Don't Fuck with the Jesus

Ho hum, another game without KG and another win for the Boston Celtics. That made it 12 wins in a row for the Green.

Sure the C's are far from a great team without their inspirational leader but they tend to have exciting games nevertheless.

Ray Allen (23 points) hit two clutch 3-pointers last night, the second one with 0.5 seconds left as Boston left Philadelphia with a 100-99 win that they probably didn't deserve.

Andre Iguodala (22 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals) had given Philly (23-24) a one-point lead with a long jumper of his own but just like the Arizona Cardinals in the Super Bowl, the Sixers left the Celtics (like the Steelers, the better team) too much time on the clock.

Paul Pierce (29 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists) had the ball at the top of the key and worked the ball to Allen, who used a Glen Davis (12 points, 11 rebounds) screen to get open and fire from the corner. It was a money shot from the NBA's top marksman.

The C's were up 32-20 after the first quarter but the Sixers closed it to 50-49 at the break.

Philadelphia outscored Boston, 21-19 in the fourth before both offenses opened up in the fourth, to the tune of 31-29 Celts.

Rajon Rondo had 20 points, eight assists, five rebounds and seven turnovers. Kendrick Perkins pulled down eight rebounds.

For the 76ers, Andre Miller, who's been a fantasy stud (pats self on back), added 21 points, seven assists and four rebounds. Samuel Dalembert notched 14 points and seven rebounds, Louis Williams scored 11 and Thaddeus Young tossed in 10 points.

Boston shot 53.9% to Philadelphia's 44.6%. The Sixers made 10 more free throws (24-14) but the C's had eight more rebounds (41-33). The reason the Celts should have lost was that they had 20 turnovers, to nine for Philly.

With Jameer Nelson out indefinitely after tearing his labrum, Ray Allen or Rajon Rondo each have a very good chance at being the replacement for Nelson at the All-Star game next weekend.

Hopefully the flu gets out of Kevin Garnett's system as the Los Angeles Lakers come to the Garden tomorrow night for a huge showdown. The Celts will be looking to gain some measure of revenge after the Lakers win on Christmas day.