Paul Pierce scored 25 points today as the Celtics defeated the New Jersey Nets in Boston in an early afternoon game (1pm).
Pierce was supported by a solid performance by a rehabbing Kevin Garnett with 12 points on 6 of 8 shooting and 6 rebounds in 21 minutes of play. Reports are that KG looked good on the floor today with no visible signs of stiffness for the intense leader of the Celtics defense.
Eddie House was second on the team with 13 points, also contributing 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals in 23 minutes of play. Kendrick Perkins was solid with 7 points and 7 rebounds in 23 plus minutes.
The second unit looked like it had a positive impact on the game when you see the plus-minus numbers. That is something the Celtics hope is a season long trend. It is something that wasn’t able to occur often enough last season.
Brook Lopez led the Nets with 21 points, followed by Yi Jianlian with 20. Both had 8 rebounds and Connecticut player Josh Boone added 7 rebounds and 14 points to the Nets cause.
Because I didn’t see this game, I’ll bring you a game recap from Jimmy Toscano of Celticsblog.com…
The talk going into this season was that this Celtics team was extremely deep. After just the third preseason game of the season, the Celtics showed just how deep they were.
Beating the New Jersey Nets 100-93 at the TD Garden, it was the second unit- not the first- that gave the Celtics some breathing room in the fourth quarter. Playing with a lineup of Lester Hudson, Eddie House, Marquis Daniels, Glen Davis, and Rasheed Wallace, the Celtics turned a two point game at the start of the fourth quarter into a 13 point game in under six minutes.
Paul Pierce, who scored a game high 25 points on 8-12 shooting, was quick to give credit where credit is due.
Speaking after the game, Pierce said, “To tell you the truth I think our second unit was a lot more impressive than we were. They were the ones who pushed the lead out and they’re looking like they’re gelling well together.
Daniels, who saw time at small forward today during that fourth quarter run, knows how important it is to pick up where the first unit left off.
“We did a lot of great things in the second half,” said Daniels. “When the first team comes out we have to look to continue to build the lead, keep the pressure on the other team, and keep things going.”
Read the rest on Celticsblog.com
Celtics play in Connecticut this week
The Celtics play back-to-backs with the Nets in New Jersey on Tuesday night, followed by the Toronto Raptors in an exhibition game at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut on Wednesday, Oct 14th. Connecticut residents – Be sure to see one of the most talented teams in the league playing right in your back yard. Tickets are still available.
