Spurs Vs. Celtics Never Disappoints

As I predicted, tonight's Celtics-Spurs game at TD Garden was easily one of the most entertaining NBA matchups of the season.

After battling back from a 17-point deficit (55-38 in the 3rd quarter) to take the lead in the fourth, Boston (30-23, 19-9 home) had a chance to win it after getting a stop. Paul Pierce (15 points, 10 rebounds; named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for March earlier) was isolated on Tim Duncan (10 points, 16 rebounds, 3 blocks) but Pierce's mid-range stepback jumper drew iron and the Spurs (38-14, 17-10 away) held on for an 87-86 win.

San Antonio won its ninth straight game while they snapped Boston's five-game win streak (eight in a row at home).

If I told you that Danny Green (14 points) led the Spurs in scoring while Avery Bradley had a game-high 19 points for the Celtics off the bench, you would guarantee that it was a preseason game or late-season meaningless contest, right? Not tonight. They were the unlikely catalysts for two solid veteran squads.

Gary Neal had 13 points off the bench for San Antonio while New Hampshire's own Matt Bonner had 10 points and 10 rebounds including the final bucket for the Spurs which put them up four (87-83 with 46 seconds left). Tony Parker added 10 points for the Western Conference's second best team (behind Oklahoma City).

Rajon Rondo (17 points, 11 assists, 4 steals) played better than Parker and Kevin Garnett (16 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists) was slightly better than Duncan. Ray Allen (5 points, 7 rebounds) returned after missing the past six games and he struggled, going 2 for 6 from the field although he hit a clutch 3-pointer (Boston's final points) with 39 seconds left. If Bradley continues to be on fire and Allen doesn't pick it up in the next few games, Doc Rivers will have no choice but to start Bradley since he brings a whole other dimension to Boston with his defensive ability and the way he gets to the rim.

Playing the second night of a back-to-back, the Spurs surprisingly came out fast and built a 27-20 lead after one quarter and 59-48 at halftime. The second half was pretty ugly as the Celtics outscored the Spurs 16-9 in the third and 38-28 in the fourth.

San Antonio won because they punished Boston on the boards (53-39 including 12-4 offensive). The Spurs hit three more 3-pointers (7-4) and two more free throws (8-6). Boston shot nearly 4% better (45.8-41.9), they had four more assists (21-17), six more steals (13-7), six less turnovers (17-11) and seven more points off turnovers (17-10).

The Celtics fly to Chicago to take on the Bulls, the Eastern Conference's and NBA's top team, tomorrow night. Word is that Derrick Rose could return too after missing the last 11 games. Boston is 1-2 against Chicago this season with most recently an 89-80 loss on February 16 at the United Center. This is the toughest stretch of the season as the C's play the Spurs, Bulls, Pacers and Sixers in five nights.

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You've Done It Again Red Bomber

For the second straight home game, the Boston Celtics failed to execute at the end against one of the Western Conference's elite teams and as a result they lost.

Yesterday afternoon it was the San Antonio Spurs (still as boring as you remember them), who claimed a 105-99 victory at the TD Banknorth Garden.

It all went to hell when Boston was down two (95-93) and had an inbounds pass on the sideline.
Ray Allen (18 points) tried to get the ball to Paul Pierce (19 points, 8 rebounds) but he lost the handle and it was intercepted by Manu Ginobli (19 points). Pierce fouled him, of the clear path variety, and after making four free throws, the outcome was sealed.

Tim Duncan led the Spurs (34-15) with 23 points, 15 rebounds and five assists but teammate Matt Bonner, a native of Portsmouth, NH was the star of the show as far as New England was concerned (it has to always be about us, damn it!). Bonner finished with 23 points, eight boards and two steals. He is only the second Granite State native to play in the NBA.

Roger Mason (11 points) was the other unlikely leading man as he hit a dagger 3-pointer out of nowhere to put the San Antonio up two.

For the Celtics (42-11), Kevin Garnett had his best game in a long time, checking in with 26 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Tony Allen scored 11 points off the bench, Kendrick Perkins added 10 points and seven boards while Rajon Rondo did his best Jason Kidd impression: six points, 16 assists, five rebounds.

An unsettling trend in recent weeks for the Celts has been their defense allowing 100+ points almost every time out. They'll need to tighten things up on the defensive end to knock off the top teams.

That was their last home game for over two weeks as they hit the road for an extended road trip (made longer by the All-Star break). The C's start in New Orleans on Wednesday night against the injury-depleted but talented Hornets.