|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME FLOW
BOSTON (AP) -- Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce gave Boston
Celtics' fans plenty to cheer. Jason Kidd gave them plenty to boo.
|  | | Antoine Walker, right, is stopped temporarily by Suns forward Cliff Robinson. |
Walker had 29 points and 13 rebounds and Pierce scored 28 as the
Celtics ruined Kidd's return from a four-game absence by beating
the Phoenix Suns 99-83 Friday night.
Kidd, charged last week with domestic violence assault, a
misdemeanor, against his wife, was booed nearly every time he
touched the ball. The fans cheered him for the first time when he
missed two free throws early in the second quarter.
"That's what they're supposed to do, express themselves and get
behind the home team," said Kidd, who didn't start and struggled
after entering the game with 4:14 left in the first quarter. "They
expressed themselves every time I touched the ball, but it didn't
affect me."
Kidd finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists in
31 minutes, but the Suns had a tough time against Boston's improved
defense since the resignation of coach Rick Pitino.
Boston is 5-4 under interim coach Jim O'Brien and 4-2 in its
last six games.
"We're surrounding Antoine and Paul with the best defensive
unit that's not in foul trouble and that has served us well,"
O'Brien said.
The Celtics had 11 steals and six blocks, both above their
average, and held the Suns to 3-for-18 shooting in the third
quarter.
Phoenix, 1-4 in its last five games, was led by Cliff Robinson
with 22 points and Shawn Marion with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Boston outscored Phoenix 27-12 in the third quarter to take a
72-56 lead. The closest the Suns came after that was 87-80 on
Kidd's layup with 2:58 left.
"The fourth quarter, when they were making their run, guys
settled down," Pierce said. "That's where the mental toughness
comes in."
A tip-in in traffic by Eric Williams stopped the Suns' momentum
and gave Boston an 89-80 lead. The Celtics outscored them 10-3
after that.
"We came out fairly flat and couldn't get anything going
offensively," Phoenix coach Scott Skiles said. "Walker got it
down low too many times and got easy layups."
Boston took control midway through the third quarter as Walker's
9-foot jumper began a 12-0 run that made the score 66-53 with 2:20
left in the period.
Walker came back from a 3-for-18 shooting night in an 83-82 win
over Atlanta to hit 10-of-18 shots.
"We've got to let defense be our staple," he said. "We did
the job defensively to win the game."
Phoenix went nearly seven minutes without a field goal until
Kidd connected with 32 seconds to go in the third quarter.
"It felt good to get back," he said. "I was a little rusty."
The Celtics took their biggest lead, 74-56, on Pierce's
18-footer opening the fourth quarter. Then Phoenix made a brief run
with six consecutive points, three each by Kidd and Tony Delk.
The Suns made another surge as Delk's 3-pointer began a 13-4
run. Rodney Rogers and Robinson also hit 3-pointers, cutting
Boston's lead to 87-80. But Phoenix came no closer.
Game notes
Rookie center Jake Tsaklidis, Phoenix's first-round pick,
started his fourth straight game after coming off the bench in his
other 17 games. ... Boston guard Kenny Anderson suited up for the
first time in seven games but didn't play as he continued to
recover from a sprained right ankle. ... The Suns had 10 players in
uniform after trading Corie Blount, Paul McPherson and Ruben Garces
to Golden State for Vinny Del Negro. Garces was on the injured list
and Del Negro did not report in time for the game. ... The teams
split five of their last six season series with each time winning
once a season. They meet later this year in Phoenix.
|
|
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Phoenix Clubhouse
Boston Clubhouse
Kidd on his return: 'I needed to get back'
Hughes: Suns, Kidd smartly handle situation
Suns acquire Del Negro for backcourt depth
RECAPS
Philadelphia 105
Detroit 89
Washington 106
Atlanta 99
Boston 99
Phoenix 83
Houston 106
Vancouver 89
Seattle 107
Golden State 105
LA Lakers 113
New Jersey 101
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Antoine Walker Official Site
|
