POST GAME - L A CLIPPERS - HOME & PAUL PIERCE LAST HURRAH!

C's rally to beat Clippers 139-134 in OT thriller

CSNNE

A. SHERROD BLAKLEY


BOSTON – Wow!

There would be no last second – make that less than a second – gaffe on the Boston Celtics part against the Los Angeles Clippers who for most of the fourth quarter on Wednesday had the Celtics where they wanted them.

Boston found themselves facing an early deficit in overtime, only to rally behind a slew of big plays from Evan Turner to close out their pre-All-Star portion of their schedule with a 139-134 win.

Turner had seven of his 14 points in overtime which included a go-ahead 3-point play and a fade-away jumper that put Boston ahead by three with less than a minute to play in overtime.

Former Celtic legend Paul Pierce had a chance to tie the game with a 3-pointer but it was off the mark.

Boston could not make the most of its opportunity to seal the victory, with officials ruling the ball went off of Turner out of bounds with 21.9 seconds to play.

The Celtics pulling this game out did not seem in the cards tonight, not after a horrendous start to overtime.

J.J. Redick was fouled by Avery Bradley while making a 3-pointer. And on Los Angeles’ ensuing possession, Redick was fouled once again by Bradley on a 3-point attempt which didn’t go in that time.

He missed one of the free throws, but the Clippers had a six-point lead less than a minute into the overtime period.

Boston, scrappy as ever, began chipping away at the lead but had to do it without two of their better two-way players.

Marcus Smart fouled out near the end of regulation and Jae Crowder picked up his sixth early in the overtime period.

Boston (32-23) hits the all-star break with the third-best record in the Eastern Conference while the Clippers (35-18) continue to fight to win without arguably their best player, Blake Griffin.

The Celtics avenged a one-point loss from Tuesday night at Milwaukee, a game that ended with a Bucks free throw with 0.6 seconds to play.

The C's were in an uphill battle for a large part of the fourth quarter, but came up with some huge plays in the final seconds.

Trailing 120-115, Isaiah Thomas drove into the lane and scored while being fouled by DeAndre Jordan.

He missed the free throw but Marcus Smart got the rebound and was fouled on an attempted put-back.

Smart missed the second of his two attempts and the Celtics had a chance to once again get the offensive rebound.

Jae Crowder tracked it down, but official Scott Twardoski called a foul on Smart – his sixth of the game which sent him to the bench for the night with 17 points, four rebounds and four assists.

Redick made both free throws that made it a four-point game, only for Thomas to nearly loose the ball before floating a 11-footer over the outstretched hand of Jordan.

Following a Clippers time-out with 45.6 seconds to play, the Celtics had a near steal before Chris Paul launched a last-second shot that ultimately led to another set of free throws for Jordan with 23.3 seconds to play.

After clanging the first one off the back of the rim, he missed the second one off the front of the rim.

That’s all the Celtics needed.

Boston immediately pushed the ball up court and with time winding down, Thomas attacked the paint, and pulled up for a step-back jumper a la Paul Pierce (Celtics great now with the Clippers) to tie the game at 122 with 5.8 seconds to play.

Chris Paul tried to win it for the Clippers, but his jumper over Evan Turner was off the mark as the loose ball wound up in Thomas’ hands as time expired which sent the game into overtime.
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PAUL PIERCE: ‘IT MIGHT BE THE LAST TIME I’M BACK’

WEEI

By Josue Pavon

Paul Pierce

As Paul Pierce returned to TD Garden as a member of the Clippers, the 18-year veteran said Wednesday’s game against the Celtics might be the last time he plays in Boston.

“It could be, Pierce said before the game. “I’m not 100 percent sure, but, you know, like I’ve been saying the last two years, I’m taking it year by year, and this could possibly be.”

For 15 seasons, Pierce called Boston his home, and he climbed to second on the team’s career scoring list. Although it’s been nearly three years since he last played a game in a Celtics uniform, coming back to TD Garden as a member of the visiting team is still odd for the veteran.

“I think the weird thing is just being on this side of the bench and this side of the locker room,” Pierce explained. “The locker room is a little weird. I used to walk up the stairs and take a right instead of a left. It’s fun I get to enjoy it because it might be the last time I’m back.”

Pierce also discussed former teammate Kevin Garnett, who he’s kept in contact with despite going their separate ways.

“Usually all we talk about is family,” Pierce said with a laugh. “Kevin is doing good. I always ask if this is it for him; he’s still undecided. Kevin said he was going to retire the last five years in a row and always came back, so I don’t know what he’s planning. We stay in good contact, as do a lot of us — Rondo, the guys who we’ve played with — so I don’t know what his plans are like, and I don’t know what I’m going to do, but it could be the last time.” Pierce entered Wednesday’s game with career lows in every statistical category, averaging 5.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, but has earned a spot in Doc Rivers‘ starting lineup. The former Celtics coach and Pierce reunited this past summer, when Pierce signed a three-year deal with the Clippers.

“He gives us leadership, he gives us truth,” said Rivers. “Instead of me using my voice, I can use Paul’s voice, and that’s been really nice for me. This is a different team than the one here; this is a younger team, a team that is trying to get over the hump, and Paul has been really good.”

Despite playing without All-Star forward Blake Griffin (broken right hand), the Clippers (35-17) have won eight of their last 10 games and are fourth in the Western Conference.
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Celtics rally late, overtake Clippers in overtime 139-134

1 2 3 4 OT T
LAC 37 27 27 31 12 134
BOS 33 38 27 24 17 139

BOSTON -- Isaiah Thomas had 36 points and 11 assists, including a fade away jumper that sent the game to an extra period, to help the Boston Celtics overtake the Los Angeles Clippers 139-134 in overtime on Wednesday night.

Jared Sullinger added 21 points and 11 rebounds. Jae Crowder finished with 19 points, and Avery Bradley added 18 points as the Celtics won their eighth straight at home.

Boston played the second half without big man Kelly Olynyk. He left late in the first half with a bruised right shoulder.

The Clippers led by five late in regulation, but went without a field goal for more than three minutes.

Chris Paul led the Clippers with 35 points and 13 assists. J.J. Redick added 27 points and DeAndre Jordan finished with 21 points and 16 rebounds.

The loss spoiled what may be Clippers' forward Paul Pierce's final game in the Boston Garden. The 38-year-old played 15 seasons with the Celtics and was facing his former team for the eighth time.

The Clippers opened overtime with a four-point play by Redick.

After a Celtics miss, he was fouled again on a 3-point attempt, and connected on two of his three free throws to give Los Angeles a six-point lead.

Boston didn't go away, and eventually tied it on a jumper by Evan Turner. Turner then put the Celtics in front 135-132 via a three-point play -- his seventh straight point -- with 1:33 left.

Both teams traded baskets, before Pierce came up short on a 27-footer that was rebounded by the Celtics.

Los Angeles had a chance to tie it up, and Jamal Crawford's long 3-point attempted nearly banked in before rimming out.

Los Angeles led 120-117 with 56 seconds to play in regulation after Thomas was fouled on a driving layup. He missed his ensuing free throw, but it was rebounded by Sullinger. He connected on the first of his two free throws to trim it to 120-118.

Following a pair of free throws by Redick, Thomas gave the Celtics life again with a teardrop jumper.

Paul missed a long jumper with the shot clock winding down on the Clippers next possession, but Jae Crowder was called for a loose ball foul with 23.3 remaining

Jordan misfired on both ensuing free throws, and Thomas tied it with fade away jumper.

Paul had a good look at a jumper that would have won it regulation, but it bounced off the side of the rim at the buzzer.

TIP-INS

Clippers: The Clippers did not have a field goal for the final 3:29 of regulation. ... Paul had 10 points and five assists in the first quarter. It was the 37th time in his career he's had at least 10 points and five assists in a quarter. That's the most in NBA since 2005-06.

Celtics: Improved to 10-3 in the second game of back-to-backs.

UP NEXT

Boston travels to Utah on Feb. 19.

112288

This team continues to exceed expectation. Bumps in the road have not stopped forward progress.

Dboss

Bob

The intentional foul did help us a little last evening. Even when Jonas running at Jordan accidently ran over Paul in trying to get to him................and it still worked as Paul missed one of 2 and we scored on the ensuing possession.

We did send Jordan to the line intentionally a few times and he shot much better than his season average. We were not overly abusive at it either but it's a part of the game.....if he had made one more FS during regulation.....they win.

Need to think long and hard about changing this.

And how many players of any size work at getting an offensive rebound on a potential missed free throw like this? And this is when the shooter is a 90% shooter.

http://gfycat.com/SlimSpeedyCanvasback

Smart might never be an all star ................but man he's got game.

beat

Great game, IT had a game for the ages, I didn't know he could play that good, didn't know he could score over a player like DeAndre Jordan and he did it many times in OT. Nice to see Sully getting his stroke back and Crowder and AB steady, playing their game and Evan Turner doing alot of good things. Marcus Smart is a beast and his stroke and offense is getting better and better. Great team win, if Sully can pick it up and keep playing this way, and Smart, ET, AB, Crowder have all improved and are still improving.....2nd half of season is gonna be very entertaining.

I didn't understand why Stevens had AB on Reddick, not Chris Paul, IT played him as well as he could, but Paul was shooting over him too easily. Paul has every trick in the book, great vision and shot, you have Avery hounding Steph Curry and doing a very good job, why wouldn't you put him on Paul? AB is probably the best point guard defender in the league.

dbrown4 wrote:When are they going to give the players an extra foul for OT?  You get extra time outs, extra time (5 minutes).

No team plans for OT.  But you shouldn't be expected to carefully plan each game like OT is a given and carry your fouls over into it.  

I'm surprised the league hasn't to my knowledge ever brought this up and changed it.  If you fouled out in OT after being give and extra, have a seat!

db

Interesting idea. Call Silver !!

beat

okay bob good interesting analysis, I do remember Walt Frazier driving and scoring over Wilt the Stilt when I was a kid. and todays game sure is different, so why wasn't AB covering Paul?

bobheckler wrote:

cowens/oldschool wrote:okay bob good interesting analysis, I do remember Walt Frazier driving and scoring over Wilt the Stilt when I was a kid. and todays game sure is different, so why wasn't AB covering Paul?

Who was on Redick?  If you put Bradley on Paul, who guards JJ Redick, one of the best shooters in the league?  Brad decided to put Jerebko on him.  It didn't work anymore than Doc's putting Jordan on Thomas did, but SOMEBODY had to stay right on Redick's shooting hand.  If you remember, Redick got that 4 point play to start the OT.  The foul was on Bradley, who was guarding him.


bob


.

if you put Bradley on Paul, you put IT on Redick, and Redick isn't a protypical 6'6" SG that will abuse the little guy and I know how crafty and good Chris Paul is, with IT on him, he didn't have to worry about a thing. AB has a habbit of making things difficult for opposing guards.