Pierce Leads Boston Back From First Quarter Deficit Celts Beat Blazers 112-102

How do you come back from a 16 point first quarter deficit? Sunday night the best way for the Boston Celtics turned out to be by shooting their way back, which they did quite successfully Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers 112-102. Boston shot a blistering 57.9 % from the floor for the game (44-76) and a pretty astonishing 66.7% from outside the arc??? (14-21.) Paul Pierce led the way for the Green Team with 30 points, ending the team’s Post-All-Star break losing streak after 3 games. Portland not only lost the game they lost guard Brandon?Roy for the game when he aggravated a right ankle?sprain, he told reporters after the game he was going to get a MRI performed.

Boston after not?losing a game to Western Conference opponent before the break, had lost the first three games of their Western road trip after games had?resumed. And after the first quarter, it looked like it might?soon be four games as the Celtics could not find the basket and found themselves down, 32-16 at the end of the first period.?They were able to climb back to being competitive by the end of the half as Portland’s lead had been cut to just 7 points 54-47.??Boston scored the first 7 points of the third quarter to tie the game at 54-54, and took their first lead at 59-56 as Pierce hit a 24 foot trey with 8:02 left in the period. The game remained tight through the 4:00 mark when The Celts went on a run and led at the end of the quarter 79-71. As cold as the Green Team was in the first quarter, they were the opposite in the final quarter as they led the entire period by as big a lead as 13 points before settling for their 10 point victory.

Pierce scored a game high 30 points, with 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, in the win. Ray Allen scored 19 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, Rajon Rondo scored 15 points, 8 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals. The bench came through big time with James Posey scoring 15 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and Eddie House scored 11 points, 1 rebound. Kevin Garnett scored 10 points, 7 boards, 3 assists.

Travis Outlaw came off the bench to lead the Blazers with 24 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists,1 steal. Jarret Jack scored 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, LaMarcus Aldridge 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists, 1 block.? Steve Blake scored 12 points, 8 assists, 2 rebounds, Martell?Webster scored 12 points coming off the bench, 2 steals, 1 rebound. Boston improves to 42-12 Portland 29-27.