Bulls 90, Celtics 118

Game Highlights

Photo of the Game

Kendrick Perkins pulls down a rebound between two Hornets players while doing a near-split in the air.
Brian Babineau/NBAE/Getty

By Marc D'Amico
Celtics.com

Key Moment

It wasn't a blowout this time, but the C's stayed perfect on the season and grabbed their fourth straight win. In their two previous games, the Celtics came out in the second half and put on a show, blowing their then-double-digit leads open to more than 20 points. Tonight, they had a nine-point advantage at the break, but the Hornets wouldn't go away in the second half.

Recording blowout wins is always great, but what the Celtics did tonight may be even more important. With the lead slimmed to two points with 6:07 remaining, Doc Rivers called a timeout and regrouped his troops in hopes that the C's could build a lead down the stretch of a tight game for the first time this season. With a little help from an aggressive Kevin Garnett, Rivers' wish was granted.

KG posted up on the block and made two straight baskets in the paint to push the Celtics' lead to six with 4:20 remaining in the game. Those buckets were even more clutch than the score would indicate because they both came at a time when the Hornets were riding the tail end of a rally. If those two shots hadn't fallen, Boston may have been swiped with their first loss of the season. The C's eventually opened up an 11-point advantage and rode that momentum to their fourth straight win.

Full Box Score

Box Score Nuggets

• The teams combined for only six blocked shots in the game..
• Three New Orleans starters scored seven points or less and only three Hornets scored in double figures.
• Emeka Okafor was the only player in the game to record double-digit rebounds with a total of 10.
• Both teams turned the ball over 16 times in the game.
• Rajon Rondo recorded yet another double-digit assist game with 10 dimes.
• Kendrick Perkins and Kevin Garnett both grabbed seven rebounds, all of which came at the defensive end.
• The teams combined for only nine offensive rebounds in the game.
• Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul, two point guards playing at an All-Star level, were called for a double-technical in the second quarter after being tangled up on the baseline.
• Boston outscored New Orleans 56-26 in the paint.

Quote of the Night

Former Celtic James Posey on the competitive matchup of Rajon Rondo vs. Chris Paul: "I just know two competitive guys, trying to hold the fort down for their team and going out there and trying to give their team the best opportunity to win games. You like to see that. It's not bad at all. I mean that's all it is. It is two competitive guys butting heads."