Ford Keys to the Game: Pacers at Celtics

Pacers 103, Celtics 122

Game Highlights

Photo of the Game

Ray Allen makes a move on his defender, Brandon Rush of the Indiana Pacers.
Brian Babineau/Getty Images

By Marc D'Amico
Celtics.com

Key Moment

It only took two days for a complete role reversal to happen with the Boston Celtics. That blowout Wednesday night? That's long gone. Now it's all about the domination that was their 122-103 win over the Pacers tonight. The win was even more special seeing that it took place in front of hundreds of members of our armed forced on Seats for Soldiers night.

The final point differential was 19, but the lead began to swoon due to some electric bench play that spilled over from the end of the first period into the beginning of the second.

Boston led by only one point after Troy Murphy hit an 18-foot jumper with 1:26 remaining in the first, which led to Nate Robinson and Michael Finley checking in just 20 seconds later. Their fellow reserve, Marquis Daniels, nailed a turnaround jumper to make the score 26-23 with 48.6 seconds remaining, and Robinson followed that up with an immediate steal on the inbounds pass followed by a 3-pointer to up the lead to six.

Count it: a five-point swing within 20 seconds of the substitution. Now that's production.

The quarter ended without another point from either team, but the Celtics' momentum carried over into the next period. Finley began Boston's scoring with a 20-foot jumper and Rasheed Wallace followed that up with two free throws to bring the lead to nine. Another Robinson trey came at the 8:05 mark, and that upped the lead to 39-29 C's, and that would be the closest Indiana was for the remainder of the game.

The Celtics' bench came up huge tonight, and it all started with those substitutions with just over a minute remaining in the first quarter. They got the lead into double-digits with their energy, poise and balanced scoring, and that type of play was infectious to the rest of the team. When the starters came back in, they upped the lead into the 20s, and before we knew it, the C's were on their way to a Gino night for the second time in their last four home games.

Key Box Score Line

On a night where six Celtics scored in double-figured, it was Paul Pierce who led the way. He dropped a solid 20 points in less than 23 minutes of playing time and went 5-of-5 from the free throw line. He also grabbed three rebounds and dished out an assist, but it was his scoring groove that was a sight to see tonight in the Garden.

Box Score Nuggets

• Boston's bench scored 54 points.
• Three Pacers recorded at least five assists (Brandon Rush six, Earl Watson six, A.J. Price five).
• T.J. Ford, starting PG for the Pacers, left the game with a left groin injury and played only 4:27.
• Not a single Celtic starter played more than 28:15, while all of the Pacers starters (with the exception of Ford) played at least 29:21, including two that played more than 40 minutes.
• The teams combined for 54 assists (Boston 28, Indiana 26).
• Six Celtics scored in double-figures, led by Paul Pierce's 20.
• Glen Davis and Nate Robinson each scored 15 points off the bench for Boston, and Michael Finley added nine.
• All of Robinson's 15 points came via the 3-pointer.
• Boston shot 58.4 percent from the field, 50.0 percent from downtown and 82.8 percent from the free throw line.
• The Celtics scored at least 29 points in each of the first three quarters.
• Kevin Garnett scored only nine points with six rebounds, but he also only took five shots.
• The two teams combined for only six offensive rebounds (Indiana five and Boston one.
• Troy Murphy recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
• Boston's double-double came from Rajon Rondo, who scored 16 points and dished out 11 assists.
• Roy Hibbert scored a game-high 23 points.
• Indiana committed 23 turnovers, while Boston committed only 14.
• Boston didn't score any second chance points.
• Indiana scored 21 fast break points.

Quote of the Night

Doc Rivers on Nate Robinson and the bench: "When Nate and the second unit, when they play like that, the tone of the game changes. We've just got to keep him aggressive."