Mar

6

Celtics Clinch Playoff Spot With Victory Over Pistons 90-78

Posted by Jeff Sack under Main 

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000a5.jpg?

They might not be the new “Big Three” yet, but they are starting to get awfully close. The Boston Celtics have clinched the first playoff spot of the 2007-2008 NBA season, as they defeated the Detroit Pistons Wednesday night at the “New Garden.” Even if Boston were to lose every game left on their schedule (23 games) they are now assured of making the Post Season. For a town that has been waiting for NBA Championship number 17 since 1986, this was a huge step, and a huge celebration. Boston has now won six games in a row, and this victory was against the team with the second best record in the Association after Boston.

Detroit looked like they needed a road map to find the basket in the first quarter, and the Celtics took full advantage leading 23-13 at the end of the first period. The Celtics still led by 10 as the two teams reached the half with Boston ahead 47-37.? The Green Team knew the team from the Motor City would make a run, and they did in the third quarter as the Pistons ended the period on a 9-2 spurt to bring them within 2 points as Boston led 69-67. Detroit tied the game at 69-69 when Tayshaun Prince put the ball through the cylinder from 2 feet away, with 10:49 left in the game. But it was as if Detroit just ran out of gas, as the Celts went ahead 74-69 when Kevin Garnett made a layup with 7:28 left in the quarter, and the Pistons never threatened again.

Garnett led the way for Boston as he scored a game high 31 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, in the victory. Rajon Rondo scored 16 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds, Paul Pierce scored 15 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block. Kendrick Perkins?recorded a double-double as he scored 10 points, a game high 20 boards, 2 blocks, 1 assist.

Chauncey Billups scored 23 points for the Pistons, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal. ?Rasheed Wallace also scored 23 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, Richard Hamilton scored 15 points,?2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, in the loss.? Boston now has a record of 47-12, while Detroit is 44-17?.?

? Copyright 2008 thesackattack.com





Comments

Leave a Reply