Scalabrine To The Rescue As Celtics Knock Off Knicks

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap

When you think of “go-to players” on the defending NBA Champion Boston Celtics, Brian Scalabrine is not the first guy to pop into your mind. In fact he may not be one of the first eleven guys that come to mind. But on Tuesday with Celtics All-Star forward Kevin Garnett serving a one game suspension, the seldom used veteran got the start. Scalabrine did not put up “Big Ticket” type numbers, but he did hit a critical shot near the end of the game against the New York Knicks as Boston got the win 110-101. The Celtics while not off to the unbeaten streak they started last season with still has the best record in the NBA Eastern Conference.

The Knicks have seemed to respond to new head coach Mike D’Antoni’s style of play, and got off to a much better start at the beginning of this campaign than they have had over the past couple of seasons. New York started out this contest strong as they took a 28-26 lead at the end of the first quarter. Boston would take the lead at 33-32 when Leon Powe hit a shot 2 feet from the hoop with 9:41left in the second. They would never surrender the lead the rest of the period, and walked into the locker room at the half leading 56-47. The “Green Team“ held the lead for the entire third ending the quarter on top 89-77. The Knicks went on a fourth quarter surge, as they would be down just 5 points at 104-99 with momentum going their way and about a little over a minute in regulation. That is when Scalabrine uncorked a 23 foot trey putting the Celtics on top 107-99, and taking the wind out of New York’s sails.

The Celtics shot 53.2% (42-79) from the floor for the game. Paul Pierce led the team with 22 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, Kendrick Perkins scored 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 assists. Rajon Rondo put in 15 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, Ray Allen also had 15 points, 4 assists, 1 rebound, 1 steal. Leon Powe came off the bench and contributed 14 points, 7 rebounds, 1 block, 1 assist, Scalabrine had 8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 block, 1 assist.

Wilson Chandler led New York with 23 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block. Zach Randolph had another nice night as he had 18 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, Chris Duhon scored 15 points, 5 assists, 2 steals, 2 rebounds. Nate Robinson came off the bench and put in 14 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, Quentin Richardson added 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals. David Lee came off of the pine and dropped 10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists. Boston improves to 10-2 after the victory, New York is now 6-5.

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