Stiemsma will stick aroundThis didn’t seem likely when Greg Stiemsma was driving his Ford Focus around Ankara, Turkey, one of his six professional basketball stops since leaving the University of Wisconsin.
Pierce points way for CelticsIn an era in which All-Stars demand trades and abandon their original teams because circumstances aren’t optimal, the Celtics have Paul Pierce, whose 13-year tenure in Boston began with a series of setbacks but in its later stages has had lots of accomplishments.
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Allen can appreciate historic achievementPaul Pierce has moved into second place on the Celtics’ all-time scoring list. But Pierce (21,797 points) is only third among his current teammates in career scoring, behind Kevin Garnett (23,659) and Ray Allen (22,583).
Pierce passes Bird in Celtics' win over BobcatsPaul Pierce knew what was on the line with every shot. The pressure was quite clear to Pierce and anyone else in the arena as he stood on the verge of passing Larry Bird for No. 2 on Boston's career scoring list. He needed only 10 points to overtake Bird when the Celtics hosted Charlotte on Tuesday night and those ...
Bobcats-Celtics, BoxCHARLOTTE (84) Thomas 1-6 0-0 2, Diaw 2-6 0-0 4, Biyombo 1-5 1-2 3, Walker 5-13 5-5 16, Williams 6-15 7-8 21, Mullens 5-11 1-2 11, Brown 10-10 0-1 20, Higgins 0-2 0-0 0, White 1-2 2-2 4, Carroll 0-0 0-0 0, Najera 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 32-71 16-20 84. BOSTON (94) Pierce 6-18 1-1 15, Garnett 10-15 2-2 22, ...
Pierce passes Bird for No. 2 in Celtics scoringPaul Pierce has passed Larry Bird for second place on the Boston Celtics' career scoring list.
Celtics start to take shapeA staple of the Big Three era has returned and the Celtics are streaking in the East
Garnett puts a rap on fine effortKevin Garnett was sounding his own version of an old alarm after the Celtics’ 98-80 win over Memphis yesterday at TD Garden. Garnett had produced an efficient, team-oriented 24-point, nine-rebound performance. Then, he went tangential as he was asked about his three-game 3-pointer streak.
A bear against GrizzliesThe Celtics were thrilled to get Chris Wilcox at the mini mid-level exception of $2.5 million and hoped the wildly inconsistent forward would respond when playing with a winning franchise. Wilcox has yet to play in the postseason during his nine-year NBA career.
Early risersThere were a plethora of excuses the Celtics could have used yesterday against the Grizzlies at TD Garden.
Grizzlies-Celtics, BoxMEMPHIS (80) Gay 8-16 4-4 21, Speights 2-10 0-0 4, Gasol 3-14 1-4 7, Conley 2-8 0-0 4, Young 4-9 2-2 10, Mayo 6-12 1-1 15, Cunningham 4-8 2-2 10, Pondexter 0-0 0-0 0, Pargo 0-4 0-0 0, Haddadi 3-4 3-3 9, Selby 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 32-87 13-16 80. BOSTON (98) Pierce 5-12 10-10 21, Garnett 9-12 5-6 24, ...
Garnett carries Celtics to 4th straight winBoston Celtics coach Doc Rivers could see that Kevin Garnett was looking and feeling spry.
76ers take early lead, but are they for real?Overlooked before the season after a successful playoff appearance in 2010-11, the 76ers have developed into a potential Eastern Conference factor faster than expected.
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Rondo’s return was a little rough around the edgesYesterday, Rajon Rondo was still feeling the discomfort of a sprained wrist, plus swelling under his right eye from a clash with New York’s Iman Shumpert during the Celtics’ 91-89 win over the Knicks Friday. But what really pained Rondo were missed free throws and committing turnovers.
Pierce, Allen carry Celtics past Knicks 91-89Boston stayed close enough until the New York Knicks failed again. This time, it was because of the Celtics' defense.
Head down, Wilcox kept grindingChris Wilcox spent the first half of the Celtics’ 91-89 win over the New York Knicks last night either on the bench or on the floor fumbling away passes.
Rivers happy to get Rondo back on pointThe night began with an elbow to the right eye from Iman Shumpert, causing a swelling shiner he wore like a battle scar the rest of the game. Rajon Rondo was back last night against the Knicks, and although he was far from vintage form, he was good enough to contribute down the stretch in the 91-89 win.
Celtics make a standNot even two weeks ago, the Celtics appeared disheveled and filled with self-pity when faced with adversity. During the opening month, the Celtics were plagued by injuries and had little to offer worthy opponents besides intermittent flashes of their previous form.
Pierce, Allen carry Celtics past Knicks 91-89Paul Pierce scored 30 points and Ray Allen had nine of his 14 in the final quarter to lift the Boston Celtics to a 91-89 win over the struggling New York Knicks on Friday night.
Knicks-Celtics, BoxNEW YORK (89) Anthony 8-17 9-10 26, Stoudemire 7-15 2-2 16, Chandler 9-13 2-4 20, Shumpert 3-10 0-0 7, Fields 4-9 2-2 11, Jeffries 2-6 1-1 5, Lin 0-3 2-2 2, Walker 1-3 0-0 2, Douglas 0-3 0-0 0, Novak 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 34-80 18-21 89. BOSTON (91) Pierce 8-21 10-12 30, Garnett 7-13 0-0 15, O'Neal 1-4 0-0 ...
Celtics guard Rajon Rondo returns against KnicksBoston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo returned to the lineup for Friday night's game against the New York Knicks after missing the previous eight games with a right wrist injury.
Celtics guard Rajon Rondo returns against KnicksBoston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo returned to the lineup for Friday night's game against the New York Knicks after missing the previous eight games with a right wrist injury.
Diagnosis gives Dickerson reliefGreg Dickerson, the reliable sideline reporter on Comcast SportsNet New England’s Celtics telecasts, has never tried to hide his affinity for the team or his appreciation for his job.
Knicks thumbnails(not including last night’s game)
Celtics feeling the pinch a bitThe Celtics took five exhausting, injury-filled, and controversial weeks to finally establish a winning record. Wednesday’s victory over the overwhelmed Toronto Raptors put the team’s record at 11-10 entering tonight’s showdown with the New York Knicks.
Johnson turns heads with his solid outingProgress comes in small increments for JaJuan Johnson. The Celtics rookie likely won’t get major minutes this season. He likely won’t play a major role in the success of the team, so he has to take nights like last night and cherish them. He has to build off them.
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Getting the word from BirdHoosier hospitality? It has been all the rage since the Patriots arrived here in Nap Town Sunday afternoon. The locals could not be more helpful, and even the dour Bill Belichick acknowledged that he has received heaping helpings of Hoosier hospitality since his fourth-and-2 call here two years ago.
Wrapped up earlyThe Celtics needed nearly a third of this compacted season to start producing blowout victories.
Rondo closer to returningWhen the Celtics met the Raptors Jan. 18, Rajon Rondo led the way as Boston broke a five-game losing streak. But Rondo sustained a right wrist sprain in a clash with Linas Kleiza and has missed eight straight games.
Raptors-Celtics, BoxTORONTO (64) Jam.Johnson 3-11 0-1 7, Davis 4-6 2-4 10, Gray 4-6 0-3 8, Calderon 0-5 1-1 1, DeRozan 3-12 2-5 8, Butler 2-2 0-0 6, Bayless 5-12 2-2 14, A.Johnson 0-2 0-0 0, Barbosa 2-9 0-0 4, Forbes 2-8 1-2 6, Carter 0-0 0-0 0, Alabi 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-73 8-18 64. BOSTON (100) Pierce 5-11 3-4 17, ...
Celtics go above .500 with 100-64 rout of RaptorsThe compact schedule of the post-lockout NBA doesn't offer many breaks, so the Boston Celtics created one of their own.
Raptors thumbnails(Not including last night’s game)
Rivers, Pierce calmly go forthCeltics coach Doc Rivers said before last night’s game that Paul Pierce’s comments about being held out of the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Cavaliers until 3:42 remained were no big deal.
This time, Celtics hold onAfter two games in 72 hours, it’s apparent the Cavaliers are an uncomfortable matchup for the Celtics, who nearly watched the improbable happen again last night at Quicken Loans Arena.
Celtics survive Cavs' comeback 93-90Paul Pierce scored 20 points, Ray Allen had 12 in the third quarter and the Boston Celtics avenged a disappointing loss to Cleveland two days earlier by barely holding off the Cavaliers 93-90 on Tuesday night.
Celtics-Cavaliers, BoxBOSTON (93) Pierce 7-14 6-9 20, Garnett 5-12 3-4 13, O'Neal 5-7 2-2 12, Bradley 4-7 0-0 8, Allen 4-10 2-2 12, Bass 6-9 1-2 13, Wilcox 0-2 0-0 0, Pietrus 2-7 0-0 6, Moore 2-3 0-0 5, Pavlovic 2-2 0-0 4. Totals 37-73 14-19 93. CLEVELAND (90) Casspi 2-5 0-2 6, Jamison 5-11 1-2 12, Varejao 10-17 0-0 20, ...
Celtics G Rondo still out with wrist injuryCeltics All-Star guard Rajon Rondo will miss his seventh straight game with an injured right wrist.
Celtics lacked a finishing actCeltics coach Doc Rivers has often told his team that, if they have the lead in the final minutes, they should be able to win without scoring another point.
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Cavaliers steal one from CelticsWhile there is no question Kyrie Irving is headed for stardom, and his spinning, twisting, winning lefthanded layup perhaps quieted any doubters about his ability to thrive in the NBA after just 11 games at Duke, there were those in the Celtics locker room who were convinced last night’s game never should have come down to a final shot.
Allen back in grooveRay Allen has had a front-row seat in watching his personal and professional worlds change significantly in the last week. When Allen jammed his ankle last Sunday, the Celtics were four games below .500 and Allen was a father of three children.
Irving’s winner makes dad proudHe finished off the Celtics with a spinning, turning layup, a big shot usually reserved for superstars, not upstart rookies. Kyrie Irving put the Cavaliers ahead with 2.6 seconds left and then immediately ran toward his father for a celebratory moment.
Cavs close with 12-0 run to beat Celtics 88-87It was the same play Cleveland ran at the end of regulation in its third game this season -- the third game of Kyrie Irving's NBA career.
Cavaliers-Celtics, BoxCLEVELAND (88) Casspi 3-9 0-0 7, Jamison 3-13 3-3 10, Varejao 8-12 2-2 18, Irving 10-14 2-3 23, Parker 0-1 0-0 0, Gee 3-7 8-9 14, T.Thompson 1-6 1-2 3, Sessions 3-10 1-1 7, Samuels 1-4 0-0 2, M.Thompson 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 34-79 17-20 88. BOSTON (87) Pierce 8-12 1-2 18, Bass 5-11 3-4 13, Garnett 5-10 4-4 14, ...
There’s a recognizable difference in Celtics of lateThanks to the recovery of Pierce, the Celtics have recaptured some of the resilience, resourcefulness, and spirited play that characterized the previous four seasons.
Floundering Wizards make coach disappearThe Washington Wizards are starting over again, after firing coach Flip Saunders, whose status was tenuous at best to begin the season.
Strength gainingForget about being old and tired. The Celtics had plenty of stamina and strength last night, less than 24 hours after a difficult game in Orlando, to win their fourth straight, defeating the Pacers, 94-87.
