After all, the Celtics have thrived on that concept since the All-Star break. So perhaps an Atlanta team forced to go long stretches with subs like Erick Dampier and Tracy McGrady in the absence of Josh Smith warranted those red flags.
Rondo’s 17 points, 12 assists and 14 rebounds made for the 20th triple-double of his career, his seventh this season, and also his seventh all-time in the postseason.
Allen hit his first shot — a 15-footer along the baseline — and went on to a 13-point, six-rebound performance and was part of the closing unit.
Nowhere was the game’s harsh nature more evident than in the work of Pierce, who made Tuesday’s Game 2 win in Atlanta possible.
Last night, the Celtics captain shot 3-for-12, and still scored 21 points. This time the difference was Pierce’s constant attack, which resulted in a 14-for-14 performance from the line.
“It’s just experience as far as us being in these situations,” Pierce said of the tight nature of these games. “The coaching staff has been in those situations a number of times, so they don’t panic and they understand what it takes. We just try to find a way.”
The Celtics certainly needed a method after going scoreless during the last 4:04 of the fourth quarter. Johnson, with seven of Atlanta’s last 10 points, nearly overturned the game. Starting with a Willie Green 3-pointer and ending with another bomb from Johnson with 1:23 left that tied the score at 80, the Hawks scored the last eight points of regulation.
In a performance far more belabored than expected, the Celtics needed Rajon Rondo[stats]’s relentless attack and a game-sealing tip dunk from Kevin Garnett with 28 seconds left in overtime to pull out last night’s 90-84 Eastern Conference quarterfinal playoff win over the visiting Atlanta Hawks.
The Game 3 win gives the Celtics a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven series over Atlanta, though they may have suffered another personnel loss. Guard Avery Bradley left the game for good late in the third quarter with a sore left shoulder.
Another injury for this group is merely another seamless change in the lineup. Out went Bradley, who will be reexamined today, and back came Rondo from his one-game suspension and Allen after missing 11 games due to painful bone spurs in his right ankle.
Much like the sensation in Allen’s ankle, the Celtics are in a permanent grind.
“It wasn’t pretty, but who says it has to be pretty,” said Celtics forward Paul Pierce [stats]. “At the end of the day, we have to win four games, and we’ve won two. It got tight there. Joe Johnson is an amazing player. He brought them back late, but we found a way. We found a way to retire the game in overtime. Rondo really came back with some vengeance today.”
Allen hit his first shot — a 15-footer along the baseline — and went on to a 13-point, six-rebound performance and was part of the closing unit.
Nowhere was the game’s harsh nature more evident than in the work of Pierce, who made Tuesday’s Game 2 win in Atlanta possible.
Last night, the Celtics captain shot 3-for-12, and still scored 21 points. This time the difference was Pierce’s constant attack, which resulted in a 14-for-14 performance from the line.
The Celtics certainly needed a method after going scoreless during the last 4:04 of the fourth quarter. Johnson, with seven of Atlanta’s last 10 points, nearly overturned the game. Starting with a Willie Green 3-pointer and ending with another bomb from Johnson with 1:23 left that tied the score at 80, the Hawks scored the last eight points of regulation.
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