Celtics Tank It To The Max: Get Blown Out By The Bobcats

The Celtics chose to sit Paul Pierce tonight in Charlotte which made sense in the first game of a back-to-back. The rest of the team proceeded to mail it in from there as they lost 100-74 at Time Warner Cable Arena to the Bobcats (14-50, 8-24 home) aka the worst team in the NBA that came in with 10 straight losses. All I can assume is that Boston (34-29, 12-20 away) couldn't be bothered to put up an effort as they delicately try to have some momentum going into the playoffs yet not get the fourth, fifth or eighth seed so they can avoid Miami for as long as possible.

Gerald Henderson had a career-high 35 points for Charlotte, it was that kind of night. Josh McRoberts had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds while UConn's Kemba Walker added 10 points. Another UConn product-Ben Gordon-scored 17 points off the bench.

Jeff Green and Jordan Crawford led Boston with 14 points apiece. Brandon Bass had 10 points and seven rebounds while Avery Bradley scored 10 points. Kevin Garnett only played 21 minutes as head coach Doc Rivers waved the white flag/threw in the towel early.

The C's return to TD Garden tomorrow night (7:30 p.m., CSN) to face the Raptors (25-39, 4th in Atlantic Division). And don't worry, if you didn't get your fill of the Bobcats tonight, Charlotte comes to Boston on Saturday night (7:30 p.m., CSN) to close this epic four-game season series. Haha the Bobcats have won the last two games against the Celtics. Bye.

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Celtics Survive Overtime In Orlando, 116-110

I'm not saying that it's right but it is at least understandable that the Celtics would have a letdown after their emotional win against the Thunder on Friday-their best victory of the young season. Luckily for them, tonight they played the Magic and not a better team that probably would have beaten them.

Boston (8-6, 4-3 away) needed overtime at the Amway Center but they outlasted Orlando (5-8, 4-3 home) 116-110. Kevin Garnett had a game-high 24 points and 10 rebounds, Paul Pierce scored 23 and Rajon Rondo just missed out on a triple-double with 15 points, 16 assists and nine rebounds.

Brandon Bass (13 points, 12 rebounds) added a double-double while Leandro Barbosa (15 points) and Jared Sullinger (11 points, 6 rebounds) were stellar off the bench for the Celts.

Some of the Magic took a time machine back to their college days as J.J. Redick had a team-high 21 points off the bench, Jameer Nelson scored 20 while Arron Afflalo had 15 points and seven assists and former Celtic Glen Davis added 15 points and seven rebounds. Josh McRoberts had 14 rebounds and former Celtic E'Twaun Moore notched eight points.

For once, Boston dominated inside-something which is very rare these days. They outscored Orlando 60-34 in the paint, grabbed nine more rebounds (51-42) and had eight more points off turnovers (23-15) thanks to Rondo's excellent performance.

The Celtics return home for a few days of practice followed by a rematch with the Nets (8-4, 2nd in Atlantic Division) on Wednesday (7:30 p.m., CSN). It'll be basically two weeks (Thursday, November 15) since Brooklyn edged Boston 102-97. They are a quality team now and not the pushover they have been in recent years.

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