FINAL: Celtics 90, Clippers 77

By Gary Dzen

March 23, 2009

3 minutes to read

Celtics breeze to victory (FINAL: Celtics 90, Clippers 77 )

The Clippers made this a game at halftime, but their show of enthusiasm was only temporary as the Celtics put the clamps down to defeat Los Angeles tonight at TD Banknorth Garden.

Ray Allen led the Celtics with 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Kendrick Perkins had 12 points and 13 rebounds. Kevin Garnett, playing his first game at the Garden since Feb. 8, had 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the field.

That’s it. Check back for postgame updates from the locker rooms.

Gino time (2:34 fourth quarter, Celtics 88-74)
This one’s in the bag.

It never fails (3:20 fourth quarter, Celtics 88-73)
Mikki Moore has played 17 minutes and has 5 fouls.

And boom goes the dynamite (6:53 fourth quarter, Celtics 83-65)
The Celtics are pulling away now. Stephon Marbury and Eddie House nailed three-pointers in the 9-0 run, and Ray Allen is up to 20 points for the game.

Not much urgency (8:37 fourth quarter, Celtics 74-65)
The bench is still on the floor for the Celtics, Doc Rivers apparently confident the reserves won’t blow the lead. Stephon Marbury (0 points, 1 assist in 11 minutes) can’t possibly stay out there for too much longer.

Can he?

THIRD QUARTER

That’s better (END third quarter, Celtics 70-60)
Lots of ups and downs in this game. That last stretch was in the positive direction for the Celtics. A 26-18 third quarter has the Celtics back up by 10. Four starters are in double-figures for the C’s, the exception being Paul Pierce with 9. Kendrick Perkins has 12 points and 13 rebounds.

KG out, C’s making run (2:09 third quarter, Celtics 66-55)
Kevin Garnett played 9 minutes in the third quarter, helping the Celtics build another lead. Glen Davis has replaced KG, and the Celtics are still pushing.

Deadlocked (7:21 third quarter, Tied at 50)
Does anyone want to win this game? Kendrick Perkins, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo all have 10 points for the Celtics, while Zach Randolph has 14 points for the Clips.

Hello, governor (HALFTIME)
Just spotted Governor Deval Patrick on my way back to press row.

SECOND QUARTER

Lead, momentum lost (END second quarter, Celtics 44-42)
Any good will the Celtics built up with a dominating first quarter was lost in a dismal second as the Clippers fought back from a 13-point deficit to make this a game. The Celtics only regained a bit of confidence by inserting the starters (minus KG) into the game late in the half. Zach Randolph has ten points for LA.

Garnett (8 points) has played nine minutes in this game, all in the first quarter.

Clips all the way back (5:09 second quarter, Clippers 37-36)
The bench has now completely blown the lead. The Clippers are shooting 51.5 percent to Boston’s 50-percent. Just 5 points for the C’s so far this quarter.

Tommy Point for Baby (7:24 second quarter, Celtics 34-28)
The second unit is struggling on offense, but there’s no lack of hustle. Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis dove full out to grab a loose ball and adeptly called a timeout to keep the ball in the hands of the Celtics. I’ve got no television here in press row, but if Heinsohn didn’t give him one for that, then I clearly am unqualified to do that I do.

FIRST QUARTER

Well on their way (END first quarter, Celtics 31-18 )
The Celtics are shooting close to 70 percent after one and appear to be well on their way to what one might expect from a Celtics-Clippers contest in Boston. They’re doing it without much scoring for Paul Pierce. The captain has just three points. Ray Allen has two.

Dominating start (2:56 first quarter, Celtics 24-14 )
Rajon Rondo (8 points, 3 assists) and Kevin Garnett (8 points) are powering the Celtics to an early lead. The Clippers are shooting only 44 percent in the game.

Rondo and KG with 6 (5:04 first quarter, Celtics 18-12 )
Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett both have six points as the Celtics try to open this one up.

Talented Clips (7:51 first quarter, Celtics 10-8 )
Zach Randolph, Mardy Collins, Marcus Camby, Eric Gordon, and Baron Davis don’t sound like a bad starting lineup. Yet the Clips are 17-53.

KG’s routine thrown off (Before tip)
Kevin Garnett has a very specific pregame ritual, and he was thrown off slightly by the absence of the sticky-mat-thing that he wipes his shoes on before he steps onto the court. A panicked Garnett screamed for the mat, and got it, but it delayed the game about three minutes. “Welcome to the Jungle” was already in full swing by that point.