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Happy flight: Paul Pierce, Celtics knock off Jazz in overtime 02.26.13 at 12:08 am ET
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The Celtics bounced back from a loss in Portland on Sunday night to close out a challenging five-game Western Conference swing with a victory in Utah, claiming a 110-107 win in overtime against the Jazz. Paul Pierce broke a 99-99 tie with a 3-pointer, the first of his three consecutive baskets in overtime that put the Celtics in control of the game’s final minutes. Kevin Garnett added four points in overtime, and Courtney Lee helped to ice the game with a pair of free throws with one second left on the clock. Randy Foye‘s attempt to tie the game with a last-second 3-pointer missed the mark, permitting the Celtics to close out their road trip with a 2-3 mark to start the second half.

The strong overtime period continued a roller-coaster second half in which the Celtics outscored the Jazz 32-19 in the third quarter, only to see the Jazz go on a 13-2 run at the start of the fourth quarter that gave Utah an 85-82 lead. However, the Celtics recovered in time to send the game into overtime in a 97-97 deadlock. Pierce missed a chance to give Boston the win when he could not convert a turnaround jumper at the end of regulation, but he made up for the miss by taking over in overtime.

Pierce led the Celtics with 26 points while adding seven rebounds and eight assists. Garnett added 13 points and 10 boards, while Avery Bradley tallied 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Gordon Hayward led the Jazz with 26 points.

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  • Cfn

    Even with Green and Terry playing lousy they managed to pull it out against a good quality team on the road.  People, like Pete Shepard, who think we should of traded Garnet and Pierce are crazy and heartless.  I guarentee that the owners will not trade KG or PP, and both will retire as Celtics.  It would set the organization back at least three years if they did.  People don’t understand the leadership factor of PP and KG and this is priceless and you can trade for that.  They are the heart and soul of Boston Celtics, and you need them to mentor the young talent as they come in.  You need a couple of veterans to fuse the team together.  Even without Rondo and Sully this team will go far into the playoffs.  Trade Bass and Terry in the off season for a big or impact player and I see us in the finals next year.  PP will need to move over to 6th man and let Green start.  Celtics will hit there stride in March and if they stay healthy it will be a great playoff run.

    • Shadowsofbodom

      Damn dude, glad to see there are at least some Celtics fans on these boards. Well stated and I agree with pretty much everything. I hope KG and PP both retire as Celtics and it would not surprise me to see them go on another run in the playoffs, though it will be tough with the likes of the Heat playing at their current level. I guess that’s why they say, “That’s why we watch the games,” you know know what will happen even with a depleted and older roster.

    • Guest711

      It will set the Celtics back more than 3 years, but it looks good for the organization from a loyalty standpoint. Boston isnt a huge destination for big name Free Agents. I cant actually name the last big name FA to come to Boston. A lot of role players wanted to play with the Big 3 when they got here, but no big name stars. I dont see this team making a serious playoff run, but who knows what can happen. Just have to get there and hope for the best.

  • Jimy Krystle

    Nice win!

  • Molly

    great win. We will be facing the heat in the finals again this year although we have 0 chance against LeBron. Thank you Danny for holding on to PP and KG. No one was offering squat anyway.  

    • BenCartwright33

      You mean 0 chance against the refs (aka; David Stern).

  • Bruinman86

    Not a bad OT for a tired, old C’s team.  Grit and Balls there.

  • Fab4ever

    Well said…everyone on these pages know more than Danny..it’s amazing he was even considered for the GM poition with all the local experts. The culture never ceases to amaze me…folks in general have zero clue, actually less than zero. What will happen is the C’s will make the playoffs. If they somehow move up from the 8 seed, they stand a better chance of winning a 1st round series. I don’t think any logical fan considers the team much of a force after that…especially without Rondo. Danny did the right thing…especially with Pierce. Trading him does nothing to help the team, nothing. His cap space relief won’t buy much in the off season and they were being offered nothing but junk and 2nd round picks. They are more of a force with him until he retires. While KG would have given them much more cap space, again, they were being offered nothing…and…what was being offered would have created cap problems down the road. When they do decide to retire, the C’s will have a ton of $$ to spend…and there will be super players available. As far as the game went, I guess all these “experts” couldn’t post because PP and KG were pure cash in OT

    • Larry33

      I’ll post. I don’t care that they beat a mediocre Utah team in OT. No one said that KG and PP weren’t still talented but the idea that this team is going to go far into the playoffs is crazy. Don’t worry about the Heat because unless the C’s are an 8 seed, they won’t get near the Heat in the finals. Not trading these guys set this franchise back a lot more then 3 years. I know most of you jumped on this wagon when KG and RA came to the Celtics, but I’ve watched this franchise for 35 years and I can tell you that the road ahead is not too promising. The real funny part is people thinking they are even going to be better next year! Are you nuts!?  Rondo is not a leader, Green is far too inconsistent to be a go to guy, PP is on his last legs and KG is good in spurts. To the guy that thinks you can trade 36 year old Terry and Bass for anything more than a sweatband and a used Spaulding is delusional . Trading for youth that you have contract control over was the key to that deal and NO FREE AGENTS IN THEIR PRIME COME TO THE CELTICS….NONE….EVER. So, get used to the lottery kids, because while KG is in Malibu, retired, in his mansion, the C’s will be in last place for 10 years, at least we were loyal to our old players. At least we have the B’s.

      • Jimmy Freeze

        …and if they traded them last week we would have been in last place THIS YEAR!!!

        Without Garnett in the middle, they might have lost all but 3-5 games the rest of the way…so, they would be in the lottery picking 10th in a year where the draft class stinks…then they would be in the lottery next year at about 8th…unless you are picking 1st or 2nd in the right year, it makes no sense to tank

        • NateTINY

           You have a crystal ball. Well then can you tell me what day of week the parade will be after they NBA championship. (ANd feel free to pick any of the next 2-3 years they will win it.)

          Thanks so much.
          All the best!!!

      • mike

         And I have watched this franchise for 48 years and you still don’t have the first clue. NO matter how may letters you capitalize you will still be clueless.

        But of course you are the guy who said this:

        Grounded: Brady, Pats collapse in Seattle 4 months ago Time
        to trade Brady and start over. Put Mallett in and get a haul of draft
        picks for Tom ( I haven’t won a SB in 8 years ) Brady.

        • Larry33

          All that proves is that you are old and your mind is slipping. I never said that about Brady grampy so calm down before you have another stroke. C’s are done, whether they win 40 games or 50 games they aren’t winning a title anytime soon. I thought that was the goal, to win, not to put fans in the seats, oh that’s Danny’s job, well, I guess we know what he was thinking now.

          • mike

            Your activity history shows you did say that about Brady. You are not talking about winning a title, you are talking about trading people away so that we suck and can be a good team in some way years from now. Stop lying and at least stand behind the stupid crap you post.

      • Fab4ever

        I respectfully disagree…and I’ve been watching them a whoe lot longer than you, for what that’s worth..it’s a different game now….it’s all about drafting well and mixing in the superstar and role players. I do agree with the fact that the C’s will not fare well into the playoffs and how you could mis-construe my point is beyond me. They won’t beat the Heat! But they can beat the Bulls….as far as free agents coming here in their prime, that may be…but KG came here in a trade…he was on the sup of his prime…Ray came here and contributed mightily….if your point is that Boston isn’t a destination, you’re wrong…you have a narcissistic streak…you wanna call the glass half empty, I’ll call it half full..”last place for 10 years” is laughable…get back to me on that in a couple of years….

        • Fab4ever

          “cusp” of his prime…

      • NateTINY

         Exactly.
        All these guys posting are wearing rose colored glasses and 1000% homers. That and have NO idea about the value of winning a champion in a sport.
        Who cares if they retire as Celtics does that make Boston destination for star players? Hell NO! A guy can play 1 year on your team and u can retire the number, not a big deal.
        Retiring as X team or HOF doesn’t get you championships!

        You play this game to win it all not to “be competitive” and  KEEP fan favorites playing together until they need crutches to get around.

        STUPID DUMB FANS WHO THINK MORE IMPORTANT KEEP PP&KG TOGETHER NOW  THAN INVEST IN FUTURE!!

        • Fab4ever

          And I will respectably disagree with you as well….my glasses are perfectly clear…and while I love the C’s, I can easily forsee the path they have chosen…and for the near future, it’s one that I can deal with…I have ZERO problem with allowing Pierce to retire a Celtic…the game and their chances for titles will come way sooner than you think…when Danny put together the Big Three, they won once and could have won 2 more times in 4 years…I’d say that was a good run….so now there’s a dip…and it will come back ….they will never ever be reduced to that drama known as the ML Carr years….if you think otherwise, so be it….you won’t change my way of thinking….

  • Christina

    Regardless of past trades that should have or should not have been made, THIS was an awesome win and I’m so proud of this team. They continue to push themselves beyond what alot of people think they can do and find amazing ways to win. Nothing comes easy and they continue to produce and hang tough.. I, for one am proud of them and will continue to cheer them on from the sidelines. I see ALOT of heart in this team and if you can’t see them dig down deep, leave it all on the court and continue to win in some hard fought battles, your blind. GO CELTICS!!!

  • Yagru

    was green ok last night? he looked out of it or tired or something..

    • Schwank

      He’s inconsistent no doubt but talented.  Probably the grind.  As I said earlier I was more surprised that Crawford played 4 minutes and Williams was a DNP.  I dunno sometimes.

  • Schwank

    Crawford 4 minutes and Williams DNP.  They won..but sometimes I don’t understand Doc.  They must be defensive liabilities. 

  • Celtics1975

    The clippers didn’t want to do the deal. KG has a no trade clause, my quess is danny had to give him that or he probley would have retired. An who wanted to watch that cardashian 4 the next four years. An check this out, danny is bei9ng compared to red trade em red trade em. Just think if red had done the deal 4 detleft an perkins, those 2 were still balling in 1997 that means we dont get to draft pierce an were probley stuck on 16 championships..

    • NateTINY

       WRONG.
      The Clippers wanted make the deal.
      Chris Paul begged KG waive no trade.
      STOP MAKING UP STUFF! Stick to facts.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/XHDHOUFQDCIPTM5FDOSZFIKSX4 Al

    period continued a roller-coaster second half in which the Celtics outscored the Jazz 32-19 in the third quarter, only to see the Jazz go on a 13-2 run at the start of the fourth quarter that gave Utah an 85-82 lead. However, the Celtics recovered in time to send the game into overtime in a 97-97 deadlock. Pierce missed a chance to give Boston the w

  • Yagru

    I still dont understand these trade trolls. Ive been asking but none of them answer.. so what was your ideal team for the next 3 years? who is on that team that you would have traded for? Please tell me.

  • San Diego Dreamer

    This team is fun to watch. Hope you’re watching Rondo.

  • misc

    Carmelo Anthony just had a 4 step travel that wasn’t called. (9:45 eastern time) It was ridiculous and embarrassing and looked like the game was fixed. He got a shooting foul call on the opponent, but there appeared to be no logical way that that call could make sense, given that he had already travelled.

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