Celtics 96, Trail Blazers 76

Game Highlights

Photo of the Game

Rajon Rondo scoops a shot off the glass while avoiding the outstretched arm of LaMarcus Aldridge of the Trail Blazers.
Sam Forencich/NBAE/Getty

By Marc D'Amico
Celtics.com

Key Moment

After leading by as many as 22 points early in the second half, Boston allowed the Portland Trail Blazers to take advantage of a cold offensive stretch by the C's that covered the end of the third period and beginning of the fourth. The Blazers quickly cut that 22-point deficit down to nine. That run most likely left everyone rooting for the Green and White thinking, "Not again...," regarding a second-half meltdown.

But before it could get any closer than nine, Glen Davis' hustle took over at one end of the court and Ray Allen's shooting did the same at the other end.

In a matter of seconds, the combination of Davis and Allen removed every ounce of momentum the Trail Blazers had in them and changed the course of the game.

It all started when Rudy Fernandez made a move to the basket with 10:33 remaining in the game with the score set at 73-64. He attacked the rim in hopes of cutting that deficit down to seven, but Glen Davis had other ideas. He rotated off of his man and planted his feet just inches outside of the restricted circle and his help defense drew an offensive foul on Fernandez.

Boston took possession and brought the ball to the other end of the court, where they hadn't scored a point in more than three minutes. Ray Allen worked his tail off to get open, and when he did, Rasheed Wallace hit him with a pass behind the 3-point line. Allen rose up and drilled the three, giving Boston a 12-point lead with 10:17 remaining. Then, when Portland brought the ball back up court in hopes of cutting the lead back down, Davis stepped in for another hustle play on defense.

Fernandez once again made a move to the rim against Allen, but Davis' help defense was waiting for him near the basket yet again. For the second time in 36 seconds, Davis drew an offensive foul on Fernandez, and that play seemed to take all of the life right out of the Blazers.

Allen and Davis went on to score eight consecutive points, extending the Celtics' lead to 84-64 at the 7:31 mark, and at that point, the result of this game was no longer in doubt.

Key Box Score Line

Ray Allen lit the Blazers up for a game-high 21 points, but his 11 fourth-quarter points were the biggest of the game. Those 11 points helped slow down the Blazers after they cut a 22-point deficit down to nine in the fourth quarter and gave Boston all the momentum they needed down the stretch.

Allen led the C's in scoring for the second consecutive night and his 9-ofor-14 shooting performance is indicating that he's regained the deadly outside stroke that the rest of the NBA hasn't missed one bit.

Box Score Nuggets

• Only one Boston starter (Ray Allen, 39 minutes) played more than 32 minutes in the game. Three played 26 minutes or less.
• Tony Allen was a game-time decision but wound up scoring seven points, grabbing four rebounds and having a +15 in the plus/minus rating, the second highest on the team.
• Three Portland starters combined for 15 points (Brandon Roy nine, Martell Webster four and Marcus Camby two).
• Rajon Rondo recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 assists.
• Boston recorded 27 assists in the game and only 14 turnovers.
• Rasheed Wallace, Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins were all assessed technical fouls in the game.
• Portland shot only 33.8 percent from the field.
• The teams combined for only 68 rebounds.
• Kevin Garnett scored 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting to go along with seven boards in only 22 minutes of playing time.
• Boston outscored Portland 44-28 in the paint.
• The Celtics recorded eight steals and six blocks.
• The Trail Blazers finished the game with only seven assists compared to 18 turnovers.
• Not a single player in the game recorded 10 or more rebounds.
• All 12 players on both teams played at least three minutes.
• Shelden Williams and Dante Cunningham were the only players who failed to score.

Quote of the Night

Ray Allen on the Celtics' recent play: "It looks like we're starting to surface. We're coming back to the reality of who we think we are -- the team we started the season as."