Wizards-Celtics Preview

By JON PALMIERI
Posted Jan 01 2012 11:10PM

After a season-opening three-game losing streak, the Boston Celtics feel a whole lot better about things after two straight wins.

Another matchup with the winless Washington Wizards should buoy their spirits even more.

The Celtics look to even their record with a second victory over the Wizards in as many days Monday night at TD Garden.

Poor defensive efforts left the four-time Atlantic Division-champion Celtics with a surprising 0-3 record after road losses to New York, Miami and New Orleans. Boston tightened up considerably in its home opener to beat Detroit 96-85 on Friday, and rode Rajon Rondo's 14th career triple-double to a 94-86 win at Washington on Sunday.

"I just knew he played great. He was sensational all night. He had one of those nights - he had this last year in stretches - where he just called a good game, you know, like he's a great catcher," coach Doc Rivers said.

Kevin Garnett scored a season-high 24 points in 28 minutes and Rondo had 18 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds for the Celtics (2-3), who have allowed 85.5 points in their wins after yielding an average of 106.0 in the three losses.

"It's just two games. We had some tough losses the first few games, but it's about building and I think that's what we're doing right now," Rondo said.

While the level of competition has certainly played a role, Boston has won both of its games with Paul Pierce in the lineup after the team's leading scorer last season sat out the first three games with a bruised right heel. Pierce has totaled 21 points on 6-of-17 shooting in two contests, but his presence alone opens opportunities for teammates.

After playing four of their first five games on the road, the Celtics now have eight of 10 at home. Boston has won 34 of 42 regular-season games on its own court.

Rondo especially won't mind facing the Wizards for a second consecutive day. He has averaged 16.6 points and 11.5 assists in the last eight meetings.

The Wizards (0-4) will try to avoid their first 0-5 start since 2008-09, but will have to win in Boston for only the second time in seven games to do that. Washington - the league's only winless team - has lost its last two visits to TD Garden by a combined 47 points.

A weak offense continues to be a major problem for the Wizards, who are averaging a league-worst 83.5 points on 39.1 percent shooting.

Washington did have four players in double figures Sunday, but shot 28.2 percent in the first half and faced a 17-point deficit at the break. The Wizards missed all nine of their 3-point attempts in the opening half and finished 2 of 16.

"We're getting good shots. We missed nine shots inside of 4 feet," Wizards coach Flip Saunders said.

John Wall had his best all-around game of the season with 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting, eight assists and seven rebounds. Wall, who was 10 for 37 from the field in this season's first three games, has averaged 19.8 points in four career contests against the Celtics.

Allen heats up in 4th to lead Celtics over Wizards

Posted Jan 03 2012 12:03AM

BOSTON (AP) It was vintage Ray Allen. The ball swings from one side of the floor to the other and the NBA's all-time 3-point king comes around a pick or two before stepping up and nailing a jumper.

Allen went 3 for 3 from long range in the final quarter, scoring 11 of his 27 points in the fourth, and the Boston Celtics won for the second straight night over Washington, beating the winless Wizards 100-92 on Monday night.

"Ray made the big shots for us tonight," point guard Rajon Rondo said. "It was a team effort, but when we needed a bucket the ball seemed to find Ray."

The 36-year old Allen, the oldest player on the floor who prides himself on conditioning, looked like the one with the freshest legs when the game was on the line.

"Yeah, Marathon Man," joked Boston coach Doc Rivers. "He was great. He just kept going. I would never want to guard that guy. You can't imagine how many miles Nick Young had to go chasing him."

Rondo downplayed the amount of energy Allen showed.

"Ray runs every day," he said. "He'll probably run tomorrow. It's not a shock when he does what he did."

Paul Pierce had 21 points and eight rebounds for the Celtics (3-3), who pulled to .500 after losing their first three games of the season. Rookie Greg Stiemsma, making his first start, had 13 points and seven rebounds, and reserve Brandon Bass scored 12.

But it was Allen that carried the veteran Celtics during the game's key minutes.

"You look at the shots during that stretch; every time somebody made the tough extra pass," Allen said, crediting his teammates. "It's tough to guard that second and third pass."

Andray Blatche led Wizards (0-5) with 28 points and nine rebounds, JaVale McGee had 17 points and 14 boards, and John Wall had 11 points. Head coach Flip Saunders didn't see much of the game from the bench after he was ejected 1:46 into the contest.

Allen was 6 for 7 from beyond the 3-point line.

Boston beat the Wizards 94-86 in Washington on Sunday.

Allen's fourth 3-pointer of the game, coming with 8:56 to play, pushed Boston ahead for good, 75-74. Bass then hit a foul-line jumper and, after a basket by the Wizards' Nick Young, Rajon Rondo found Marquis Daniels cutting backdoor for a layup. He was fouled on the play and made the free throw, increasing it to 80-76.

Bass then nailed another jumper - this one from the right corner - and Rondo had a breakaway layup, increasing Boston's lead to 84-76 with 6:21 to play.

The Wizards made one last run, closing it to 84-80 on Blatche's three-point play, but Allen hit a jumper on the left wing and followed it 43 seconds later with a 3 from the right wing.

"This game boiled down to coming down the stretch, winning time, you've got to make the right plays in the last two minutes every time or you don't have a chance, especially against a veteran team like this," said Wizards assistant coach Randy Wittman, who took over after Saunders was tossed.

Allen's third 3-pointer of the final quarter made it 95-87 with 1:30 to play.

Saunders was upset after Stiemsma blocked Rashard Lewis' shot and knocked him to the floor as play continued. He got up off the bench and screamed at the officials to earn the first technical, then walked to midcourt still protesting to earn the second and an automatic ejection.

"It was quick," Wall said. "I heard everybody complaining about the call Rashard got and then all of a sudden it was two technicals and he was gone."

Washington led 70-69 after three quarters.

Neither team held more than an eight-point lead in the first half, and it changed eight times before the Wizards took a 48-47 advantage into halftime.

Notes: Boston coach Doc Rivers said he likes facing a team twice in a row. "I wish our league did it more. I've always said that," he said before the game. "I think it builds competition." ... Wizards G Wall was whistled for a technical 4 minutes after Saunders. ... Boston C/F Chris Wilcox returned after missing the previous three games with a bruised left shoulder. ... Celtics center Jermaine O'Neal was out with a tight left hamstring, but said after the game he plans on playing Wednesday against New Jersey. "I'll be ready to go," he said.

Notebook: Celtics 100, Wizards 92

By Brian Robb, for NBA.com
Posted Monday January 2, 2012 11:17PM

THE FACTS: Ray Allen scored 11 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Boston Celtics pull away to a 100-92 win over the Washington Wizards at TD Garden. The Celtics are now on a three-game winning streak and back at the .500 mark after sweeping the home-and-home set with Washington. The Wizards dropped to 0-5 and remain the only winless team in the NBA. Paul Pierce added 21 points in a balanced scoring attack for Boston. Andray Blatche scored 14 of his 28 points in the final frame for Washington in the setback. The Wizards also played the majority of the contest without their head coach on the bench, as Flip Saunders was ejected just 1:26 into the first quarter, after being whistled for two technical fouls upon arguing a non-call.

QUOTABLE: "Marathon man. He was great. He just kept going. I would never want to guard that guy. He just never stops moving."
-- Head coach Doc Rivers on Allen.

THE STAT: Allen sank six-of-seven three pointers from three-point range. Through six games this season, he is shooting a scorching 61.1 percent from downtown (22-of-38).

TURNING POINT: The Wizards made a late push towards the end of the fourth quarter after closing Boston's nine-point lead down to five with just over two minutes remaining. However, on the ensuing possession John Wall had his pass intercepted by Pierce. The C's captain then found Allen in transition for his sixth and final three-pointer of the evening. The shot pushed Boston's lead back up to eight, and put the game out of reach for Washington.

HOT: JaVale McGee -- The third year center had an outstanding evening on the interior, hitting an array of hook shots on his way to hitting eight of his nine attempts from the field. McGee finished with a double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds in the losing effort.

NOT: Nick Young -- Washington's starting shooting guard had his work cut out for him on the defensive end all night in trying to contain Allen, and it showed in his offensive game. Young missed three of his 14 attempts from the field, and he has hit just 28.2 percent of his shots (11-of-39) over his past three games.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Rajon Rondo continues to fill up the box score in a host of categories for the C's. Coming off a triple-double in Washington Sunday night, Rondo posted another impressive line tonight with six points, seven rebounds and 13 assists.

ROOKIE WATCH: Greg Steimsma earned his first career start in place of an injured Jermaine O'Neal. The 26-year-old rookie was extremely active on both ends of the floor and posted career bests of 13 points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes of action.

QUOTABLE II: "With every opportunity I've had I feel like I've tried to step up to the plate and perform well. I was happy to get the opportunity tonight and play well on top of that."
- Center Greg Steimsma on his first career start

NOTABLE: O'Neal did not suit up for Boston due a sore hamstring he suffered Sunday night against the Wizards. He remains day-to-day. Chris Wilcox returned to action after missing the past three games with a bruised left shoulder. He grabbed four rebounds in 10 minutes of action. New Celtics free agent signee Mickael Pietrus will practice with his teammates for the first time on Thursday this week, according to Rivers. No word yet on when he will make his game debut. Ronny Turiaf will see a hand specialist and miss the next 5-6 weeks with a broken hand. Saunders told reporters Turiaf tried to play through the injury he suffered over the summer during the team's first for games. Boston tied a season-high with 28 assists as a team. Washington outscored Boston in the paint 50-42, as well as on second chance points 18-9. Randy Wittman took over head coaching duties for Washington after Saunders was ejected. Rondo and Wall both had seven turnovers. Five Boston players scored in double figures.

UP NEXT: For the Wizards, Wednesday @ Orlando, Friday vs. New York, Sunday vs. Minnesota. For the Celtics, Wednesday vs. New Jersey, Friday vs. Indiana, January 11th vs. Dallas.

• Wizards: N'Diaye, Turiaf
• Celtics: O'Neal, Pietrus

• Wizards: Saunders, Saunders, Wall
• Celtics: --

• Lead Changes: 17
• Times Tied: 11

• Arena: TD Garden, Boston, MA
• Officials: #57 Greg Willard, #33 Zach Zarba, #44 Eli Roe
• Attendance: 18624
• Duration: 2:16