The Celtics and Heat faced off tonight at the TD Garden, but some familiar faces missed the contest.  Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo did not play, and Ray Allen was inactive due to an ankle injury.  LeBron James and Dwyane Wade sat out for the Heat.

Sasha Pavlovic and Marquis Daniels led the way for the Celtics with 16 and 13 points, respectively.  Paul Pierce scored eight points in just 17 minutes of play.

It was a pretty uneventful game, low-scoring game.  The two teams were even at half time with 50 points a piece, but the Celtics pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 12 point victory.

Boston plays Milwaukee Thursday night for the final game of the regular season.

Kevin Garnett had 24 points and 9 rebounds for the Celtics tonight, and his presence on the court was enough to lead Boston to a victory on the road in Miami.

The Celtics jumped out to an 18 point lead during the first half, and although Miami cut it to single digits at the break, Boston was able to hold off many Heat comebacks to secure the victory late in the fourth quarter.

This victory comes nine days after the Celtics blew out the Heat at home, and Ray Allen made sure his teammates treated tonight’s game as if they were in the Garden and not on the road.

Boston rocked their home white jerseys due to Miami wearing their black uniforms, and the Celtics proved they can play well and beat good teams whether they are at home or on the road.  The team played great team basketball and are really clicking on all levels, which is a great sign going into the playoffs.

Paul Pierce led the way for the Celtics 27 points, while Rajon Rondo added 18 points of his own along with 15 assists.

The Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers today 103-79 and are now just two games back for the third spot in the Eastern Conference.

Boston has a tough test Tuesday night when they head to Miami.  The Celtics won convincingly against the Heat last Sunday, but they should expect Miami to look to avenge that embarrassing loss.

Here are your news and notes on this Easter Sunday:

• Take a look at the game recap from today’s game.
• Mickael Pietrus passed the first of several concussion tests he needs to take before he can return to the court.
• Avery Bradley continues to get better with more playing time, and he is slowly becoming a go-to option for the Celtics.

Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA

Tip-Off: 3:30 P.M. ET

Projected Starters:

Boston (29-22): Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Brandon Bass, Kevin Garnett

**Allen (ankle) is a game-time decision.

Miami (37-13): Mario Chalmers, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Joel Anthony

Keys to the Game:

• Boston has won four straight games, so they have to continue playing well this afternoon against a tough Heat team.  The Celtics have shot the ball well, but their defense has also stepped up, and both of those factors are necessary to beat Miami.
• The Celtics have to keep James and Wade in check.  They are each going to get their buckets, but Boston needs to prevent them from setting the pace of the game and making any game-changing plays.
• Allen will probably play today, and he would be really beneficial for the Celtics, especially after his last performance against Miami when he scored 28 points.  Boston needs all of its weapons when playing the Heat, so hopefully Allen’s ankle is good to go.

» Continue reading “Celtics Look To Stay Hot Against Miami”

The Boston Celtics moved into a share of first place in the Atlantic Division with their win over the Charlotte Bobcats last night.

Boston and Philadelphia have matching records at 27-22, and with less than a month left in the regular season, the difference between first and second place will make a huge difference.  Right now, the fourth place 76ers would play Indiana, and Boston would play Miami.

The Celtics have a tough road to the end of the season, which includes a final matchup with the 76ers, three games versus the Heat, as well as games against Chicago and New York.

Boston got a great performance from Paul Pierce last night, and Avery Bradley has played two great games in a row in place of the injured Ray Allen.  The Celtics’ biggest concern for the end of the season is injuries.

» Continue reading “Celtics Back On Top, At Least Partially”

Location: American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL

Tip-Off: 8:00 P.M.

Injury Report: Paul Pierce’s status is uncertain with a bruised right heel.

Keys to the Game: The Celtics are coming off a tough loss against the New York Knicks, a game where they came back from a double-digit deficit to take the lead late in the game, only to come up short in the end.  Paul Pierce was definitely missed, as Doc Rivers did not have his go to player when time was running out with the game on the line.  Marquis Daniels and Kevin Garnett could not hit their shots, a role Pierce has come to dominate.

They also lacked Pierce’s defense.  Daniels and Sasha Pavlovic were given the task of containing Carmelo Anthony, who finished the game with 37 points.  The Celtics are in another tough situation if Pierce does not play.  LeBron James will be as tough a match-up if not worse, and if Sunday’s game was any indicator for tonight, Boston could be in serious trouble.

The C’s will rely on Rajon Rondo to control the game like he did against the Knicks; he finished with 31 points, five rebounds, 13 assists, and five steals.  Rondo must be aggressive, getting his teammates involved and getting his own buckets when the opportunity presents itself.

Prediction:

Miami 102, Boston 90.  Without Pierce, James will prove to be too much for the Celtics to handle.  Look for James to take advantage of his defenders, and Dwyane Wade to get his own buckets against an older Boston team.  Rondo should be able to get his numbers, but it will not be enough to bring a Celtics victory.

Individual game tickets go on sale next week, so here is a guide to the best games of this shortened season.

The upcoming holiday season is the perfect reason to buy Celtics tickets.  Maybe that is what the league had in mind all along; a nice marketing ploy to end the lockout right before holiday shoppers finish up everything on their list.

Take a look at some notable home games on the Celtics 2011-2012 schedule, and good luck buying!

• January 11 vs Dallas Mavericks: The first matchup against the reigning NBA champion.
• January 13 vs Chicago Bulls: The past few seasons, the Bulls were in the hunt during the playoffs, so the Celtics get another test to see what their chances are come May and June.
• January 23 vs Orlando Magic: Another in-season test against a potential playoff opponent.
• Februrary 3 vs NY Knicks: A Christmas day rematch, this time in Boston.
• February 9 vs Los Angeles Lakers: First matchup against Kobe and the Lakers, and there is always a chance the two teams will see each other again.
• April 1 vs Miami Heat: LeBron and the gang come to Boston for the first time in the season.