The Norman Transcript

National Sports

Discussion

February 8, 2013

Celtics win sixth straight, top Lakers

By Howard Ulman Associated Press

BOSTON — Paul Pierce scored 24 points and led a third-quarter surge as the Boston Celtics routed the Los Angeles Lakers 116-95 on Thursday night, improving to 6-0 since losing point guard Rajon Rondo for the season with a torn knee ligament.

The Lakers had cut a 58-44 halftime deficit to 72-61 with 5:07 left in the third quarter. Then the Celtics went on a 23-8 run and led 95-69 going into the fourth. Pierce started the surge with a three-point play and ended it with a 3-pointer with 41 seconds left, giving him 12 points in the period.

Kobe Bryant scored 27 to lead the Lakers, who suffered their worst loss of the season despite the return of Dwight Howard after he missed three games with a sore right shoulder.

The win was Boston’s biggest of the season.

The Lakers had won six of their previous seven games, including all three without Howard, and had moved three games behind the Houston Rockets for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.

But they trailed by at least 11 points throughout the second half.

Previously, the Celtics’ biggest win was 94-75 at Indiana on Jan. 4, and the Lakers’ worst loss was 113-97 at Sacramento on Nov. 21.

Kevin Garnett had 15 points and became the 16th player in NBA history to score 25,000 when he hit an 11-foot turnaround jumper that gave him six for the game and put the Celtics ahead 39-29 with 8:08 left in the half. Jeff Green had 19 points and Jason Terry added 15.

Howard had nine points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes before fouling out with 5:07 left. Metta World Peace also was back after a one-game suspension for grabbing Detroit’s Brandon Knight around the neck and striking him in the jaw with the knuckles of his mostly open hand in the Lakers’ 98-97 win Sunday.

But Pau Gasol missed his first game since being sidelined indefinitely with a torn plantar fascia in his right foot.

For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
National Sports
  • Orb favored to take Preakness, set up Triple Crown try

    BALTIMORE — Everything’s a go for Orb. The Kentucky Derby winner was in a playful mood the day before the Preakness, making faces for photographers between nibbles of grass outside his stall at Pimlico Race Course....

    May 18, 2013

  • Trio has Grizz in Western finals

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Miami Heat have LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The Spurs have dominated for years with the trio of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. Now the Memphis Grizzlies, who traded their leading scorer in ...

    May 18, 2013

  • Cards hold off Brewers

    ST. LOUIS — David Freese waited a long time for this curtain call. He was impressed with the patience of St. Louis’ fans....

    May 18, 2013

  • Paul Hornung looks to score Preakness win

    BALTIMORE — Former Green Bay Packers great Paul Hornung is looking to pull an upset in the Preakness with his 3-year-old colt Titletown Five — named for the number of NFL titles won by the Packers when Hornung played for them....

    May 18, 2013

  • Bradley gets course-record 60 at Nelson

    IRVING, Texas — Keegan Bradley had no thoughts of a course record, or the possibility of a 59, after consecutive bogeys in the middle of his opening round at the Byron Nelson Championship. Until his 136-yard wedge shot on his final hole ...

    May 17, 2013

  • Sanchez is just fine with QBcompetition

    FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Mark Sanchez understands the New York Jets’ starting quarterback job is still up for grabs. That doesn’t mean he expects the final result to be anything different: with him under center leading the team every Sunday....

    May 17, 2013

  • Weeden wants to be ‘the guy’ for Cleveland

    BEREA, Ohio — The way Brandon Weeden sees it, nothing’s changed. He’s still Cleveland’s starter. And he plans to keep it that way....

    May 17, 2013

  • Knicks still kicking

    NEW YORK — Carmelo Anthony scored 28 points to help the New York Knicks stay alive in the Eastern Conference semifinals with an 85-75 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 on Thursday night....

    May 17, 2013

  • Without Rose, Bulls fight to end

    DEERFIELD, Ill. — The next time he suits up for a game, there’s a good chance Derrick Rose will actually be in a uniform and not in a jacket and slacks. That moment can’t come soon enough for the Chicago Bulls. They got through an entire ...

    May 17, 2013

  • Noel’s rehab ahead of schedule

    CHICAGO — A telling fact about this year’s NBA draft class might be that the potential No. 1 pick will be unavailable to start the 2013-14 season while recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament....

    May 17, 2013