Surging Celtics roll to eighth consecutive win
Thursday, December 09, 2010
With Rondo back in the lineup for the first time since missing Sunday’s game in New Jersey, Boston jumped out to an early lead Wednesday and held on for a 105-89 win over Denver at the TD Garden.
Ray Allen led a balanced attack with 28 points while Kevin Garnett added 17 points and nine rebounds for the Celtics (17-4), who have won eight consecutive games. While Anthony missed Wednesday’s game with inflammation in his right knee, the Celtics had Rondo, Glen Davis and Shaquille O’Neal in the lineup despite all three battling nagging injuries – or, in Davis’ case, illness.
Rondo finished with 13 assists while O’Neal shook off a sore calf and scored nine points on 3-of-4 shooting. Davis led all reserves with 16 points off the bench and Paul Pierce added 17.
The Celtics got off to a strong start, hitting their first seven shots and jumping out to a 30-11 lead before Denver fired back in the second quarter. The Nuggets (13-8) outscored Boston, 29-12, toward the end of the half to pull to within one point, but the Celtics finished strong and led by seven at the break.
Boston expanded its lead in the third quarter before pulling away in the fourth. The Celtics will hit the road this weekend starting with an Atlantic Division clash at Philadelphia followed by a trip to Charlotte on Saturday to take on the Bobcats. Denver, which has lost the first two games of its four-game road trip, will play at Toronto on Friday.
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