Heat, 88-85 (final)
It’s hard to believe it if you’re not here.
It’s like they flip a switch a couple of times a week and raise a curtain on some surreal show. The home team plays hard. They keep it close. A sold-out crowd stands and cheers until the very end.
And when the curtain drops and the ushers begin sweeping popcorn off the floor, the final act is always the same.
The Celtics write another “L” on the calendar.
The Celtics played without Delonte West, Al Jefferson, Paul Pierce, Wally Szczerbiak, Brian Scalabrine, Theo Ratliff, and Michael Olowokandi tonight against Miami. They had no business being in the game. But sure enough, like the majority of nights in this lost season, the home team kept it close.
Rajon Rondo tied the game at 80 with a fast-break dunk at the 4:04 mark in the fourth quarter. The teams kept it close until Leon Powe stole the ball with 2:14 left and dunked in the open court. Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs stood and held up a piece of paper with a ‘10’ written on it to judge Powe’s dunk as the rookie ran back down the court.
With the Celtics up 83-80, Shaquille O’Neal missed three consecutive foul shots and Powe was fouled on the other end. Powe missed both, setting up the game’s final 90 seconds.
Eddie Jones tied the game at 83 with a three-pointer with 1:27 left. James Posey gave Miami the lead with a three-point play with 52.8 seconds left.
Rajon Rondo’s runner got the Celtics to within one on Boston’s next possession before Miami called time.
After the timeout, Haslem buried a jumper with 21.9 seconds left to put the Heat up three. Green and Sebastian Telfair both got looks from beyond the arc to tie the game but fell their shots went awry.
O’Neal dominated the Celtics for 20 points in the first half but was held to two points in the third quarter and didn’t score in the fourth.
Ryan Gomes was dominant for the Celtics. The second-year forward had 24 points and showcased every move in his arsenal.
Rondo had 11 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists for Boston. Leon Powe had 10 points and 11 rebounds off the (three-man) bench.
Haslem had 17 points and nine rebounds for Miami.
We’ll have reaction from the locker rooms in a bit.
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