Times wires
Friday, May 4, 2012
BOSTON — Rajon Rondo had a triple double with 17 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists to lead the Celtics to a 90-84 overtime victory over the Hawks on Friday night that gave them a 2-1 lead in the first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he noticed Rondo struggling to run the offensive plays.
"Then, finally, I told him: 'Just be a scorer. Just attack,' " Rivers said. "And I thought that freed him up."
Rondo made the first two baskets of overtime, including a post-up hook shot over Jeff Teague that gave Boston the lead for good.
Ray Allen returned for Boston after missing almost a month and scored 13 in 38 minutes. Joe Johnson had 29 points for the Hawks. Tracy McGrady scored 12 but played little after landing awkwardly on his right ankle.
ATLANTA (84): Jo.Johnson 11-28 4-5 29, M.Williams 1-6 1-2 3, Collins 2-4 0-0 4, Teague 9-16 5-6 23, Hinrich 0-3 0-0 0, Dampier 3-5 0-0 6, McGrady 5-14 2-2 12, I.Johnson 1-4 0-0 2, Pargo 0-4 0-0 0, Green 2-5 0-0 5, Radmanovic 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 34-90 12-15 84.
BOSTON (90): Pierce 3-12 14-14 21, Bass 3-6 2-2 8, Garnett 9-18 2-2 20, Rondo 7-22 3-4 17, Bradley 2-5 0-0 5, Stiemsma 0-1 0-0 0, Allen 6-12 1-3 13, Pietrus 2-3 0-0 6, Dooling 0-0 0-0 0, Hollins 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 32-79 22-25 90.
Atlanta 19 19 20 22 4— 84
Boston 17 23 20 20 10— 90
3-Point Goals—Atlanta 4-20 (Jo.Johnson 3-7, Green 1-2, M.Williams 0-1, Radmanovic 0-1, Pargo 0-1, Teague 0-2, McGrady 0-3, Hinrich 0-3), Boston 4-13 (Pietrus 2-3, Bradley 1-2, Pierce 1-3, Rondo 0-1, Allen 0-4). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Atlanta 54 (M.Williams 11), Boston 55 (Rondo 14). Assists—Atlanta 15 (Teague 6), Boston 18 (Rondo 12). Total Fouls—Atlanta 21, Boston 18. Technicals—Boston defensive three second 3. A—18,624 (18,624).
Sixers take stunning lead
PHILADELPHIA — Spencer Hawes had 21 points and hit the go-ahead jumper late to help the 76ers, the No. 8 East seed, rally from 14 down in the fourth quarter to beat the Bulls 79-74 for a 2-1 series lead.
Chicago's Joakim Noah, a former Florida star, left in the third with a sprained left ankle. He returned in the fourth but was hobbled. The Bulls are already without star guard Derrick Rose (torn ACL in his left knee).
"We played with a great edge all season," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "When you're down people, you have to play hard and with an edge. We have to get back to that."
CHICAGO (74): Deng 2-7 0-1 5, Boozer 9-17 0-0 18, Noah 4-7 4-4 12, Watson 0-4 0-0 0, Hamilton 4-15 8-12 17, Lucas 4-12 2-2 12, Gibson 3-6 0-2 6, Asik 2-2 0-2 4, Korver 0-5 0-0 0, Butler 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-75 14-23 74.
PHILADELPHIA (79): Iguodala 2-9 1-2 5, Brand 0-5 0-0 0, Hawes 7-15 6-6 21, Holiday 5-10 7-9 17, Turner 5-12 6-8 16, Williams 5-14 4-4 14, Allen 0-3 0-0 0, T.Young 2-8 2-4 6, Meeks 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-76 26-33 79.
Chicago 20 19 21 14— 74
Philadelphia 19 21 11 28— 79
3-Point Goals—Chicago 4-14 (Lucas 2-4, Deng 1-3, Hamilton 1-3, Watson 0-1, Korver 0-3), Philadelphia 1-14 (Hawes 1-1, Holiday 0-2, Turner 0-2, Williams 0-4, Iguodala 0-5). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Chicago 61 (Boozer 10), Philadelphia 52 (T.Young 11). Assists—Chicago 22 (Hamilton 7), Philadelphia 13 (Holiday 6). Total Fouls—Chicago 26, Philadelphia 20. A—20,381 (20,318).
Late Thursday: Thunder on brink of ousting Mavs
DALLAS — Kevin Durant finally found his postseason shooting touch, scoring 31 on 11-of-15 shooting, and the Thunder never trailed in beating Dallas 95-79 to take a 3-0 series lead on the defending champions. Game 4 is today in Dallas.
OKLAHOMA CITY (95): Durant 11-15 5-7 31, Ibaka 5-8 0-0 10, Perkins 1-4 0-0 2, Westbrook 8-19 2-4 20, Sefolosha 1-6 0-0 3, Collison 0-1 0-0 0, Harden 3-10 4-6 10, Fisher 4-9 0-0 10, Cook 3-7 0-0 9, Mohammed 0-1 0-0 0, Ivey 0-2 0-0 0, Hayward 0-0 0-0 0, Aldrich 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 36-85 11-17 95.
DALLAS (79): Marion 1-8 4-4 6, Nowitzki 6-15 5-8 17, Haywood 1-4 1-2 3, Kidd 4-12 2-2 12, West 3-5 3-3 9, Terry 3-10 3-4 11, Mahinmi 2-3 0-0 4, Carter 2-8 2-2 7, Wright 1-2 0-0 2, Beaubois 0-1 0-0 0, Cardinal 1-2 0-0 3, Azubuike 1-3 0-0 3, Yi 1-3 0-1 2. Totals 26-76 20-26 79.
Oklahoma City 32 18 25 20— 95
Dallas 26 15 16 22— 79
3-Point Goals—Oklahoma City 12-28 (Durant 4-6, Cook 3-6, Fisher 2-4, Westbrook 2-5, Sefolosha 1-3, Ibaka 0-1, Ivey 0-1, Harden 0-2), Dallas 7-22 (Terry 2-5, Kidd 2-6, Cardinal 1-1, Azubuike 1-1, Carter 1-3, Nowitzki 0-1, Beaubois 0-1, Yi 0-1, Marion 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Oklahoma City 52 (Ibaka 11), Dallas 59 (Marion 10). Assists—Oklahoma City 18 (Durant 6), Dallas 15 (Terry 6). Total Fouls—Oklahoma City 20, Dallas 16. Technicals—Durant, Cardinal, Dallas Coach Carlisle, Nowitzki, West. A—20,640 (19,200).
Around the league
STOUDEMIRE COULD RETURN: Amare Stoudemire joked that he told his Knicks teammates not to hit anything after they lost Game 3 to the Heat on Thursday. However, he quickly turned serious as he discussed the hand injury sustained when he punched the glass protecting a fire extinguisher after Game 2. Stoudemire seems to be recovering quickly from the Monday incident and might return for Sunday's Game 4.
HONOR FOR MAGIC: Magic power forward Ryan Anderson was named the league's Most Improved Player. He received 33 first-place votes of 121 media ballots cast. Anderson had career highs in points (16.1) and rebounds (7.7) per game, field-goal percentage (.439) and starts (61). He also led the league in 3-pointers made (166) and attempted (422).
ERVING BACK: Julius Erving returned to the 76ers, where he was a longtime star player, as a strategic adviser. The deal runs through 2015.