FINAL: Celtics 100, Jazz 91
Celtics win; Pierce leaves early (FINAL: Celtics 100, Jazz 91)
The Celtics have just wrapped up their 15th straight win, but the big question right now is the status of Paul Pierce. We’ll get you an update on Pierce as soon as possible.
Williams out (0:29 fourth quarter, Celtics 98-89)
Utah’s Deron Williams has just fouled out of the game.
Pierce down (0:31 fourth quarter, Celtics 97-89)
Paul Pierce just went to the floor clutching his knee, silencing the crowd. Pierce had to be helped off the floor by Glen Davis and Leon Powe. Pierce left to chants of “M-V-P” in a scenario eerily similar to the one during the Finals in June.
Rondo taking over (2:40 fourth quarter, Celtics 91-87)
Three straight Rondo posts, I know, but Rajon has taken to driving the lane on every possession recently for the C’s. He’s making things happen, and has two free throws coming after this timeout.
Close call (5:41 fourth quarter, Celtics 83-76)
Rajon Rondo is back in the game, and he was just called for a very difficult foul on Deron Williams. Rondo went up for a layup and missed, but he took Williams with him (unintentionally) as he fell to the floor. Williams has five fouls himself, so the call was a big one.
QT for Pruitt (7:39 fourth quarter, Celtics 79-72)
Rajon Rondo (6 turnovers) has not handled the ball well, and with Eddie House away from the team tonight, Gabe Pruitt is getting some significant point guard minutes down the stretch. Pruitt has 6 points in the game.
Phelps in the house (8:44 fourth quarter, Celtics 76-70)
Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps is in the building, sitting courtside and “watching a good game,” according to an interview he just had on the Jumbotron. Phelps is here with Jared the Subway guy to do some kind of Subway promotion.
BAD call (10:09 fourth quarter, Celtics 71-68)
OK, now I am getting upset. Powe just picked up his fifth personal foul as Paul Millsap traveled, fell down, and barreled into him. Keep in mind I’m not rooting for anyone, but calls like that make basketball very unappealing to watch.
Sam getting upset (10:57 fourth quarter, Celtics 71-65)
Sam Cassell took umbrage with a foul call against Leon Powe, standing up and yelling to the other end of the court from the Celtics bench. With Eddie House out, Cassell is active for tonight’s game, though he is not expected to play.
THIRD QUARTER
Still a game (END third quarter, Celtics 69-65)
We’re in a rare place here heading into the fourth quarter: The Celtics are at home and it’s still anybody’s game.
Kevin Garnett is leading the Celtics with 17 points and 9 rebounds, but his counterpart, Paul Millsap, has 23 points and 7 rebounds.
The Celtics have not fixed the turnover bug. They now have 21.
Perk picks up 4th (2:23 third quarter, Celtics 65-63)
Kendrick Perkins just picked up his fourth personal foul as Mehmet Okur scored a 3-point play. Perkins was replaced by Glen Davis.
Out of the gate (9:31 third quarter, Celtics 50-43)
Boston opened the second half on a 7-0 run, forcing the Jazz to call an early timeout to regroup.
SECOND QUARTER
Sloppy, sloppy game (END second quarter, Tied at 43)
The Celtics played a very unorthadox first half, committing 14 turnovers and sending the Jazz to the line on seemingly every possession. Paul Millsap, who was being abused early in the first quarter, has 18 points and 5 rebounds. Kendrick Perkins has 12 points and 10 rebounds for the C’s.
The Jazz had 11 turnovers of their own and have made just 1 of 6 from beyond the arc.
Jazz playing the right notes (2:42 second quarter, Jazz, 39-37)
The Celtics led, 35-25, with 7:27 left in the second quarter, but the Andrei Kirilenko has just given Utah the lead. What’s wrong with the Celtics? Thirteen turnovers, for one. The Celtics also have sent Utah to the line 17 times so far. Bottom line is we now have a game.
Holy cow (7:27 second quarter, Celtics 35-25)
Each team has committed an astonishing 10 turnovers to this point.
Early subs (10:14 second quarter, Celtics 30-21)
Gabe Pruitt and Brian Scalabrine are both in the game for the Celtics. With Eddie House out, Pruitt is no surprise. And you never know when Scal will make an appearance.
An observation (11:20 second quarter, Celtics 28-17)
It’s a pretty packed house for a Monday night. Some might even call the crowd boisterous.
FIRST QUARTER
So far, so good (END first quarter, Celtics 28-16)
The Celtics are making this look easy against a pretty good Utah team. The Celtics shot 59 percent in the first quarter, while the Jazz made just 41 percent of their shots. Think the Jazz miss Carlos Boozer? Kendrick Perkins and Kevin Garnett have eight points apiece.
Hot Rondo (3:03 first quarter, Celtics 23-11)
Rajon Rondo has 7 points and 3 assists already as the Celtics are quickly opening up a lead in the first quarter. Might Rondo be extra motivated to prove himself against Deron Williams following his subpar performance against Chris Paul on Friday?
More Millsap (5:13 first quarter, Celtics 16-11)
Kevin Garnett is still making Millsap look silly, the latest play an alley-oop from Rajon Rondo when Millsap had his head turned. KG has made all three shots from the floor.
KG has his way (9:16 first quarter, Celtics 8-4)
With Carlos Boozer out of the lineup, Kevin Garnett just abused poor Paul Millsap for an offensive rebound and a hook shot.
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