Dec

31

Trail Blazers And Turn Overs Give Celtics Another West Coast Loss 91-86

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap 

They say that many times a wounded animal is at it’s most dangerous, and that certainly proved to be the case for the Portland Trail Blazers Tuesday night. The Blazers were without All-Star guard Brandon Roy who was suffering from a hamstring injury. Portland’s center Greg Oden was banged up as he was dealing with a sore ankle.

The fans at the Rose Garden would leave the arena with smiles on their faces however, as point guard Steve Blake scored 21 points, LaMarcus Aldridge added 20 more, and Oden bum ankle and all recorded a double-double, as they defeated the defending NBA Champions Boston Celtics 91-86. Portland recovered from a double digit deficit in the first, due to their scrappy play as well as turnovers by the “Green Team“. Boston committed 13 turnovers which cost them 22 points, and included some bad passes in key moment down the stretch. The Celtics have lost three of four games on their West Coast road trip, ending the year that saw them return to glory in the Association on a sour note.

Boston came out of the gate strong while Portland looked like they left their offense in the locker room in the first as the Celtics took a healthy 23-13 lead at the end of the quarter. The Blazers recovered their shooting touch in the second and were able to close the gap by the end of the half, as the Celts walked into the locker room leading 45-40.

Oden drove the lane putting the ball up and in with 7:43 left in the third to tie the contest at 49-49. Rajon Rondo drained a 24 foot trey with 7:04 remaining to put Boston back on top at 52-49. The Celts looked like they were about to take the game over when Rondo hit a pair at the line to put his club ahead 60-53 with 3:08 to play in the third. Portland would end the period on an 11-4 run to tie the game up heading into the fourth at 64-64. LaMarcus Aldridge slammed the ball through the cylinder with authority to give the Blazers a 70-64 advantage with 9:56 remaining in the game. With 22 seconds left to play Paul Pierce hit a shot 7 feet from the hoop, was fouled on the play, and hit his shot at the line to bring Boston within 1point at 87-86. That would be the last points of the night for the Celtics, as Sergio Rodriguez and Rudy Fernandez sealed the win when each hit a pair at the charity stripe.

Steve Blake paced Portland as he scored 21 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds, while LaMarcus Aldridge added 20 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. Travis Outlaw had a good game off the bench, with 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist, while Greg Oden recorded a double-double, 13 points, 11 boards, 3 assists, and 3 steals.

Paul Pierce led all players with 28 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, Kevin Garnett added 17 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Rajon Rondo had another strong night as he scored 13  points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals, however he did commit 4 turnovers, Ray Allen chipped in with 12 points, and 2 rebounds. Portland improves to 20-12, they will host the New Orleans Hornets, Boston still has the best record in the Association at 28-5, they will be back in the friendly confines of the ”New Garden“ Friday as they host the Washington Wizards.

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