Boston Celtics

Celtics, 53-35 (half)

By Gary Dzen

1 minute to read

Another home game, and the Celtics are making it look easy.

Kevin Garnett came out of the game with 33 seconds remaining in the first and didn’t re-enter until the 6:34 mark in the second. The Celtics turned a 9-point lead into a 13-point lead during that time.

Doc Rivers used the PGA Tour highly effectively here in the first half. Ray Allen had the hot hand, so he stayed in to start the second quarter while Paul Pierce and Garnett rested. Pierce came back in to lead the Celtics through the middle of the second quarter with Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom resting for the Lakers. All three players were on the court at the end of the quarter.

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Pierce is leading the Celtics with 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists. Kendrick Perkins has 10 points and 5 rebounds.

  • A sight for sore ears: A “Beat L.A.” chant roared through the Garden midway through the quarter. There was no such chant last year when the Lakers were in town.
  • The Lakers shot 33 percent in the first half. The Celtics shot 51 percent.

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