Recap: Boston vs. Minnesota
Sports Network | December 20, 2009
Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Paul Pierce made all six of his three-point tries and scored 29 to go with seven rebounds, as the Boston Celtics downed the Minnesota Timberwolves, 122-104, at TD Garden.
Ray Allen had 20 points, Kendrick Perkins added 14 points and 11 boards while Tony Allen gave 15 points and six rebounds off the bench for the Celtics, who bounced back from Friday's loss to Philadelphia to win for the 12th time in the past 13 games. Rajon Rondo had 15 assists and 13 points in the win.
"You know it's funny, I didn't know that until somebody came in and said Paul - I think he broke a record or something? Tied a record? So, you would've thought Larry (Bird) had done better than that. Honestly, I would have. I was surprised by that. I didn't know he was six for six from the three. I never look at the stats during the game," Boston head coach Doc Rivers said of Pierce going 6-of-6 from beyond the arc.
Jonny Flynn had 21 points, Al Jefferson had 20 points and 11 rebounds while Damien Wilkins chipped in with 18 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Timberwolves, who had won two of three coming into the contest.
In the opening quarter, the Celtics took command of the game with a 16-4 run with Rondo netting six points in the burst and Kevin Garnett capping it on a jumper for an 18-10 lead with just over six minutes left.
Boston continued to build on its lead in the frame and held a 34-19 advantage after 12 minutes.
The Celtics put more distance between themselves and Minnesota in the second as a 10-0 run finished on a Perkins slam helped the team take a 66-41 lead into the locker room.
The Timberwolves had a strong third quarter and an 11-2 run cut their deficit to 88-71 after Corey Brewer hit a jumper with just over two minutes to play in the frame, but the team trailed by 20, 92-72, going into the fourth.
Minnesota got eight straight points in the fourth and later cut the Boston lead to 106-94 on a Flynn layup with just over five minutes to play.
That was as close as it got, though, as Allen followed with a layup and, following a Minnesota turnover, Rasheed Wallace hit two from the line to make it a 16-point game.
"I thought we were very lethargic in the first half. We didn't play with effort, energy, and probably most importantly confidence. I think we were very hesitant out there on the floor. And that is what I expressed to them at half time, that they just seemed like they were back on their heels. Intimidated, unsure, so I just encouraged them to go out and be aggressive and attack. That is the only way to play, that is the only way our team will be successful," Minnesota head coach Kurt Rambis said.
Boston hosts Indiana on Tuesday...Minnesota hosts Atlanta on Tuesday...The game was officiated by just two referees as the third, Leon Wood, was unable to make it to Boston due to a heavy snowstorm that hit much of the northeast part of the country...The Celtics have taken seven straight against Minnesota...Boston connected on 51.9 percent of its shots while Minnesota made 42.2 percent.
