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Garnett fires Celtics past Suns
Source: Agencies |
March 4, 2011, Friday
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BOSTON forward Kevin Garnett scored a game-high 28 points in his rematch with Phoenix's Channing Frye as the Celtics eased to a 115-103 victory over the Suns on Wednesday.
In his previous matchup against the Suns on January 28, Garnett was ejected with two technical fouls after he hit Frye in the groin area leading to a confrontation between the pair.
On Wednesday, however, Garnett was back to his best, adding 11 rebounds as the Eastern-Conference leading Celtics cruised to victory after opening up a 20-point advantage before halftime.
The Celtics were also helped by Rajon Rondo recording 16 points and 15 assists and Paul Pierce scoring 16 and 13 rebounds.
"I think all our guys were (extra motivated)," Celtics coach Doc Rivers told reporters. "That's what the explosion early was all about."
Boston led by as much as 29 points over the Suns in the third before the visitors fought back to trail by as little as eight.
The victory maintained Boston's strong form since they traded away center Kendrick Perkins last week to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Perkins helped the Celtics win the 2008 NBA title and reach last year's finals and fans have been worried the team would regress but this victory was Boston's (44-15) third in four games since the trade.
The Celtics now lead the East by 1.5 games over the Miami Heat.
Forward Troy Murphy made his debut for Boston after being picked up off waivers but scored only one point in 14 minutes of play.
Phoenix (31-28), pushing to move into a playoff position, had its four-game winning streak snapped and fell 1.5 games behind the eighth and final postseason spot in the Western Conference.
Guard Aaron Brooks led Phoenix with 17 points and seven assists in his third game since the team acquired him in a trade with Houston. Steve Nash finished with eight points and seven assists.
Season high
In Cleveland, George Hill equaled a season high with 22 points as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Cavaliers 109-99 to become the first NBA team to reach 50 wins.
Tim Duncan scored 16 points and DeJuan Blair had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs, who bounced back from a 109-93 loss to Memphis on Tuesday. San Antonio, playing its second game since point guard Tony Parker with a calf injury, also got 14 points from Gary Neal and 13 each from All-Star Manu Ginobili and Matt Bonner.
Samardo Samuels, making his first NBA start, had a career-high 23 points for Cleveland.
Elsewhere in NBA, it was: Timberwolves 116, Pistons 105; Hawks 83, Bulls 80; Warriors 106, Wizards 102; Knicks 107, Hornets 88; Thunder 113, Pacers 89; Clippers 106, Rockets 103; Nuggets 120, Bobcats 80; and Trail Blazers 107, Kings 102.
In his previous matchup against the Suns on January 28, Garnett was ejected with two technical fouls after he hit Frye in the groin area leading to a confrontation between the pair.
On Wednesday, however, Garnett was back to his best, adding 11 rebounds as the Eastern-Conference leading Celtics cruised to victory after opening up a 20-point advantage before halftime.
The Celtics were also helped by Rajon Rondo recording 16 points and 15 assists and Paul Pierce scoring 16 and 13 rebounds.
"I think all our guys were (extra motivated)," Celtics coach Doc Rivers told reporters. "That's what the explosion early was all about."
Boston led by as much as 29 points over the Suns in the third before the visitors fought back to trail by as little as eight.
The victory maintained Boston's strong form since they traded away center Kendrick Perkins last week to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Perkins helped the Celtics win the 2008 NBA title and reach last year's finals and fans have been worried the team would regress but this victory was Boston's (44-15) third in four games since the trade.
The Celtics now lead the East by 1.5 games over the Miami Heat.
Forward Troy Murphy made his debut for Boston after being picked up off waivers but scored only one point in 14 minutes of play.
Phoenix (31-28), pushing to move into a playoff position, had its four-game winning streak snapped and fell 1.5 games behind the eighth and final postseason spot in the Western Conference.
Guard Aaron Brooks led Phoenix with 17 points and seven assists in his third game since the team acquired him in a trade with Houston. Steve Nash finished with eight points and seven assists.
Season high
In Cleveland, George Hill equaled a season high with 22 points as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Cavaliers 109-99 to become the first NBA team to reach 50 wins.
Tim Duncan scored 16 points and DeJuan Blair had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs, who bounced back from a 109-93 loss to Memphis on Tuesday. San Antonio, playing its second game since point guard Tony Parker with a calf injury, also got 14 points from Gary Neal and 13 each from All-Star Manu Ginobili and Matt Bonner.
Samardo Samuels, making his first NBA start, had a career-high 23 points for Cleveland.
Elsewhere in NBA, it was: Timberwolves 116, Pistons 105; Hawks 83, Bulls 80; Warriors 106, Wizards 102; Knicks 107, Hornets 88; Thunder 113, Pacers 89; Clippers 106, Rockets 103; Nuggets 120, Bobcats 80; and Trail Blazers 107, Kings 102.
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