We're going to try something a little bit different today. With two huge basketball games, the Miami Heat (32-14) vs the Oklahoma City Thunder (30-16) followed by the Boston Celtics (35-11) vs the L.A. Lakers (33-14), back to back on TV this afternoon, I'm going to give the whole "live blogging" thing a try. Essentially chronicling my thoughts and observations as they happen. We'll see how it works out. And if it's an abysmal failure, we won't do it again. So here goes nothing...
11:30 - A lot of things to watch for in these two games today. The Heat are allegedly going to get Chris Bosh back from an ankle injury, and it sounds like Dwyane Wade is good to go as well so the Heat's Big Three could all be back for the first time in over two weeks. They'll go up against the NBA's leading scorer, Kevin Durant who comes into the game averaging 28.8 a game and has gone for 40+ in his last two. In the late game, you've got an NBA Finals rematch with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers taking on the Celtics who just got Kendrick Perkins back from injury. Perkins' injury in the NBA Finals last year may have swung the fate of the finals as the Lakers won Game 6 in which he was injured and Game 7. Should be an exciting day of basketball.
11:38 - Russell Westbrook may be the best player that hardly anyone is talking about. When talking about elite point guards in this league you hear the names Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo, Steve Nash, Derrick Rose... But Westbrook is his 3rd year out of UCLA is having himself a career year (22.7 pts and 8.5 assists) and has combined with Kevin Durant to average over 50 points a game. All year, the Heat have been exposed by the league's better point guards as Mario Chalmers and Carlos Arroyo are capable, but certainly not top notch players. If there's one guy to watch in this one, I'd say it's Westbrook.
11:49 - In head to head matchups between Lebron James and Kevin Durant, Lebron James has dominated the series. The only time that Durant has beaten a team that had Lebron James on it, James was sidelined with an ankle injury back in 2008 when the Thunder were still the Supersonics. In the other 5 matchups, James' Cavaliers came out victorious every time and Lebron has averaged 29.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists. In their two matchups last year he was even better averaging 40.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 9.0 assists. Durant hasn't exactly been a slouch averaging 25.2 points a game, but considering he averaged over 30 a game last season, he's capable of so much more. Will this be the day that Durant finally beats Lebron? Or will Lebron and his new team pick up where the Cavs left off?
11:55 - Getting ready to kick off game #1. Here's your starting lineups:
For Miami -
C - Zydrunas Ilgauskus 5.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 0.3 apg
PF - Chris Bosh 18.6 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1.9 apg
SF - Lebron James 26.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 7.2 apg
SG - Dwyane Wade 25.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 4.2 apg
PG - Mario Chalmers 6.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.3 apg
For Oklahoma City -
C - Nenad Krstic 7.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 0.4 apg
PF - Jeff Green 14.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.0 apg
SF - Kevin Durant 28.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.8 apg
SG - James Harden 10.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.9 apg
PG - Russell Westbrook 22.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 8.5 apg
12:02 - No Thabo Sefolosha for the Thunder today. Sefolosha started the Thunder's first 45 games, but will miss his second game in a row due to a knee injury. James Harden, who had 3 previous starts this year will get the call in his place.
12:05 - Doesn't look like the ankle is going to be a problem for Bosh, at least in the early going. In the Heat's first 4 trips down the floor, he's made a pair of shots and gotten to the foul line where he hit 1 of 2. 5 early points in this one for Bosh who the Heat have desperately missed the past 4 games.
12:09 - Almost 5 minutes into the game and Lebron James hasn't taken his first shot. He does have 3 assists, but just got called for a charge on James Harden. Russell Westbrook has started to show what he can do making a pair of tough layups in traffic and the Thunder are up 4.
12:11 - Double technical called on Bosh and Durant. Bosh fouled Harden on a layup and Durant and Bosh started chattering at one another and they both got T'd up. Didn't look like much, but obviously we can't hear what they're saying. Harden hits both free throws taking us to the first timeout with a score of 19-13 Thunder.
12:14 - Oklahoma City on an 8-0 run by the way.
12:16 - James finally takes his first shot a little way halfway through the quarter, a 3-pointer that rattles in and out. Mario Chalmers picks up his second personal foul on the other end putting Durant on the line again. 22-13 Thunder. Mike Miller comes into the game for the Heat and immediately hits a 3 to snap the 11-0 run.
12:18 - Back to back turnovers by Krstic leads to another Mike Miller 3-pointer and a Dwyane Wade layup in transition plus a foul. And just like that, the Heat are on an 8-0 run and it's 26-24. Krstic gets subbed out for Serge Ibaka while James Jones and Joel Anthony enter the game for Bosh and Ilgauskus. The Heat continue to play without a true point guard on the floor. Seems to be working out all right so far though.
12:22 - Just under 4 minutes to go in the first quarter and Lebron James has 0 points and has only taken 1 shot. He does have 6 assists though. Durant meanwhile has 7 and Wade leads everyone with 9.
12:25 - Jeff Green is quietly 5/5 with 11 points and 4 boards to lead the Thunder. Dwyane Wade takes a breather after scoring 13 and Eddie House enters the game. James draws a foul on Ibaka and gets to the line finally scoring his first point with 1:37 left in the quarter.
12:29 - James Jones drills a 3 giving James his 8th assist of the first quarter but Durant immediately answers with a 3 on the other end. James beats a double team to make a layup with 10 seconds left in the quarter for his first made basket of the game. The first quarter draws to a close with the Thunder up 38-35. Some notable stats from the first quarter of play:
- Both teams are shooting over 60% from the floor.
- Kevin Durant finished the quarter with 14 points on 4/5 shooting
- Russell Westbrook putting together a nice all around game with 6 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists
- Miami had just 5 rebounds in the quarter. 10 for the Oklahoma City.
- Dwyane Wade leads the Heat with 13 points on 6/8 shooting.
- The Heat bench has 9 points to the Thunder bench's 0.
- Lebron James has 8 assists, but is just 1/3 from the floor.
12:35 - Daequan Cook hits a 3 to give the Thunder bench their first points. Bosh makes a layup and is fouled by Ibaka on the other end. Eddie House running the point now for Miami.
12:39 - Wade turns the ball over on back to back possessions, first with a travel, and then an offensive foul drawn by Nick Collison. Daequan Cook hits a jumper on the other end and the lead is pushed to 9, 47-38. Miami has to call a timeout. Wade has turned the ball over 4 times and the Heat 9 with just 3 minutes gone in the second quarter.
12:44 - Durant and Westbrook both come back into the game with 8 to play in the second. Good job by the Thunder bench keeping the pressure on Miami. James hits a jumper over Durant to cut the lead to 5.
12:46 - Two big defensive plays by Lebron James, blocking a runner by Durant on one possession and then drawing a charge on Westbrook on the next one. Wade hits a 13-footer and suddenly it's 49-47. Timeout Thunder just a little over halfway through the second quarter.
12:52 - Durant steps up and drills a 3 out of the timeout. Durant 2/2 from long range so far and has 17.
12:55 - James hits a cutting Wade who makes the layup and gets fouled by Harden. Harden now has 3 fouls and is going to likely have to sit the rest of the half. 9 assists now for James, 19 points for Wade to lead all scorers.
12:57 - James Jones hits a big 3 to give the Heat a 54-53 lead. Momentum shifting in favor of the Heat right now.
1:00 - Minute and a half to play in the first half and Miami has extended their lead to 59-56 following a 19-footer from Ilgauskus. Oklahoma City has hit on just 7 of 18 shots in the second quarter after making 14 of 22 in the first. Durant is just 1 for 5 for 3 points and Westbrook is 0 for 2.
1:04 - Westbrook gets called for a shooting foul on Chalmers and then gets the technical for his reaction to the call. Chalmers hits all 3 free throws to push the lead to 4. But Jeff Green comes back on the other end with the basket and a foul on Ilgauskus. 16 points now for Green and it's 62-61. Under 30 seconds to play in the half.
1:09 - Halftime in Oklahoma City. Miami Heat 64, Oklahoma City Thunder 61. The Heat outscore the Thunder in the second quarter 29-23 and crack down on defense limiting the Thunder to just 9 of 22 from the floor and forcing 4 turnovers. The Heat meanwhile are still shooting the ball well, going into the half at 62.2%. Some more notes from the first half:
- Lebron James 12 points 2 rebounds 9 assists in the first half, just one assist in the 2nd quarter.
- Dwyane Wade 19 points to lead all scorers, but 5 turnovers
- Chris Bosh 5/6 for 12 points, but 0 rebounds
- Kevin Durant 17 points, but only 3 in the 2nd quarter, and 6 rebounds
- Russell Westbrook 7 assists, but only scored 1 point in the 2nd quarter
- Jeff Green 16 points and a game high 7 rebounds
- Daequan Cook 10 points off the bench on 4/5 shooting
- Foul Trouble: 3 fouls on James Harden, Daequan Cook and Joel Anthony
- Fast Break Points: Thunder 15, Heat 12
Back in a bit for the start of the second half.
1:29 Back underway in Oklahoma City, the same 5 that started the game for each team on the floor.
1:31 After a rough second quarter, Westbrook starts the second half strong drawing fouls on Chalmers and Ilgauskus and hitting a layup and making a pair of free throws to give the lead back to Oklahoma City.
1:32 Nenad Krstic can't guard Lebron James. James blows right around him and gets fouled, but misses the free throw. Still Miami is back in the lead 66-65.
1:34 Big transition 3 by Lebron James and the Heat are starting to pull away, now up 6, 71-65. The Thunder come down the floor and instead of going to Durant or Westbrook, Krstic takes an open 20-footer and misses it. James goes for the throat by attempting another 3, but misses. Westbrook cuts it to 4 with a jumper and then following a Chalmers turnover makes a huge dunk. Bosh misses a 3, then fouls Durant on the other end and suddenly we're tied up at 71.
1:39 It really looked like momentum had shifted in Miami's favor when James hit that 3 a few minutes ago. Since that shot, the Thunder have gone on a 12-2 run forcing Miami to take a timeout. Westbrook's been the focal point of the offense here in the third scoring 10 of their 16 points in the first 6 minutes of the second half and assisting of their other field goal. Durant has struggled with his shot, but has been able to get to the free throw line and now has 21 points despite shooting just 5 of 13. Wade also has 21 points, and James picked up his 10th assist, but right now it's the Thunder who have the momentum. The Heat have committed 6 fouls in the 3rd quarter already.
1:43 Ridiculous chase-down block by James on Westbrook preventing a fastbreak layup. Two blocks in the game now for James.
1:44 And Westbrook blocks a shot by Ilgauskus on the other end. Westbrook is like 6'3" while Ilgauskus is something around 7'4".
1:46 James Harden picks up his 4th foul and goes back to the bench. Daequan Cook comes back into the game with Heat back in lead 78-77.
1:49 Daequan Cook drills ANOTHER 3-pointer on the break from Westbrook giving him 3 for the game and giving the lead back to Oklahoma City 82-80. Mike Miller tries to answer on the other end, but his shot bounces over the backboard. 13 points on 5/6 shooting for Cook and he's hit on all of his 3-point attempts. Cook entered the game averaging just 2.7 point in 9 games, but has really stepped up in the absence of Thabo Sefolosha.
1:55 James hits another 3 to give the lead back to Miami 85-84 but Durant gets fouled at the buzzer by Anthony, his 4th. James who started slow now has 22 points to go along with his 11 assists. Durant did not back a basket in the 3rd quarter but still managed to score 7 at the line. 85-85 and we're all tied up going into the 4th quarter.
1:58 Some notes at the end of 3 quarters of play:
- Kevin Durant leads all scorers with 24 points despite just making 5 of 15 shots from the floor.
- Jeff Green is up to 18 points to go along with a game high 9 rebounds. Durant has 9 as well.
- Russell Westbrook has 17 points and 9 assists, 10 points in the 3rd quarter.
- James Harden has 5 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists
- Daequan Cook leads all bench players with 13 points
- Miami has turned the ball over 16 times, 7 of those by Wade.
- Wade does lead Miami with 23 points on 10/13 shooting.
- Lebron James has a double double with 22 points and 11 assists to go along with 3 steals and 3 blocks
- Miami is still shooting 57.1% for the game.
- Thunder up 24-15 in fast break points
2:02 Jeff Green opens up the 4th quarter scoring with a 3-pointer from the corner giving him 21 points.
2:05 Hustle paying off for the Heat on back to back possessions. First in getting an offensive rebound on a missed free throw by Bosh that resulted in an open dunk for Joel Anthony. Then Mike Miller came away with a steal and on the ensuing break, the Heat had 2 more offensive rebounds the second a tip in by Wade to give Miami the lead back, 90-88.
2:08 Cook finally misses a 3 and Wade picks up another offensive rebound for a tip in on the other end. 92-88. Wade up to 27 points. James, Durant and Westbrook all reenter the game.
2:09 Wade picks up another offensive foul as Collison draws another charge. 4 fouls and 8 turnovers for Wade.
2:12 Durant misses another one. 5 of 16 from the floor now. Bosh draws a foul on Collison on the other end and the Heat are up 5 with Bosh shooting two. 95-90.
2:13 The Heat push the lead to 8 with another rebound off the missed free throw by Bosh and Wade drills a fadeaway to give him 29. Everything going Miami's way right now. Green makes a layup to finally stop the run and Wade gets a technical for complaining about a no-call. Durant converts and now it's a 5-point game. Miller misses a shot, Durant hits a 3, his first basket of the second half and suddenly it's a two-point game again. Everytime Miami looks to pull away, the Thunder come storming right back. Timeout Miami. 4 and a half to play in the 4th, 98-96.
2:17 Durant had missed 8 in a row before that 3. Westbrook picked up the assist on that one and now has 10 for the game.
2:19 Wade rolls his ankle when Daequan Cook falls on it, he's gutting it out though.
2:20 Bosh tips in his own miss following a Wade miss and gives Miami some breathing room. Under 3 to go, 20 points and 6 boards for Bosh. Anthony fouls Durant on the other end; 5 on Anthony.
2:24 Durant hits 1 of 2. 100-97. 29 for Durant. Under 2 and a half to go. Offensive foul on James, but he strips Durant on the other end. Wade gets fouled by Cook, his 5th. Wade hits both, he has 31, Heat back up 5.
2:27 1:23 to play in this one, Thunder ball following a missed layup by James. Miller, James, Bosh, Anthony and Wade on the floor in crunch time for the Heat and Bosh fouls Durant, his 4th foul. Durant hits both and is 16 of 19 from the line to give him 31. 3 point game. Thunder need a stop.
2:29 Wade turns the ball over as Westbrook gets the steal and Bosh is forced to foul him on the other end. Bosh now has 5 fouls. Westbrook hits both free throws giving him 21 points to go with 7 rebounds and 10 assists. It's a 1 point game with 1 minute to play. What a way to start this Sunday doubleheader. Wade now has 9 turnovers.
2:32 Bosh gets the call but his jumper is off. Rebound by Cook, timeout Oklahoma City. 40 seconds to play.
2:33 Westbrook, Durant, Green, Cook and Collison on the floor for Oklahoma City. And it's Durant who drills the 19 footer. 103-102, 34.3 seconds to play. 33 points for the league's leading scorer.
2:35 Eddie House in for Joel Anthony on this possession. And it pays off! Wade misses a jumper, Mike Miller comes away with an offensive rebound, and James passes up an open 3 but dishes to House who drills one. 105-103 Heat, 22.2 seconds to play. House's first points of the game. 13 assists for James.
2:37 Anthony back in the game now. Durant's shot is no good and Wade chases down the loose ball. Cook has to foul him and he'll go to the line with 9.5 seconds to play. No timeouts left for the Thunder. Wade drills the first one. 106-103. And he misses the second one! It's out of bounds and they're going to the replay booth to see who gets the ball. Huge call coming up here.
2:39 It looks like it's going to be Miami ball. What a bad break for the Thunder if that's the case. And it is. Miami ball with 6.9 seconds to go and a 109-106 lead.
2:49 5.6 seconds to go. Eddie House is fouled by James Harden and he can make it a two possession game. It's looking like the heat will win their second straight close game after starting the season 1-8 in games decided by 5 or less. And House hits them both. Oklahoma City turns it over on the inbounds pass and that's all she wrote. Heat 108, Thunder 103. Big road win for the Thunder. Final stats an observations:
- Dwyane Wade - 32 points 9 rebounds 9 turnovers
- Chris Bosh - 20 points 7 rebounds
- Lebron James - 23 points 4 rebounds 13 assists 4 steals 3 blocks
- Joel Anthony - the unsung hero in this one 6 rebounds and 5 blocked shots
- Eddie House - 5 points in the final minute
- Russell Westbrook - 21 points 7 rebounds 10 assists
- Kevin Durant - 33 points 10 rebounds 4 steals
- Jeff Green 23 points 11 rebounds
2:45 And we join the second game in progress, 4-2 Celtics.
2:48 And my mother's on the phone. Back in a bit.
3:00 Still on the phone. 18-14 Celtics, a little over 3 minutes to play in the first.
3:04 And we're back! There's a little bit over a minute left in the first quarter and the Celtics have a 22-16 lead. Paul Pierce has led the way with 10 points, and both Kobe Bryant and Ray Allen are on the bench with 2 fouls. The Celtics have a sizeable edge on the glass with 14 rebounds to the Lakers 6 and the Lakers have managed to hit just 6 of their first 18 shots.
3:07 Artest splits a pair of free throws, and he and Odom make layups to close out the quarter on an 11-4 run and it's 22-21. Some first quarter notes:
- Paul Pierce 10 points 3 rebounds
- Kevin Garnett 4 points 5 rebounds 3 assists
- Kobe Bryant/Ray Allen 2 fouls apiece
- Andrew Brynum 7 points 2 rebounds
- Pau Gasol 2 points on 1 of 3 shooting
- Rajon Rondo 2 points and just 1 assist
3:12 Lamar Odom gives the Lakers a lead, but Nate Robinson hits a 3 coming back the other way. Shannon Brown misses a layup and Ray Allen hits a 3 of his own. 28-23 Celtics.
3:14 The Celtics have a ridiculous amount of frontcourt depth this year. Shaq is back from injury for this game and got the start, and then there's Kendrick Perkins who's returned from injury, rookie Semih Erden has been starting lately and then you have Jermaine O'Neal, Glen Davis, Luke Harangody, Garnett... It's an impressive list. The Lakers have good size and length of their own, but the Celtics have the ability to just keep throwing bodies at them.
3:16 On queue Glen Davis picks up an offensive rebound and a put back to extend Boston's lead to 36-27.
3:17 I think I've seen like 10 trailers for the new James Cameron film Sanctum today. Aren't there any other movies coming out soon?
3:19 Really quiet game for Rondo so far. Only 2 points and 1 assist in the first quarter. He's never been a scoring type of point guard, but he averages 12.5 assists per game so that's a little surprising. Nate Robinson continues to run the point right now.
3:22 Garnett takes a shot to the head and is bleeding pretty good. Looks like Gasol's elbow caught Garnett in the head when he came down off of his last shot. Garnett has to come out as a result. Rondo now back on the floor.
3:25 Pierce hits a pair of free throws and the Celtics are back up 9. 40-31. Kobe hits on the other end though, giving him 7 on 3 of 4 shooting.
3:29 Shot clock violation, Celtics. And Garnett's back in the game with a big bandaid on his head.
3:31 3-point play for Bryant and now it's 40-36, 10 for Bryant.
3:33 Shaq picks up his 3rd foul of the half and gives Fisher a 3-point play. 42-39. On the other end Bynum blocks Garnett and Gasol blocks Shaq leading to a fast break for the Lakers which Bryant converts on. 42-41 and the crowd is back into it.
3:35 3-pointer for Kobe and it's a 13-2 run for the Lakers. 15 points in the half now for Bryant, 10 in the quarter.
3:36 Forgot about The Eagle with Channing Tatum, just saw another trailer for that one too.
3:37 I was wrong earlier, Shaq's only got 2 fouls. Allen, Garnett, Perkins and Davis also all have 2 for the Celtics. Bryant, Fisher, Gasol and Artest all have 2 apiece for the Lakers.
3:39 Rondo ties it up with an offensive rebound and put back. 44-44. And now Shaq does have 3 fouls as Kobe gets him up in the air and converts the 3-point play. 18 points for Bryant. 0 points 5 rebounds 2 blocks 3 fouls for Shaq.
3:41 Pierce hits a pair of free throws to give him 16 points, but Bryant slices through the defense on the other end and now he has 20. Garnett now picks up his 3rd foul putting Bynum on the line. Bryant comes out of the game with under a minute to go. 52-48 Lakers. 21-8 run now for the Lakers.
3:45 And Bryant back in the game for the last offensive possession of the half and he'll draw a foul on Marquis Daniels. Double technical on Perkins and Artest on the play before by the way. Bryant hits them both. 22 for Kobe.
3:47 And Big Baby Davis gets fouled on an ugly half court heave just before the buzzer. Lamar Odom got him on the arm it looks like, so 3 shots coming up for Davis. Dumb, dumb foul. 0.7 seconds to go in the half.
3:48 2 out of 3 for Davis and we'll go into the break with the Lakers leading 54-50. Halftime notes:
- Bryant 8/11 22 points 0 assists
- After starting the game 6 of 18, the Lakers make 15 of their next 24 and are back to 50%
- Celtics have the rebounding edge 22-17
- Artest 1/8 shooting in the first half
- Rondo 4 points but only 1 assist
- Pierce 5/10 16 points
- Garnett 6 points 5 rebounds 4 assists
See you guys at the start of the second half.
4:09 And we're back.Starters are back on the floor for both teams. Two offensive rebounds for the Lakers to start the half and it leads to another 3-pointer for Bryant. 25 points now for Kobe.
4:11 Shaq picks up his 4th foul for bowling over Derek Fisher on a screen. 57-55 Lakers.
4:13 Pierce blows by Artest, makes the layup and gets fouled by Bynum. That's 4 on the Lakers center as well and he'll come out. Pierce converts the 3-point play and he now has 22. It's an 8-0 run for the Celtics.
4:14 And Shaq picks up #5 with still over 9 minutes to play in the third quarter. Perkins comes into the game to replace him. And Pierce drains another 3, he's got 25. 61-59 Boston.
4:18 Pierce with another 3, 12 points now in the 3rd quarter, 28 for the game. Celtics up 3.
4:20 Rondo hits Pierce inside and now he has 30 points. Rondo, who had just the one first half assist, now has 3 here in the third quarter. No other Celtic is in double figures. Allen has 9 and Garnett 8. 68-62 Boston.
4:24 Bynum and Artest are back in the game, and after Bryant draws a charge on Rondo, Bynum draws a foul on Perkins, his third foul. Allen hits for the Celtics on the other end to go up 7. 70-63 Boston.
4:27 Boston starting to rack up fouls here in the 3rd. 3 now on Ray Allen, Pierce, Garnett and Perkins to along with 5 on Shaq. Two Fisher free throws and it's 70-67. And now an offensive foul on Perkins, that's 4 on him.
4:29 Artest misses a chance to tie with a three point attempt from the corner and Allen puts the Celtics back up 5 on the other end. Kobe responds with a 3-pointer to give him 28 points and make it a 2-point game again. 72-70.
4:35 Kobe matches Pierce with his 30th point. 74-72. Rondo throws it away on the other end, Lakers with a chance to tie again, but Kobe shoots an airball, defended well by Pierce. Nate Robinson hits a 3 on the other end. 77-72.
4:37 1.6 seconds to go in the quarter and Rondo draws a charge on Kobe, 3 fouls on Bryant and that's how the quarter will end. Celtics 77, Lakers 72. 12 minutes to play in L.A.
- Rondo 6 points 7 assists (6 in the 3rd)
- Pierce 10/16 30 pts
- Garnett 10 pts 11 rebounds
- Allen 13 pts, 1/4 3 pts
- Bryant 11/18 30 pts
- Gasol 12 pts 6 rebounds
- Fisher 5 pts 4 steals
- Celtics 34-22 rebounding edge
- Celtics 11 turnovers, Lakers just 6
- Celtics 56.6% shooting, Lakers 43.3%
4:40 Foul Trouble-
Boston - Shaq (5), Perkins (4), Allen (3), Garnett (3), Pierce (3)
L.A. - Bynum (4), Fisher (3), Bryant (3)
4:42 3-pointer for Ray Allen, he's got 16. Bryant misses and the Celtics respond with a 3-pointer from Nate Robinson. 83-74 Boston. 11 points for Robinson, 9 assists for Rondo.
4:44 Kobe picks up his 4th foul guarding Pierce. Rondo then blows by Blake for a layup and the lead is back to 9, 85-76.
4:45 Random observation, James Harden has a much sweeter beard than Steve Blake.
4:46 Pierce drills one in Kobe's face. 32 points now for The Truth. 87-78.
4:48 Timeout on the floor, 7:16 to play and the Celtics lead the Lakers 89-80. Oh look, another preview for Sanctum!
4:51 Basket and the foul for Bryant drawing number 4 on Pierce. With the free throw, that's 33 for Kobe. 6 point game.
4:53 The Celtics have 27 assists on their 36 baskets. The Lakers have just 9 assists on their 30.
4:54 Back to back baskets by Bryant, and it's a 4 point game 91-87. 37 now for Kobe. He's 14 of 23 shooting the ball, but still does not have an assist in the game. Rondo meanwhile is up to 11 for the game, 10 in the second half. 5:20 to play.
4:58 Allen, Rondo, Pierce, Garnett and Davis on the floor for the Celtics. Bryant, Fisher, Gasol, Bynum and Steve Blake for the Lakers. Davis with a 3-point play drawing a 5th foul on Bynum. 11 points off the bench for Davis. Rondo hits Garnett for an alley-oop off a Laker miss and it's a 7-0 Celtic run following those two baskets by Bryant. 16 for Garnett, 12 assists for Rondo. 98-87 Celtics. Timeout Boston. And another trailer for The Eagle.
5:03 Under 4 minutes to go now and Bryant hits another jumper over Ray Allen. 39 for Bryant, 9 point Boston lead.
5:04 Ray Allen drills another 3 giving 19 points in the game and putting the Celtics up 12. Bryant comes down the other way and picks up a charge drawn by Davis. 5 fouls on Bryant. And Allen hits again. 21 for Ray. Bryant hits another jumper, give him 41. 103-91.
5:06 Boston making all the plays right now and this one is over. 1:29 to play and following a Rondo layup it's 105-91. The Staples Center is silent. 10 points 5 rebounds 14 assists for Rondo.
5:07 The 41 points for Bryant ties a season high. He had 41 back on November 28th against Indiana. The Lakers lost that game as well. Kobe had 4 assists in that one though. This would be the first game all year that Kobe didn't register at least one assist.
5:09 Last time Kobe didn't have at least 1 assist was February 5, 2010 against the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers lost that one 126-113 and Bryant finished with 33.
5:10 And it's all over in L.A. Final score 109-96 Boston wins. Big road win for the Celtics as they improve to 36-11 overall. Some final stats of note:
- Pierce 32 points 5 rebounds 3 assists
- Allen 21 points 3/7 3's
- Garnett 18 points 13 rebounds 5 assists
- Rondo 10 points 16 assists (15 after halftime)
- Davis 13 points 4 rebounds
- Robinson 11 points 3/5 3's
- Celtics 43-30 rebounding advantage
- Boston 34 assists, Lakers 10
- Bryant 16/29 41 points 0 assists
- Gasol 5/13 12 pts 7 rebounds
- Artest 1/10 3 pts 4 rebounds
- Odom 6/8 15 pts 5 rebounds
- Celtics shoot 60.3% from the field
So that wraps up the live blog for today. Couple solid games saw Eastern Conference power houses knock off a couple of their Western Conference counterparts with Miami and Boston both getting big road wins. Hope you enjoyed the blog, it's time for me to get off the couch and do something.
