Slam Dunk Central

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The Boston Celtics showed the New Jersey Nets that there is a new power in the NBA Atlantic Conference, and they are dressed in green. Boston trailed the Nets by 1 point after the first quarter Saturday? 27-26, and then as if the entire team awoke from an extended slumber?they went? to work defeating New Jersey 112-101. Boston is now 5-0, the only undefeated team left in the NBA.

Boston’s head coach Doc Rivers was on the bench with a heavy heart having attended the funeral of his father earlier that day. Perhaps that is what led to the subdued play of the Celtics in the first quarter, but the Celtics won this game as much for the Rivers family as for themselves.

Boston got a combined 73 points?of their 112 game points?out of three players, named?Pierce, Allen,? and Garnett. Paul Pierce had 28 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds, Ray Allen had 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists, and Kevin Garnett had 18 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals?and 1 blocked shot. For the second consecutive night guard Eddie House had a big night off the bench, with?13 points and starting point guard Rajon Rondo continues to impress with 11 points 5 assists, and 1 steal.

Vince Carter hurt his ankle for the Nets and had to leave the game in the third quarter with 17 points.?X-Rays showed it was just a sprain, Jason Kidd also had 17 for the Nets with 12 assists and 6 rebounds. But again the key for New Jersey was forward Richard Jefferson who had? 28 in the loss, as the Nets now fall to 4-2. An interesting bit of irony will occur Tuesday night as Boston travels to Indiana to take on the Pacers. Of course Larry Bird who is the Pacers team President was the star of Boston the last time they started off 5-0.