Boston 94, Rockets 74
All good things must come to an end; and, Tuesday night the Boston Celtics (54-13) ended the Houston Rockets' spectacular 22-game winning streak with a 94 to 74 victory in front of 18,525 screaming fans.
With the loss, Rockets (46-21) are once again tied with the LA Lakers for the top spot in the Western Conference.
The game started with Rockets' guard Rafer Alston and Celtics guard Rajon Rondo exchanging a few "kind words" and each receiving a technical foul.
After three quick ties, Boston scored seven straight points to lead 13 to 6; however, Tracy McGrady (4 points) and Shane Battier (3 points) helped tie the game at 13. The rest of the quarter was close; but, with Boston leading 21 to 20, Alston stole the ball from Celtics guard Sam Cassell at mid-court and dribbled the ball up the floor and scored a lay-up to give the Rockets a 22 to 21 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Rockets' bench, led by six points by forward Mike Harris , took a seven point (30 to 23) three minutes into the second quarter.
Bobby Jackson knocked down a 14-foot jump shot to put the Rockets up by eight points (34 to 26) with 6:34 left in the first half.
Boston's Paul Pierce banked in a three-point shot to cap a 14 to 6 Celtics' run to tie the game at 40 at halftime. Boston's Leon Powe scored 13 points off the bench to lead all scorers in the first half.
Kevin Garnett hit a 22-foot jumper to open up the third quarter and the Celtics never trailed the rest of the game.
Rondo scored six points and Garnett added four points during a 18 to 7 run by the Cs to give Boston a 60 to 47 lead with 5:24 remaining in the third quarter. The Rockets trimmed Boston's lead to 10 points three times the rest of the quarter; however, Boston ended the quarter with an 8 to 2 to take a 72 to 56 lead into the fourth quarter. Boston shot 52.2% (12 for 23) in the quarter while the Rockets made just 7 of their 16 shots and turned the ball over six times.
The Rockets' offense continued to struggle in the fourth quarter and Boston took full advantage. Boston led by as much as 27 points in the quarter. Houston made just 4 of 17 shots in the final period.
Garnett finished the game with a game-high 22 points. Powe scored 21 and Pierce added 20 points.
Luis Scola led the Rockets with 15 points. Alston and Harris each scored 12 points. Aaron Brooks scored 10 points in just four minutes and 33 seconds.
Tracy McGrady scored only eight points on 4 for 11 shooting. McGrady did pull down seven rebounds and dish out eight assists.
The Celtics out-rebounded the Rockets 45 to 35 including 15 to 11 on the offensive glass; and outscored the Rockets 52 to 34 in the paint.
The Rockets 34 second-half points were a season low.
The Rockets start a three game road trip in New Orleans Wednesday night versus the Hornets (45-21).
With the loss, Rockets (46-21) are once again tied with the LA Lakers for the top spot in the Western Conference.
The game started with Rockets' guard Rafer Alston and Celtics guard Rajon Rondo exchanging a few "kind words" and each receiving a technical foul.
After three quick ties, Boston scored seven straight points to lead 13 to 6; however, Tracy McGrady (4 points) and Shane Battier (3 points) helped tie the game at 13. The rest of the quarter was close; but, with Boston leading 21 to 20, Alston stole the ball from Celtics guard Sam Cassell at mid-court and dribbled the ball up the floor and scored a lay-up to give the Rockets a 22 to 21 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Rockets' bench, led by six points by forward Mike Harris , took a seven point (30 to 23) three minutes into the second quarter.
Bobby Jackson knocked down a 14-foot jump shot to put the Rockets up by eight points (34 to 26) with 6:34 left in the first half.
Boston's Paul Pierce banked in a three-point shot to cap a 14 to 6 Celtics' run to tie the game at 40 at halftime. Boston's Leon Powe scored 13 points off the bench to lead all scorers in the first half.
Kevin Garnett hit a 22-foot jumper to open up the third quarter and the Celtics never trailed the rest of the game.
Rondo scored six points and Garnett added four points during a 18 to 7 run by the Cs to give Boston a 60 to 47 lead with 5:24 remaining in the third quarter. The Rockets trimmed Boston's lead to 10 points three times the rest of the quarter; however, Boston ended the quarter with an 8 to 2 to take a 72 to 56 lead into the fourth quarter. Boston shot 52.2% (12 for 23) in the quarter while the Rockets made just 7 of their 16 shots and turned the ball over six times.
The Rockets' offense continued to struggle in the fourth quarter and Boston took full advantage. Boston led by as much as 27 points in the quarter. Houston made just 4 of 17 shots in the final period.
Garnett finished the game with a game-high 22 points. Powe scored 21 and Pierce added 20 points.
Luis Scola led the Rockets with 15 points. Alston and Harris each scored 12 points. Aaron Brooks scored 10 points in just four minutes and 33 seconds.
Tracy McGrady scored only eight points on 4 for 11 shooting. McGrady did pull down seven rebounds and dish out eight assists.
The Celtics out-rebounded the Rockets 45 to 35 including 15 to 11 on the offensive glass; and outscored the Rockets 52 to 34 in the paint.
The Rockets 34 second-half points were a season low.
The Rockets start a three game road trip in New Orleans Wednesday night versus the Hornets (45-21).
posted by Kris G @ 12:24 AM
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