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Celtics Video
Suns 110, Celtics 103
Game Highlights
Photo of the Game
Kevin Garnett plays to the crowd as he pumps himself prior to tip off.
Brian Babineau/NBAE/Getty
Key Moment
It was a back-and-forth battle all night long, and as the fourth quarter began the Suns held an 85-83 advantage over the Celtics. Although Boston had been trailing since there was 9:46 remaining in the second quarter, they fought hard to make this a one-possession game entering the final period.
Usually it's the C's who respond in that situation, but tonight it was the Suns. They opened that lead up to 11 points with 7:57 remaining in the game and all signs pointed to that lead increasing from there. But Boston had one more run and cut the deficit to four when Ray Allen hit a 3-pointer to bring the score to 96-92 at the 5:24 mark. Energy was beginning to fill the building with anticipation of another great Celtics comeback, but Channing Frye had other plans.
The 6-foot-11 center, in his first season with Phoenix, answered Allen's shot with an 18-foot jumper to bring the Phoenix lead back to six. Then, after a Rajon Rondo layup that cut the lead to four once again, Frye came back to the other end and drilled a 3-pointer to suck the life out the Garden crowd. Those two baskets from Frye were the biggest of the game and prevented a huge momentum swing that the Celtics were twice on the verge of springing.
Box Score Nuggets
- Phoenix scored 110 points in tonight's game, 20 more than any other Celtic opponent this season.
- Kevin Garnett had a breakout game offensively, scoring 26 points on 13-of-20 shooting, and also grabbed eight boards.
- All five Celtics starters scored in double figures.
- Rasheed Wallace finished 0-of-6 from behind the 3-point line.
- The Celtics shot better than the Suns from the field, making 51.7 percent of their shots compared to Phoenix's 50.0 percent shooting.
- Although the C's shot well overall, they made only 22.2 percent of their 3-point attempts (4-of-18) and 50.0 percent of their free throws (9-of-18).
- Boston played from behind for the entire second half.
- Jason Richardson scored 34 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and made six of his seven 3-point attempts.
- Phoenix made 13-of-24 threes, good for 54.2 percent.
- The Suns accomplished an overall basketball "win stat" by making more free throws (23) than Boston took (18).
- The Celtics recorded 30 assists (11 of which came from Rondo) compared to only 12 turnovers.
Quote of the Night
Phoenix Suns head coach Alvin Gentry on the scope of tonight's win: "Obviously it's a good win against a real good quality team. We still have different goals than they do. Our goal is to try to get back to where we were a few years ago. Their goal is to try to win the Championship."
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