Live From the Press Box - Sonics vs. Boston
Want to enjoy the electricity of at KeyArena even if you're thousands of miles away? SUPERSONICS.COM's Live From the Press Box in-game blog is your best bet. All night and all season long, Kevin Pelton will be bringing you pregame quotes, analysis and observations from the game. E-mail Kevin at sonicsconnection@sonics-storm.com. Make sure to keep coming back or refreshing so you get the latest content.
Celtics Hold off Sonics
Final: Boston 104, Sonics 96
The Sonics competed tonight and put together a strong effort, but you have to be awfully close to perfect to take down a Boston Celtics squad that improved to 24-3 on the season, and the Sonics were unable to live up to that high standard tonight. When Paul Pierce caught fire in the second half, scoring 26 of his Celtics season-high 37 points, Boston was able at least to pull away for the win.
We weren't even sure this morning that Delonte West was going to be able to play, and he came out with a big effort against his old team, posting season highs with 19 points (tying his previous high) and eight assists. West was a key part of a Sonics bench that played brilliantly in the second quarter and scored 43 points, tying the most scored against Boston this season. Kevin Durant did some nice things against a difficult Celtics defense and Kurt Thomas turned in a gritty performance, with 14 rebounds and a season-high four blocks before fouling out.
The Sonics will be back at the Key Saturday hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves. Former Celtics big man Al Jefferson, the centerpiece of the Garnett deal, is showing all the signs of being a franchise big man in the midst of a trying season for the Timberwolves. 
Click here to get your tickets for Saturday's game!
Sonics Still Fighting
Fourth Quarter: Boston 96, Sonics 85
With 2:48 left to play, an 11-point deficit will be very challenging for the Sonics to overcome. Nonetheless, you have to like the way they're continuing to compete. Delonte West has been a spark since reentering the game. He's tied his season high with 19 points and handed out a season-high seven assists.
Celtics Pulling Away
Fourth Quarter: Boston 91, Sonics 77
Paul Pierce continues to be on fire for the Celtics. His latest shot, a three-pointer leaning away from the basket with the foul, gave him a season-high 33 points on the evening. That's part of what makes Boston so dangerous, in that on any given night any of their big three can catch fire. Tonight, Ray Allen has struggled, shooting 4-for-12 from the field, but Pierce has more than picked up for him. This team is not 23-3 by accident.
Pierce, House Power Celtics
Fourth Quarter: Boston 81, Sonics 72
At nine, the Celtics lead matches their largest tonight. They've started the fourth quarter on an 11-5 run with all 11 of the points coming from Eddie House and Paul Pierce. House, a notorious streak shooter, has seven points in the period on 3-for-3 shooting - including two very difficult looks.
Amongst tonight's sellout crowd are some stars sitting courtside. NBA legend George "The Iceman" Gervin, who has been assigned to mentor Kevin Durant as part of the league's program for rookies and to whom Durant has drawn comparisons, is here. Also in attendance is Storm point guard Sue Bird, on break from spending her off-season playing in Russia.
Three-Point Game Through Three
End Third Quarter: Boston 70, Sonics 67
Paul Pierce heated up during the third quarter, scoring 13 points for the Boston Celtics, but the Sonics got 12 points from Kevin Durant and continued to stay right with the Celtics, whose lead is a tenuous three points heading to the final period. We'll see how the Sonics second unit fares this time around.
Tonight's action has been great on the court, even when the game hasn't been going. Red Panda, the world's greatest unicyclist-bowl-kicker and my personal favorite NBA entertainer, performed at halftime. During the quarter break, Squatch for just the second time ever performed his most death-defying stunt, jumping through a ring of fire to dunk with firemen waiting to douse him with fire extinguishers - just in case. Thankfully, he hit the dunk to bring down the full house and no Squatches were injured during the stunt.
Celtics Having Hard Time Hitting Shots
Third Quarter: Boston 65, Sonics 61
The shooting percentage for the Celtics just isn't making much progress. They were at 35.6% at halftime and now are shooting 36.1%. The Sonics have played some great fundamental defense tonight, and give Kurt Thomas a lot of credit for his great positioning and heady play.
The Sonics have a chance to draw within three if Kevin Durant can complete a three-point play after this timeout. Durant has nine points in the third quarter on 3-of-6 shooting and has been taking the ball aggressively to the basket.
Threes Falling for C's
Third Quarter: Boston 59, Sonics 53
If nothing else, the Celtics have found the touch from downtown since halftime. They've gotten consecutive triples from Ray Allen and Paul Pierce to turn a tie ballgame into a six-point Boston advantage and have hit all three attempts from three-point range in the half. The Sonics have done a solid job on the glass in the third quarter, but have hit just two of their first 10 shot attempts.
Remember that the Sonics have four players on the All-Star ballot - guard Luke Ridnour and forwards Nick Collison, Kevin Durant and Wally Szczerbiak. While voting is ongoing at KeyArena, you can vote once a day on NBA.com. Cast your vote to help send the Sonics to the All-Star Game!
Strong Half for Sonics
Halftime: Boston 47, Sonics 46
The Celtics will take the lead to the locker room, but the Sonics have to feel good about putting themselves in position to win this game by playing Boston essentially to a draw in the first half of this game. Aside from putting the Celtics on the free-throw line too frequently, the Sonics played terrific defense in the first half, holding Boston to 35.6% shooting and doing a great job of contesting shots.
Their last score of the half showcased scrappy play from the Sonics, as Delonte West secured a rebound in traffic and pulled away from the defense for a 2-on-1 fast break that he finished by hitting Kevin Durant for a dunk. That was West's fifth assists of the half to go along with 11 points and just one turnover.
Celtics Can't Shake Sonics
Second Quarter: Boston 42, Sonics 41
It looked like the momentum might go back to Boston when Ray Allen hit a three-pointer, Kevin Garnett blocked a shot and Kendrick Perkins had a dunk plus the harm in a three-play series. That turned a tie game into a five-point Boston lead, but Perkins missed the free throw and the Sonics scored the next four points to get back within one. Nice composure by a group that included starters Kevin Durant, Kurt Thomas and Chris Wilcox with reserves Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West.
Congrats to Big Joe on winning the Boom Squad Danceoff during the timeout. Joe displayed some moves for his size while dancing in his Chris Wilcox jersey.
Bench Run
Second Quarter: Boston 37, Sonics 37
The Sonics have outscored Boston 18-13 during this second quarter so far, and they've done it with only reserves on the court: Delonte West and Mickaël Gelabale in the backcourt, Wally Szczerbiak and Jeff Green at forward and Nick Collison followed by Johan Petro at center. Led by the ex-Celtics, who have combined for 16 points, the Sonics bench leads the Boston reserves by a 23-9 margin.
With his fifth point of the evening, West hit the 2,000 mark in his NBA career.
Szczerbiak, West Showing Chemistry
Second Quarter: Boston 32, Sonics 25
The ex-Celtics connection hooked up for back-to-back buckets early in the quarter, with Delonte West feeding Wally Szczerbiak for scores. West has had a solid run, hitting a three and handing out those two assists in his four minutes of action.
The Gold's Gym Flex Cam during the timeout asked fans to show off their muscles and several members of the Seattle Seahawks, including Nate Burleson, Rocky Bernard and Julius Peterson, were happy to show off the product of their work in the weight room. Go Hawks!
Sonics Making Shots
End First Quarter: Boston 24, Sonics 19
Before the game, P.J. Carlesimo laid out a gameplan for beating a Celtics defense that has been the league's stingiest this season. Carlesimo pointed out the difficulty of executing and making a high percentage of shots against Boston and explained the Sonics would have to manufacture points in other ways. That could include the offensive glass, the free-throw line, getting up more shots by avoiding turnovers, hitting some threes or getting out in transition.
So far, that has not really materialized. The Sonics have only two fast-break points and have yet to attempt a free throw. They do have five second-chance points on four offensive boards. Nonetheless, the Sonics are still in the game because they're shooting 42.9%, a very respectable number against a Celtics team that has allowed just 41.0% shooting from opponents this season.
KG in Rhythm
First Quarter: Boston 20, Sonics 14
Kevin Garnett has been the dominant figure on the court in the first 10 minutes tonight, which probably should not come as much of a surprise. Sonics Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo, who coached against Garnett regularly when both were in the Midwest Division, gave him well-deserved credit before tonight's game.
"He's really a problem," said Carlesimo, "because he commands double-teams and passes it well."
So far tonight, we've seen Garnett score more from the perimeter but hit a turnaround from the post amongst his nine points on 4-of-6 shooting.
Celtics Pounding the Paint
First Quarter: Boston 9, Sonics 6
Points are at a premium early in this game, with the two teams shooting a combined 7-for-22 from the field through the first half of the first quarter. The Celtics have used power in the paint, getting all nine of their points and seven of their nine rebounds so far from big men Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins. Offensive rebounds were a big problem for the Sonics in Portland, and Boston has four in the early going tonight. We'll keep an eye on this.
Tonight's text poll question in the arena is on whether the New England Patriots will go undefeated. You don't need me to say it, but what a sports year in Boston with the Celtics and Patriots chasing history and the Red Sox winning the World Series for the second time in four years.
West to Back Up the Point
Pregame
Sonics guard Delonte West, facing the Celtics for the first time after three seasons in Boston, will play tonight despite rolling his right ankle during yesterday's Sonics practice. West, who returned Sunday after a 10-game absence due to plantar fasciitis in his right foot, will be in the rotation as the backup to Earl Watson at the point. Luke Ridnour will miss tonight's game after suffering some tightness in his left quad. Sonics Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo thought Ridnour was suffering during Tuesday's game in Portland.
"He just didn't look like Luke," said Carlesimo.
Allen's Community Efforts Honored
Pregame
Former Sonics guard Ray Allen, now playing for the Celtics, was just honored at center court for his contributions to the Seattle community during his four-plus seasons with the Sonics. After a video highlighted many of Allen's community efforts on behalf of the Sonics & Storm Foundation and his own Ray of Hope Foundation, he was presented with a framed set of community photographs by the Sonics & Storm Foundation and the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
That was followed by the National Anthem, and when they introduced John B. Cooper as a bass, they meant it. That's the deepest-voiced anthem I've heard since Enrico Palazzo. Very nice.
Signing On
Pregame
Welcome to a sold-out KeyArena, where people have been rushing in since 6:00 p.m. in anticipation of tonight's matchup with the league-leading Boston Celtics. In the house are Kevin Harlan and Doug Collins for TNT's national broadcast of the game. The Sonics have built momentum here at the Key. Friday's win over Toronto was the team's third in the last four home games. Boston, however, has been the league's hottest team all season long and is on a record-setting pace.
