Rajon Rondo had 19 points while Jared Sullinger and Jeff Green had big contributions off the bench as the Celtics beat the Nets, 93-76, in a Christmas Day encounter at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The rookie Sullinger matched a career high with 16 points while Green had 15 points to help the Celtics get their four-game road trip off on a winning note and get over the .500 mark against at 14-13 on the season.
The two teams were involved in an altercation that resulted in a two-game suspension of Rondo for shoving Kris Humphries on Nov. 28 at TD Garden. Humphries did not play with a mild abdominal strain. Rondo had six rebounds, five assists and three steals as the Celtics tied the Nets for second place in the Atlantic Division behind the Knicks.
The only significant altercation between the two teams came early in the fourth quarter when Gerald Wallace tugged at the pants and jersey of Kevin Garnett. The Celtics forward swiped at Wallace's hands to let go but nothing further came of the encounter. Both Garnett and Wallace were assessed technicals on the play and Wallace made just one of two free throws.
The Celtics were somewhat sluggish in the first quarter, trailing 24-22 after 12 minutes. But the Celtics outscored the Nets, 34-18, in the second quarter and took a 56-42 lead at the half. Sullinger led the way with 10 and six rebounds in 18 minutes in the first half.
Rondo helped the Celtics open the lead to 64-43 early in the third quarter before the Nets went on a 14-2 run to make it a nine-point game midway through the third. But the Celtics closed the third quarter on a 7-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer that gave Boston a 73-58 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Celtics built their lead back to 19 points and mained a double-digit lead throughout the fourth quarter. The Celtics were tougher than the Nets on the boards for the first time this season, outrebounding Brooklyn 41-36 in winning for the first time in three meetings this season with their Atlantic Division rival.
The Celtics wore a special green-on-green Christmas unform as an alternate jersey while coaches from both teams wore green ribbons in honor of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy on Dec. 14 in Newtown, Conn. The Celtics now head west for the final three games of their road trip with games against the Clippers, Warriors and Kings. For more, visit the Celtics team page at weei.com/celtics.
Pete joined the show to discuss Tebow's signing with the Patriots. He said that Tim Tebow cant play and that he has trouble learning NFL playbooks.
On this episode of the It Is What It Is Cast, Chris Price talks with the Boston Herald's Jeff P Howe about the Patriots offseason, Rob Gronkowski's back surgery, Danny Amendola replacing Wes Welker, and how this seasons team will stack up against last seasons.
In the latest edition of the It Is What It Is Cast, Chris Price talks with Will Carroll. Injury expert and lead writer for Sports Medicine, Bleacher Report. They talk about the injury to Rob Gronkowski and what his back surgery could mean for his season.
Jeff joined the show to discuss the rumors of Doc heading to the Clippers. Jeff said that he will not discuss his future but that his brother would be a great candidate anywhere.
Stephen A. joined the show to discuss the status of trade negotiations between the Clippers and the Celtics. Stephen said that it is a 50-50 proposition that Doc ends up in Los Angeles.
Grande and Max take more calls on the Celtics and discuss what lies ahead for Doc Rivers with Steve Bulpett.
John Farrell postgame press conference
Joe & Dave talked to the Sox outfielder, who pounded the ball out of the park to win the second game of the doubleheader against the Rays.
John Farrell postgame press conference
The Bruins have looked quite good taking a 2-1 lead on the Blackhawks, but Shawn Thornton says the team is not getting ahead of itself. Thornton also talks about what makes Patrice Bergeron such a great player and teammate. He also squeezes in a few shots at his friend Keegan Bradley.
Pierre McGuire joins Mut and Merloni after a Bruins win and discusses the play of Rask and the defense, the Hossa injury, and Jagr.
Tony Amonte calls out Marian Hossa for missing Game 3 and recaps the Bruins win.
The Bruins have looked quite good taking a 2-1 lead on the Blackhawks, but Shawn Thornton says the team is not getting ahead of itself. Thornton also talks about what makes Patrice Bergeron such a great player and teammate. He also squeezes in a few shots at his friend Keegan Bradley.
Keegan Bradley hopped on the set in Connecticut with D&C to talk some golf, but seeing as how he's a big Boston sports fan, the interview covered a lot of ground. You can hear Keegan talk about the Bruins' Cup chances, the Doc Rivers deal that almost was, and Shawn Thornton's lacking golf game.
Legal expert Michael McCann joined D&C to take on the topic of the day: Just what exactly is happening with Aaron Hernandez? McCann addressed Hernandez' lack of cooperation in the investigation so far, and how that may play out as the case moves along.
Pierre McGuire joins Mut and Merloni after a Bruins win and discusses the play of Rask and the defense, the Hossa injury and Jagr.
Tony Amonte calls out Marian Hossa for missing Game 3 and recaps the Bruins' win.
Andy Brickley joins Mut and Merloni in studio to take phone calls from the listeners and preview Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals.
Salk and Holley break down a big Bruins win over the Blackhawks in Game 3 at the Garden.
We talk all Bruins, all the time with the man himself, as Jack Edwards from NESN gets us ready for Game 3 and beyond.
Four guys, four topics we haven't yet touched upon today. T.O. visits Ocho, Bob Costas has enough smarm for us all, stupid beauty pageant contestants and more.
Mikey gets a surprise call from Red Sox legend Bernie Carbo. They talk about old-time baseball and Bernie's new book.
Mikey talks with Tom and Luke about their new movie, "Plimpton!" and finds out what it was like to try to encapsulate everything George Plimpton accomplished during his life.
Today on the Daily Planet, the Red Sox and Yankees face off in the Bronx, Claude Julien doesn't want players wasting energy, and Dwight Howard and free agency.
You ask, we answer. Today featuring NESN's Jack Edwards.
The new way we end the show. You ask, we answer.
You ask, we answer... anything!
Stephen A. joined the show to discuss the status of trade negotiations between the Clippers and the Celtics. Stephen said that it is a 50-50 proposition that Doc ends up in Los Angeles.
More from this showShawn joined the show to discuss the Bruins' OT win in Chicago. Shawn said that there was a heated discussion during the first intermission Saturday night in Chicago after the team's poor first period.
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More from this showBoth Xander Bogaerts and Anthony Ranaudo punctuated their strong 2013 seasons with head-turning events on June 13. On that day, Bogaerts, the Red Sox' top prospect, was promoted from Double-A Portland Pawtucket, with the 20-year-old becoming one of the youngest position players in the affiliate's history. On that same day, right-hander Anthony Ranaudo punched out 13 batters for Double-A Portland, the most strikeouts by a Red Sox minor leaguer since Jon Lester in 2005. They joined Minor Details to discuss both those accomplishments and their seasons to date.
More from this showLinda explains how the shootout transpired in Watertown during the early morning hours. She saw the first suspect mortally wounded and police beginning the manhunt for the second suspect.
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