Oct

27

Celtics Hold On For Comeback Victory; Beat Cavaliers 95-89!

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap, NBA Regular Season Opener 

You knew this game was going to come down to the last few minutes. It did not matter that both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics both led at one point by double digits. These are the two teams who will most likely meet in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.  Both teams looked like they were playing in that series Tuesday night as the Celtics were in Cleveland to open the NBA regular season. It was either team’s game to take with a little over a minute to play however it was Boston that would come out on top as they defeated the Cavaliers 95-89.  A lack of scoring down the stretch for Cleveland and two big baskets by Paul Pierce sealed the deal for the “Green Team.” 

LeBron James led all players with 38 points for Cleveland while Paul Pierce was top man for the Celtics with a double-double dropping in 23 points and grabbing 11 boards. The other members of  Boston’s “Big Three” also had strong nights as Ray Allen contributed 16 points and Kevin Garnett had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. The Celtics big off-season acquisition Rasheed Wallace also started off the campaign with a good game  scoring 12 points coming in off the bench.

Four of the five Cleveland starters scored in double figures; point guard Mo Williams had 12 points in the loss. Cavaliers new starting center Shaquille had a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards and Anthony Parker another new addition to the team also had 10 points. Cavaliers starting guard Delonte West was not at the game for personal reasons.

The first quarter began with the Cavaliers on fire and Boston looking like they left their game in the locker room as Cleveland broke out to a 13-2 lead with 8:53 left in the period. Shaq drained an 8 foot bunny with 5:48 to play putting the Cavaliers on top 21-7. However the Celtics awoke from their catatonic state by the end of the period and the Cleveland lead was down to a more manageable 28-21. Boston then took off in the second quarter as their bench players and three point shots put them on top at the end of the half by a score of  51-45.

The Celts looked like they were about to run away with the game in the third as they led 62-47 after Ray Allen knocked down a shot at the line with 8:26 to play. LBJ started to get hot in the last few minutes of the third and Boston had a 72-65 lead heading into the final quarter.

Both teams got bogged down offensively in the fourth and with 12 seconds left to play “The Chosen One” knocked down a trey making it a four point game with the Celtics leading 93-89. However Paul Pierce knocked down two at the line and Boston held on for the hard fought win.

The Celtics start out the campaign 1-0 they will next play Wednesday as they host the Charlotte Bobcats at the “New Garden.” Cleveland starts out the season 0-1 and they head to Toronto Wednesday night to take on the Raptors.

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