. “It can go either way.”
Iguodala hit a 17-foot step-back jumper to put the Sixers
ahead for good with 1 minute, 22 seconds left. He drained a
3-pointer on the next possession and Jodie Meeks made all four
of his free throws to close out a 9-0 burst to end the game.
Iguodala and Evan Turner (5-for-22 shooting) tied for
team-high honors with 16 points.
Lou Williams (5-for-11, 15 points) had his best game of the
series, helping the Sixers spearhead the improbable comeback.
Lavoy Allen was again easily the best big man on the Sixers.
He had eight points and 10 rebounds in 33 minutes. He finished
with as many offensive rebounds as Boston (five) and worked
well with Thaddeus Young (12 points, nine rebounds) inside,
getting two easy baskets on feeds from Young.
“It would help if we got a body on (Allen),” Rivers said.
Allen, the former Temple and Pennsbury standout, also was the
primary defender on Kevin Garnett, who had nine points on
3-for-12 shooting after hitting 63.3 percent of his attempts
and averaging 23.7 points in the first three games.
The Sixers held a 17-5 edge in offensive rebounds, shot 36
free throws to the Celtics’ five and committed six fewer
turnovers than Boston (11 to 17). Their bench outscored the
Celtics' reserves, 44-12.
Rivers lamented how his team stopped dictating the pace of the
game and allowed the Sixers to be the aggressor.
“I think they came out in the second half and became more
physical,” Rivers said. “We lost our composure. They
outworked us.”
For an experienced team, that is surprising.
Boston was on the verge of running the Sixers out of the
building for two-plus quarters, but allowed Collins’ young
team back in the game.
“We were disappointed we came out like that, especially after
the game before they kicked our butts (in Game 3),” Jrue
Holiday said. “But we’re fighters. We never give up.”
The Sixers are now 4-0 in the playoffs following a defeat and
4-1 at home.
The team that jumped out to an early lead in each of the four
games has lost in what has become a best-of-three series. The
Sixers must win at least one more game in Boston (they took
Game 2 by a point after losing Game 1 by a point) to avoid
elimination.
“We let this one slip away,” said Boston guard Rajon Rondo.
“We’re better than that. We’ll be ready come Game 5.”
The Sixers plan on being ready, too.
“We’ll try to carry (the momentum) over,” Young said. “We
definitely want to take all the positives with us to Game 5.”
Tom Moore, 215-345-3127; email, tmoore@phillyBurbs.com;
Twitter, @tmoorepburbs
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 111.243.219.41