Ford Keys to the Game: Wizards at Celtics

Wizards 83, Celtics 86

Game Highlights

Photo of the Game

Paul Pierce puts up a driving floater over the outstretched arms of JaVale McGee and Al Thornton of the Wizards.
Elsa/Getty Images

By Marc D'Amico
Celtics.com

Key Moment

The Celtics were playing from behind for nearly the entire game tonight due in large part to the stellar play of Andray Blatch and Al Thornton for the Wizards, as well as Boston's own inability to make shots. When they were trailing by 13 points with 6:33 remaining in fourth quarter, the last thing anyone anticipated was a comeback win.

But that's when Ray Allen and some big time defense helped make amazing happen in the Garden.

Doc Rivers has talked all season long about Boston's inability to get the critical stops on defense when the team needs them most. That wasn't an issue tonight, as the Celtics dominated defensively down the stretch, and that translated into huge buckets at the other end.

Paul Pierce drilled a 16-foot jumper out of a Boston timeout and Rajon Rondo followed that up with a pair of free throws to cut the lead to nine with 4:59 remaining. But the play that almost took the roof off of the Garden was Allen's fast break slam that cut the lead to seven just 20 seconds later. That basket made a Celtics comeback go from possible to probable in a hurry.

Coming out of a timeout at the 1:37 mark with the Celtics trailing by two, Allen freed himself up behind the 3-point line and drilled a shot to give Boston its first lead since the score was 11-10 in the first period. Randy Foye put the Wizards back on top with a jumper at the other end, but Allen wasn't done making his big shots.

Rivers called a timeout to draw up a final offensive play for Boston, and it wound up being a double-screen to free Allen up for a 3-pointer. The picks were "phenomenal," according to Rivers, and Rondo hit Allen with a perfect pass in the chest on the right wing. Allen rose up and fired away as his legs opened up in the air, and there was no doubt about that shot from the second it left his fingers.

After hitting nothing but net, Boston was back on top by two points, and the defense shut it down from there and sealed Boston's 40th win of the season.

Key Box Score Line

Who else could claim this spot other than Ray Allen tonight? He scored 18 of his game-high 25 points in the second half, including the eight more critical points of the game for Boston in the fourth quarter. Allen had an amazing shooting night from everywhere on the floor, and boy, did the Celtics need it.

Box Score Nuggets

• Both teams scored 10 second chance points.
• Kevin Garnett grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.
• The two benches combined to score only 15 points.
• Boston outrebounded Washington 37-36.
• Ray Allen made four of Boston's five 3-pointers.
• Kevin Garnett finished 0-for-7 from the field but made eight of his 10 free throws.
• Washington scored only 17 points in the fourth quarter.
• Glen Davis finished with eight rebounds, six of which were offensive.
• Both teams finished with more turnovers than assists.
• JaVale McGee shot 9-of-10 from the free throw line for Washington.
• The Wizards had two players take at least 17 shots. Andray Blatche (23 points) shot 10-of-20 and Al Thornton (24 points) shot 10-of-17.
• The Wizards shot only 1-for-11 from downtown.
• Nate Robinson did not record a point, rebound or assist in exactly 14 minutes of play.
• Washington was limited to only four fast break points.

Quote of the Night

Flip Saunders on Washington's inability to handle the pressure down the stretch: "Boston came at them, and they were coming back and our guys didn't have an answer. They panicked. As you said we didn't have a settling factor on the floor to be able to settle us down."