Final: Celtics 97, Hornets 87
FINAL: Celtics 97-87
Test passed. Another game won.
The Hornets gave the Celtics quite a battle tonight, but the Celtics executed flawlessly down the stretch to preserve the 97-87 win. Back with more from the Garden in a bit.
39.1 fourth quarter, Celtics 97-86
Execution.
The Celtics have run their offense perfectly down the stretch. A couple of big jumpers by Paul Pierce, and a full 24-second possession before Kendrick Perkins threw it in on that last play. That last timeout by Byron Scott is just procedural now. The Celtics have this one wrapped up.
2:52 fourth quarter, Celtics 88-83
Kevin Garnett has been working David West down low, using his patented fall-away jumper a couple of times in this fourth quarter. A long two by Ray Allen has the Celtics back up by five.
“In the Air Tonight” blaring on the loudspeakers now. They’re giving this the big game treatment.
4:59 fourth quarter, Celtics 84-80
The Celtics are up to 15 turnovers now after Rajon Rondo lost the ball behind his back and carried it for about four steps.
6:25 fourth quarter, Celtics 82-77
Garnett and Pierce finally back into the game. Doc Rivers showed a lot of trust in his bench during that last stretch.
9:15 fourth quarter, Celtics 80-74
Celtics bench is finally coming alive. Rasheed Wallace hit his second three-pointer of the game out of five attempts, and Eddie House played Rajon Rondo, driving and dishing to a cutting Shelden Williams for the flush.
Timeout, Hornets.
10:13 fourth quarter, Tied at 74
Another three-pointer from Stojakovic. He’s got 20 points on 7 of 9 shooting.
Both Peja and Ray Allen have a chance to pass Reggie Miller’s all-time record for three-pointers made. Allen sits in second place, Stojakovic third.
THIRD QUARTER
END third quarter, Celtics 72-69
Flurry of activity in the final seconds. Rasheed Wallace answers Stojakovic with a three-pointer of his own just as the shot clock expires, putting the Celtics up at the end of the quarter. Chris Paul then threw one in from half court for good measure, but time had expired.
25.4 third quarter, Tied at 69
Long ball from Peja. Tied up.
2:21 third quarter, Celtics 68-59
The Hornets are getting solid play out of their bench. Peja Stojakovic has 12 points. Former UConn standout Hilton Armstrong has 6 points and 3 rebounds. The Celtics only have 8 points off their bench tonight, 4 apiece from Eddie House and Rasheed Wallace.
6:05 third quarter, Celtics 58-50
This isn’t going to be one of those third quarters where the Celtics open up a 30-point lead. But they’re not blowing it, either. New Orleans is more talented than any of the teams the Celtics have played at home so far this season, so don’t expect them to go away.
I’m continually impressed by the play of Kendrick Perkins. After Rajon Rondo poked the ball away from Chris Paul, Perkins picked it up and dribbled up the floor, finding Rondo and eventually getting it back for the dunk. None of the New Orleans big men even bothered to run with the now svelte Perkins.
9:12 third quarter, Celtics 51-45
Filthy pass by Chris Paul to David West for a layup on that last play. Paul’s fourth assist was a good, fundamental, bounce pass.
SECOND QUARTER
Halftime: Celtics 47-38
Great first half by the Celtics. Paul Pierce has taken over this game with 20 points on 8 of 10 shooting. Rajon Rondo has 6 assists.
1:47 second quarter, Celtics 43-33
A three by Peja Stojakovic threatened to steal the momentum, but Rajon Rondo found Kevin Garnett for an alley-oop that got the crowd right back into it and forced a New Orleans timeout.
2:58 second quarter, Celtics 41-30
That three by Paul Pierce puts the Celtics up by double-figures. After shooting 41 percent in the first quarter, the Hornets are down to 35 percent and up to 11 turnovers.
5:20 second quarter, Celtics 33-28
Emeka Okafor just got called for an over-the-back on that last play, causing me to look up at the scoreboard and notice that Okafor already has seven rebounds. Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul just got called for double-techs after getting tangled up. Both players brushed it off. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Kevin Youkilis is in the crowd.
8:52 second quarter, Celtics 24-23
Not much scoring since we last checked in. Bobby Brown has already taken nine shots for the Hornets and made only three of them. Byron Scott probably isn’t thrilled with that stat.
FIRST QUARTER
END first quarter, Celtics 22-20
Not a pretty game so far, but it’s playing into Boston’s hands. The Hornets are shooting 47 percent but already have seven turnovers. The Celtics would love to keep this one low-scoring. New Orlean, not so much.
Only five minutes for Chris Paul in the first quarter, but he’s back on the court to start the second.
4:59 first quarter, Hornets 13-12
Big ovation for James Posey as he enters the game for New Orleans.
5:50 first quarter, Hornets 11-10
Rondo is still making plays. He got up ahead of the defense on that last break, alertly flipping the ball behind him to a streaking Kevin Garnett for the slam. Initial observations suggest Rondo is slowed by that ankle. This is not the game, against Chris Paul, to be slowed down by anything.
7:35 first quarter, Hornets 9-6
Rajon Rondo just tweaked his right ankle, coming down akwardly on it after missing a layup. Rondo remained on the floor for several seconds before running back up to the play. The Celtics called a timeout to check on Rondo, but he remains in the game.
Pregame
Great crowd for a Sunday afternoon. Those brave souls with some Halloween-weekend partying still left in them have congregated on Causeway St.
For (sometimes) more timely Celtics updates, especially before and after games, you can follow me on Twitter here.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com