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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
BOSTON (AP) -- By giving up 37 first-quarter points, the New
Jersey Nets quickly found themselves trailing the Boston Celtics by
15.
It was a hole they never dug themselves out of.
|  | | Celtics forward Paul Pierce, right, scored 13 of his 25 points in a decisive first quarter vs. the Nets. |
The Celtics beat the Nets 99-86 Wednesday night, handing Rick
Pitino his 100th victory as Boston's head coach.
"We aren't a good enough team to come out with that kind of
effort, or lack of effort," said Stephon Marbury, who led New
Jersey with 24 points.
Paul Pierce, who paced the Celtics with 25 points, got 13 of
them in the first 12 minutes as New Jersey was shooting 4-for-20
from the field.
"I'm very disappointed in just the way we came out from the
beginning," Nets coach Byron Scott said. "I think we have guys on
this team that just don't know how to win in this league. There
will probably be eight or nine guys on this list that I would cut
right now."
Boston got 21 points, 19 rebounds and seven assists from Antoine
Walker. Bryant Stith added 19 points while Kenny Anderson came off
the bench to score 12.
"I thought Antoine Walker was brilliant," Pitino said. "He's
really picking up his rebounding, and when he has seven or eight
assists we play good ball."
Aaron Williams contributed 14 for the Nets and Sherman Douglas
13, but the Nets shot just 26-for-73 from the field -- including
2-for-16 from 3-point range.
"The message is simple," Douglas said. "Look at the
scoreboard and look at the Celtics. It's like haywire over there
and we come in here, play like that and let them off the hook."
The Nets made only eight field goals in the first half and
trailed 55-38 at intermission.
"Right now we don't understand what it means to play in this
league," said Scott.
But New Jersey cut the lead to 59-50 with 8:11 left in the third
quarter on a layup by Marbury that capped a 12-4 run.
The Nets closed to 62-56 on Kendall Gill's jump shot with 4:49
left in the third, but the Celtics closed the quarter with a 9-0
run and took a 79-64 lead into the fourth quarter.
The closest the Nets were able to get after that was 79-68 on a
layup by Williams with 10:14 left in the game.
Boston opened a 17-point lead twice in the fourth, the last on a
free throw by Pierce with 6:13 left.
"This was crucial because we haven't been playing well."
Pierce said. It was one step forward after we had taken four steps
back."
Game notes
Celtics guard Chris Herren underwent successful surgery for
removal of a bone spur in his right shoulder Tuesday. The surgery
was performed by team doctor Arnold Scheller. No timetable has been
set for his return. ...Celtics guard Chris Carr was activated from
the injured list prior to the game and Walter McCarty went on the
List with right knee tendinitis. ...Milt Palacio made his first
start at point guard for Boston. ...Despite twisting his left ankle
in practice Tuesday, Gill was in the Nets starting lineup. ...The
Nets are third in the NBA in steals averaging 9.04 per game.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
New Jersey Clubhouse
Boston Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 99
New Jersey 86
Toronto 99
Indiana 98
Charlotte 65
Miami 56
Dallas 106
Portland 101
Utah 91
Philadelphia 89
San Antonio 94
Cleveland 77
Denver 108
Detroit 106
Seattle 89
Sacramento 85
Vancouver 118
Washington 104
LA Clippers 103
Minnesota 96
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Antoine Walker Official Site
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