Rajon Rondo collected his 24th career triple-double but missed a baseline shot at the buzzer as the Celtics missed a chance to win on the game's final shot and fell in overtime, 95-94, to the Sixers Friday night at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Rondo also missed a potential game-winning shot at the end of regulation as the Celtics lost to the Sixers for the second time in as many meetings this season.
Rondo had 16 points, 14 assists and a season-high 13 rebounds. Kevin Garnett had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Paul Pierce scored 27 points. Jeff Green, who gave Boston its last lead in OT with a 3-pointer, scored 19 points.
As was the case in the Eastern Conference semifinals last season, Evan Turner was a thorn in the side of the Celtics. He not only had 26 points and 10 rebounds but drilled the game-winning shot with 3.9 seconds left in overtime. Thaddeus Young added 17 points and 12 rebounds as all five Philadelphia starters scored in double figures.
Turner drove past Courtney Lee and hit a 12-foot jumper for a 95-94 lead with 3.9 seconds left. The Celtics had one final chance when the ball was inbounded to Kevin Garnett, who passed up an open shot to pass to a wide-open Rondo on the left baseline. But he slipped and his legs appeared to buckle as he fired up an airball that went over the rim as time expired.
The same two teams will meet Saturday night at 7:30 at TD Garden. For more, visit the Celtics team page at weei.com/celtics [1].
Links:
[1] http://www.weei.com/celtics
[2] http://www.weei.com/category/boston/celtics