Detroit, 91-89 (final)
It started with a tribute to a legend and ended with the league’s second-worst record. In between were injuries, the passing of another great, and plenty of questions.
The Celtics completed one of the most star-crossed seasons in the team’s history with a 91-89 loss to the Detroit Pistons Wednesday night. One has to wonder if Red Auerbach would have wanted this season dedicated to him.
The game meant nothing for either team, but 17,215 fans showed up to send the Celtics into the offseason. Injuries and attendance (and advertising) were the only consistencies this year for the green.
Rajon Rondo tied the game at 89 with a pair of free-throws with 3.9 seconds remaining. Flip Murray drained a runner with 0.1 seconds left on the ensuing Detroit possession to give the Pistons the victory.
Al Jefferson wrapped up a stellar second half of the year with a 17-point, 15-rebound performance. Celtics fans looking for a bright spot to take into next season are undoubtedly hitching themselves to No. 7’s star.
Ryan Gomes, Allan Ray, and Rondo (19 points, six steals, nine assists, four rebounds) all scored in double figures for the Celtics. In what may be his last game in Boston, Ray proved his value as a spot-up shooter for a team sorely lacking in that area.
Feeling the effects of a stomach flu, Gerald Green could barely get out of his chair before the game. He might have been more productive (2 for 10) had he stayed there.
Detroit played without Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, and Chris Webber. Rasheed Wallace played just nine minutes.
Emir Johnson led Detroit with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
Boston finishes the season with a 24-58 record. They end an otherwise miserable campaign with a win over last year’s NBA champions and a buzzer-beater loss against the best team in the Eastern Conference.
We’ll have the last locker room reaction of the season in a bit.
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