Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Boston 95, Sacramento 92

[recap] [box score]

A close win against the 18-35 Kings, even in Sacramento, is nothing for an elite team to get excited about, but this game is a positive for the Celts, and not just because of the win. Boston reversed a recent trend of blowing decent-sized leads in the fourth quarter. Sort of. The Celtics led by 10 points in the first half and held an 82-75 lead in the fourth before giving up 12 of the next 16 points to go down one with 2:42 remaining. But they got a big stop after a Ray Allen miss, and then Paul Pierce -- the league's newest three-point champion -- nailed a triple from the top of the key to grab a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Sacramento helped Boston out by missing, I believe, eight fourth quarter free throws, but given our team's fourth quarter struggles over the past month and a half, we'll take the win.

Full marks to the bench in this one, which picked up a sluggish starting unit. Led by Rasheed Wallace's 17 points and Eddie House's 12, the second unit contributed 44 points, nearly half the team's total.

This was a chippy, physical game in which the two teams combined for 18 blocked shots, most of them around the basket. It's a tough way to start what will be a challenging week. Boston's got three more road tests this week, against some very difficult Western Conference opponents: In Los Angeles to face the Lakers on Thursday, at Portland on Friday, and at Denver on Sunday. Looking ahead to Thursday's contest with the defending champs, Kobe Bryant has missed the last four games, as well as the All-Star game, with a sore left ankle. Bryant, who is also battling a finger injury and possibly a bad back, didn't play in Tuesday's game against Golden State, but knowing him, he'll play Thursday.

VIEWING ALERT: Probably the only positive thing about playing three elite teams in four days is the opportunity for fans without League Pass to see the team -- if they're willing to stay up to do it. All three of the Cs' remaining games this week will be on national television: Thursday at 10:30 p.m. Eastern on TNT (Lakers); Friday at 10:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN (Blazers); and Sunday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. Eastern on ABC (Nuggets). Be sure to tune in!

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