Home » Sports » Basketball » Celtics/NBA
February 07. 2013 11:27PM
Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett, right, shoots past Los Angeles Lakers' Metta World Peace in the second half of their NBA basketball game at TD Garden in Boston on Thursday. Garnett scored his 25,000th career point in the game against the Lakers. (REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi)
BOSTON - Kevin Garnett became the 16th NBA player to reach 25,000 points and the surging Celtics won their sixth straight game since losing Rajon Rondo for the season, hammering the Los Angeles Lakers 116-95 Thursday night. Garnett, who overcame two early fouls, scored 15 points in the game and now has 25,009.
Already leading by 14 at halftime, the Celtics hit the limping Lakers, playing without Pau Gasol (foot) and with Dwight Howard (shoulder) limited, with 37 points in the third quarter, 14 of them in the final 2:40 of the quarter to go up by 26.
The lead ballooned to 32 in the fourth quarter as the Celts pounded their rivals.
The loss was only the second in the last six games for the Lakers, who were playing game five of a seven-game, Grammy-forced road trip and got 27 points from Kobe Bryant. He sat out the fourth quarter.
Paul Pierce had 24 points, seven rebounds and six assists and wasn't needed in the fourth quarter. Jeff Green came off the bench with 19 points, matching his season high, fellow sub Jason Terry scored 15 and Chris Wilcox had eight points and a season-high nine rebounds on another big night for the Boston reserves. Howard had nine points and nine rebounds, fouling out with 5:07 left. He was 1 of 6 from the foul line, where the Lakers went 18 of 30.
Howard, challenged through the media by his teammates to play with the shoulder pain caused by a torn rotator cuff, was said to be a scratch but declared himself a game-time decision and started. It was clear to anyone watching he was not the same player because of the shoulder. He is also coming off back surgery.
The Celtics were hit with five fouls in a span of 39 seconds early in the game, and two of them were on Garnett, in a span of 12 seconds. That sent Garnett to the bench after 2:08 and he didn't come back until the second quarter. He scored two quick baskets and then, with 8:09 left, scored again for the 25,000th point.
During the next timeout, Garnett was saluted on the big board and by the crowd, each teammate congratulating him before he waved to the crowd.
Garnett hits mark, Celtics thump Lakers
Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett, right, shoots past Los Angeles Lakers' Metta World Peace in the second half of their NBA basketball game at TD Garden in Boston on Thursday. Garnett scored his 25,000th career point in the game against the Lakers. (REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi)
Already leading by 14 at halftime, the Celtics hit the limping Lakers, playing without Pau Gasol (foot) and with Dwight Howard (shoulder) limited, with 37 points in the third quarter, 14 of them in the final 2:40 of the quarter to go up by 26.
The lead ballooned to 32 in the fourth quarter as the Celts pounded their rivals.
The loss was only the second in the last six games for the Lakers, who were playing game five of a seven-game, Grammy-forced road trip and got 27 points from Kobe Bryant. He sat out the fourth quarter.
Paul Pierce had 24 points, seven rebounds and six assists and wasn't needed in the fourth quarter. Jeff Green came off the bench with 19 points, matching his season high, fellow sub Jason Terry scored 15 and Chris Wilcox had eight points and a season-high nine rebounds on another big night for the Boston reserves. Howard had nine points and nine rebounds, fouling out with 5:07 left. He was 1 of 6 from the foul line, where the Lakers went 18 of 30.
Howard, challenged through the media by his teammates to play with the shoulder pain caused by a torn rotator cuff, was said to be a scratch but declared himself a game-time decision and started. It was clear to anyone watching he was not the same player because of the shoulder. He is also coming off back surgery.
The Celtics were hit with five fouls in a span of 39 seconds early in the game, and two of them were on Garnett, in a span of 12 seconds. That sent Garnett to the bench after 2:08 and he didn't come back until the second quarter. He scored two quick baskets and then, with 8:09 left, scored again for the 25,000th point.
During the next timeout, Garnett was saluted on the big board and by the crowd, each teammate congratulating him before he waved to the crowd.
- Data overreach Are programs really justified? The weak case for PRISM. - 11
- A Medicaid reduction? That is not likely - 8
- Border security? Maybe, some day, perhaps. Or not - 35
- Priority profs: University system tops HHS - 5
- Recognizing father: Not PC, but still OK - 1
- Closing Hanover St.: Not a 'free market' move - 6
- Step into the past: Discover old NH this weekend - 0
- Racial harmony: On preferences, it exists - 8
- School accountability: It is up to the parents - 12
School board papers: Beaudry gets left behind
READER COMMENTS: 1- UPDATE: Elderly man burned in North Hampton camper fire has died - 0
- Windham to reconsider dodgeball ban - 0
- Hooksett students taken to nearby school after gas leak - 0
- Londonderry students who haven't had whooping cough vaccine asked to stay home - 0
- House, Senate agree on capital budget, including new $38 million women's prison - 0
- Windham's Common Man suffers heavy water damage in fire - 1
- 'Home grow' dropped on way to medical marijuana compromise - 10
- Death investigation under way in Manchester, no foul play suspected - 1
- Vet Home budget reworked after proposed cuts - 1
House proposes 3-year Medicaid expansion plan
READER COMMENTS: 0| Follow us: | ||
 |
 |
 |
Sorry, no question available