Mar

11

Big Ticket’s Double-Double Leads To Celtics Win #50 Sink Sixers 100-86

Posted by Jeff Sack under Main 

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Kevin Garnett had a double-double, as he led the Boston Celtics to a 100-86 shellacking of the Philadelphia 76ers Monday night 100-86 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. The victory was the ninth in a row for Boston, and their fiftieth win of the season. The last time the Boston Celtics won 50 or more games was back in the 1991-1992 season, when they went 51-31. That season was not only?the last season?that the “Big Three” (Larry Bird, Robert Parish, Kevin McHale) played together, it was the season that a budding young star emerged in Boston, Number 35 the Late Great Reggie Lewis. Unfortunately a bad heart would claim Lewis a short time later, but he was looked at at that point, as the bridge to the next generation of Celtics greatness.?

It was quite fitting that Boston would get win number 50 on this night as the Sixers honored their last Championship team the 1982-1983 Philadelphia team. From 1980-1987 only two teams went to the NBA Finals from the Eastern Conference, Boston and Philadelphia. The “Big Three’s” two fiercest rivalries were with the Sixers and the Lakers. The Sixers have had a much more recent taste of success than Boston going to the Finals with Allen Iverson. Boston made it to the Eastern Conference Finals against the New Jersey Nets, but Director of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge would dismantle that team. Realistically this year’s edition of the Celtics is the first since the mid-eighties to have the potential to go all the way.

Boston jumped out to a 26-20 lead at the end of the first quarter. After falling behind early Philadelphia tied the game in the second quarter at 44-44 as Andre Miller made two at the line, with 4:01 left in the half. Then the Sixers went ice cold as the Celtics ended the quarter on a 9-3 run to lead 53-47 as the game reached the half. Philadelphia would never be that close again. The Green Team opened up a 13 point lead as the “Big Ticket” put one through the cylinder to put Boston on top 63-50 with 7:18 left in the quarter. And the rout was on as the Celtics led 76-62 at the end of the period. Philadelphia never got within single digits of Boston in the final quarter.

Garnett had 26 points, 12?boards, 2 assists, in the Boston victory. Ray Allen scored 21 points, 3 assists, 1 rebound, Paul Pierce scored 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and one steal for the Celtics.

Andre Miller paved the way for Philadelphia, as he scored 22 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals. Andre Iguodala scored 17 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, Jason Smith came off the bench and scored 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 steal. Thaddeus?Young scored 11 points coming off the pine, 4 rebounds, 1 block, and the Sixers up? and coming young point guard Louis Williams had a nice game coming off the bench as well, as he scored 10 points, 6 boards, 4 assists, 2 steals. Boston is now 50-12, while Philadelphia is 30-34.

? Copyright 2008 thesackattack.com


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