The Boston Celtics won a hard fought game on the road over the New Jersey Nets 112-101 to improve to 5-0 on the year. The Celtics had a pretty comfortable 22 point lead early in the fourth quarter but the Nets chipped away at it to cut it as low as 8 points but that was a close as they would get.
Paul Pierce led Boston with 28 points, UConn product Ray Allen had double-double with 27 points, 10 boards, 5 assists and Kevin Garnett had his 5th double-double of the year with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Eddie House was also in double figures with 11 points for the Green.
The Celtics had a big fouth quarter outscoring New Jersey 28-14 to open the game up with some help from rookie Glen “Big Baby” Davis who prior to fouling out had 6 points and 8 rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench. Davis was forced into a bigger role tonight due to some injuries and he played extremely well earning high praise from Tommy Heinsohn.
The Celtics started a bit sluggish and it was possibly because it was Boston’s first back-to-back games of the year after a win last night at home against Atlanta.
There was also the emotions the players were feeling for their coach Doc Rivers who lost his father earlier in the week and attended his funeral this morning in Chicago. Rivers said the only reason he came to the game tonight was because his mom said “you need to go the game”. Rivers, who made it to the IZOD Center with Danny Ainge 75 minutes before tip off, said he is returning to Chicago tonight and will rejoin the team on Monday evening in Indianapolis where they face the Pacers on Tuesday night.
The Nets were led by Richard Jefferson who had 24, Vince Carter had 17 points and Jason Kidd chipped in with 13 points and 8 assists. Former UConn forward Josh Boone played five minutes and didn’t score and had 1 rebound.
Boston played with out James Posey (ankle) and Brian Scalabrini (concussion). New Jersey’s Vince Carter left the game with a sprained ankle and did not return.
