Written by
The Sports Network
(Sports Network) - The Boston Celtics own an amazing 17 championships, the
most by an NBA franchise.
Their neighbors across the way, the NFL's New England Patriots, can capture
their fourth Super Bowl title Sunday night against the New York Giants at
Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN.
Before possibly having some snacks and beverages watching the Patriots-Giants
game, the Celtics have their own work to do and will host the Memphis
Grizzlies in a matinee affair from TD Garden. The Celtics look to stay
unbeaten on their current five-game homestand and improved to 2-0 on the
residency thanks to a 91-89 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday in a
rematch of a Christmas Day affair. New York won that game, 106-104.
Ray Allen scored nine of his 14 points in the fourth quarter of the most
recent encounter with the Knicks and Paul Pierce ended with 30 points, seven
rebounds and five assists for Boston, which has won 10 in a row at home over
the Knicks and three straight overall. Pierce described the intensity of the
Atlantic Division showdown.
"Both teams were just fighting for it," Pierce said. "Was like a summer game
where whoever won the game would make the NBA."
Boston has fought for seven wins in its last eight games and got 15 points and
eight boards from Kevin Garnett. Garnett also grabbed the 10,000th defensive
rebound of his career early in the second quarter, becoming just the third
player in NBA history to reach that mark. Rajon Rondo had seven points, seven
assists and five rebounds in his return to the lineup after missing eight
games with a right wrist injury. The Celtics are 8-6 at home and will also
welcome the Bobcats and despised Lakers to Beantown.
The Celtics sit four games behind Philadelphia for the division lead and are
winless against the Western Conference this season (0-4). On the milestone
watch, Pierce is 30 points shy of tying Larry Bird (21,791) for second on the
team's all-time scoring list. John Havlicek has a comfortable spot at the top
with 26,395 points. Pierce is probable for today's game with a strained hip
and so is center Jermaine O'Neal (sore knee).
Memphis was sent back to the loss column with Friday's 101-94 setback at
Oklahoma City and had a two-game winning streak stopped. Thunder superstar
Kevin Durant poured in 36 points and hit the go-ahead three-pointer in the
final minute.
"He's a great player. I mean that's all you can say -- he's a great player. He
made great plays and great shots down the stretch," Grizzlies head coach
Lionel Hollins said about Durant. "He took over the game. He's going to be one
of the all-time greats if he stays healthy."
Marc Gasol had 24 points and Rudy Gay ended with 23 for the Grizzlies, who
have lost five of seven games since a season-high seven-game winning streak.
Oklahoma City recorded 29 points off of Memphis' 19 giveaways, while the
Grizzlies scored 26 points on 17 Thunder turnovers.
Former Celtics guard Tony Allen scored 17 points and O.J. Mayo added 13 in a
reserve role. The Grizzlies are 1-1 on a three-game road trip, 5-8 as the
visitor and three games behind San Antonio for the lead in the Southwest
Division. They'll start a five-game homestand Monday versus the Spurs.
Gay has scored 20-plus points in three straight games and is averaging 17.9
points in nine career games against Boston. The Grizzlies and Celtics have
split a home-and-home series in back-to-back seasons, but Boston has won 14 of
the past 20 meetings between the teams. Pierce has recorded 21.5 ppg in 24
career matchups with Memphis. Garnett is averaging 19.6 points and 10.8
rebounds in 50 career games against the Grizzlies.
The Celtics possess an all-time record of 18-13 against Memphis, winners of
four straight against Eastern Conference opponents.
The Sports Network