Dec

19

A Brand New Day! Sixers Stun Celtics On Elton’s Tip-In 98-97!

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap 

The Boston Celtics had not lost a game since before Thanksgiving and were riding an 11 game winning streak when they welcomed the Philadelphia 76ers to the “New Garden” Friday night. The Sixers had lost 12 straight games  finally beat the Golden State Warriors on Monday night and then lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. As if Philadelphia needed any further handicaps they were without their staring guard Allen Iverson who was out with arthritis in his left knee. So it is probably needless for me to write that the Celtics fans were stunned when the Sixers would walk off the court at the end of the game the victors after defeating the Celtics 98-97.

The 76ers would get the winning hoop with 7.7 seconds left to play courtesy of the team’s new sixth man Elton Brand who led all players with a game high 23 points. Boston’s winning streak came to an end on a Friday night at the “New Garden.” Four of the team’s five losses have now occurred on a Friday night in their home arena; whether it is just coincidence or not it certainly can not be a stat that the Celtics are happy about.

This truly was a game in which each team dominated a half. For the Celtics it would  be the first half as they pulled out quickly against the Sixers and were on top at the end of first 24-17. Boston would increase their advantage in the second and they led 53-42 as the contest reached the half.

The Celtics would remain in control until about the mid point of the third quarter when Philadelphia started to increase their intensity. The Sixers  would get as close as just 2 points behind Boston but they trailed by 4 at the conclusion of the period with the Celtics leading 76-72. With 6:46 left in the game Marreese Speights knocked down a mid range jumper ttoo  tie the game and then a few seconds later Brand went 2-2 at the line giving Philadelphia an 86-84 edge. The two opponents traded the lead  for the rest of the quarter until Brand’s tip-in gave the Sixers the win.

Elton Brand led all players coming off the bench with 23 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks while Andre Iguodala added 18 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 block. Marreese Speights had a strong night as he had a double-double off the bench with 17 points, 10 boards, 1 assist and 1 steal while Willie Green scored 16 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block.

Kevin Garnett recorded a double-double to lead the Celtics  with 21 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks and 1 steal. Ray Allen scored 17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal while Rajon Rondo also had a double-double  with 13 points, 10 assists, 3 steals and 2 rebounds. Kendrick Perkins was the third Celtics  player with a double-double as he put up 12 points, grabbed 16 boards and had 3 blocks while  Tony Allen came off the bench with 10 points, 3 steals, 2 assists and 2 rebounds. Philadelphia now has a record of  7-19 and will host the Clippers on Saturday while Boston is now 20-5 and will play host to Minnesota on Sunday.

© Copyright 2009 thesackattack


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