BOSTON (AP)—Jason Richardson(notes) and the Phoenix Suns had no trouble putting their only loss of the season behind them, even against unbeaten Boston.
One game after going scoreless for just the third time in his career, Richardson had 34 points and 10 rebounds to lead Phoenix to a 110-103 victory over the Celtics on Friday night. Richardson hit a 3-pointer for the Suns’ first points and scored 14 in the first quarter alone.
“They could see after the first that I had the stroke going,” Richardson said. “In this offense, every night it’s going to be someone different. It was a feel tonight, like everything you throw up is going to go in. I wanted to come out, be aggressive and take it from there.”
Steve Nash(notes) had 16 points with 12 assists for Phoenix, shaking loose to hit a 3-pointer with 51 seconds left after Boston closed an 11-point fourth-quarter gap to four points. Amare Stoudemire added 22 points, while Richardson finished 6 for 7 from 3-point range.
Richardson was suspended by the NBA for the first two games of the season following his conviction on drunken driving charges. In his third game back he went 0-for-4 in a loss to Orlando—just the third time in 595 career games he’s played in that he didn’t score.
“He’s such a good player,” Nash said. “We’d like to give him every chance to be successful.”
Kevin Garnett(notes) had a season-high 26 points for Boston—the most he’s scored since missing the end of the 2008-09 season and the playoffs with strained ligaments in his right knee.
Boston was trying to start 7-0 for the second time in three years. The Celtics won their first eight games in 2007-08—and first 13 at home—en route to their record 17th NBA title.
Rajon Rondo(notes) scored 14 with 11 assists, and Paul Pierce(notes) and Ray Allen(notes) each scored 16 points for Boston. Rasheed Wallace(notes) had eight points, missing all six 3-point attempts—five of them in the fourth quarter.
“The only thing I didn’t like, with 3 1/2 minutes left, instead of searching for wide-open 2-pointers, we went into 3 mode. And I didn’t think we had to do that,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “That, to me, was uncharacteristic of us.”
The Celtics open the season with eight games in 12 nights, including a stretch of four in five that ends tomorrow in New Jersey.
“If we were in the NFL, we’d have to wait a whole week,” Allen said. “So we like the position we’re in. We get a chance to go out and correct our mistakes.”
Richardson scored the first eight Phoenix points in the fourth quarter while Boston went more than four minutes without scoring. It was 96-85 with 7:57 left before Wallace made a pair of baskets and Allen hit a 3-pointer to make it a four-point game.
The Suns led 104-100 with a minute left, then Nash got open for a 3-pointer and Pierce missed one of two free throws.
Rondo scored on a breakaway, but Stoudemire made a pair of free throws and Wallace missed another 3 try with 13 seconds left that could have cut it to three points.
The Suns led by as many as 11 in the second quarter before the Celtics closed the difference to 57-51 at the half.
NOTES: Celtics F Brian Scalabrine(notes) did not play because of back spasms…. Suns coach Alvin Gentry earned his 200th win. … The Suns last started 4-1 in 2000-01. … Red Sox slugger David Ortiz took in the game from courtside and participated in a dunk stunt between quarters. … Former Boston College star Jared Dudley(notes) led all bench players with 10 points. … The referees had to separate Channing Frye(notes) and Kendrick Perkins(notes) at the halftime buzzer. The players were given matching technicals.
CelticsBlog
Bright Side Of The Sun
189 Comments
1 - 25 of 189
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
We did get outplayed but it's tough to hear all these SUNS fans making these wild ass predictions about how great the suns are because they beat us in BOSTON, I mean it's a long season and I would put my house on the line to say we will have a better record this season and next season, but it's just hard to hear stupidity win your team wins 1 game, 7 games into the season, and the lakers did lose because they didn't have Gasol they have no front court scoring w/o Gasol Bynum is still trying to find out what he can do in the post.
Report Abuse
How can Nash be the best PG in the league when he plays zero Defense.
SUNS fans are so delusional get back to reality.
Report Abuse
LOL!!
the suns win the championshipt in 2010.
damn you are in FantasyLand
Report Abuse
i wonder if any team will still be interested of shaq's service in the future...
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
a post from a rapist fakers fan....
124. posted by lakermd (world champs) sat nov 7 2:24am est report abuse
celtics suck. so does anyone that follows that overrated team. your all lucky you didnt see the mighty lakers last year! this year i hope they make it to the finals. go lakers! you boston b****es
this goes to show how insecure these faker fans really are.. they comment on non laker threads...
celtics overrated? last i remember the lakers were the overrated team and the celtics beat their rapist asses in the finals 2 years ago..
these faker fans have short memories.. they only won last year bcuz the celtics was injured and the cavs have a @#$% coach..
you rapist faker fans... shut up and juz go kick ur own rapist asses...
by the way, go suns!! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ whhaaaat? a suns fan on a celtic thread. your an idiot. try getting on the lakers threads. there are more non fans on there talking $hit than anywhere else clown. ill probably see your dumbass on there soon. and as far as injurys and crappy coaches those are excuses. defending champs period. boston has won 1 in 20 years and the suns have never won $hit. lakers team of the decade 4 rings! so ill see you on the lakers threads soon, because they are the only team that means anything. ha ha ha clown!
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
And you from texas go @#$% yourself you probably like the maverics
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
The Only Thing The Celtics Have Going For Them Are Stern's Zebra's.
They Are Nothing More Than A Gang Of Over The Hill Trouble Makers Who Can't Win A Game Without Starting A Fight And Getting Players Ejected.
Can't Wait For Them To Roll Into Houston,My Boys Will Be More Than Happy To Bi*ch Slap Each & Everyone Of Them!
Report Abuse
The Only Thing The Celtics Have Going For Them Are Stern's Zebra's.
They Are Nothing More Than A Gang Of Over The Hill Trouble Makers Who Can't Win A Game Without Starting A Fight And Getting Players Ejected.
Can't Wait For Them To Roll Into Houston,My Boys Will Be More Than Happy To Bi*ch Slap Each & Everyone Of Them!
Report Abuse
The Only Thing The Celtics Have Going For Them Are Stern's Zebra's.
They Are Nothing More Than A Gang Of Over The Hill Trouble Makers Who Can't Win A Game Without Starting A Fight And Getting Players Ejected.
Can't Wait For Them To Roll Into Houston,My Boys Will Be More Than Happy To Bi*ch Slap Each & Everyone Of Them!
Report Abuse
The Only Thing The Celtics Have Going For Them Are Stern's Zebra's.
They Are Nothing More Than A Gang Of Over The Hill Trouble Makers Who Can't Win A Game Without Starting A Fight And Getting Players Ejected.
Can't Wait For Them To Roll Into Houston,My Boys Will Be More Than Happy To Bi*ch Slap Each & Everyone Of Them!
Report Abuse
The Only Thing The Celtics Have Going For Them Are Stern's Zebra's.
They Are Nothing More Than A Gang Of Over The Hill Trouble Makers Who Can't Win A Game Without Starting A Fight And Getting Players Ejected.
Can't Wait For Them To Roll Into Houston,My Boys Will Be More Than Happy To Bi*ch Slap Each & Everyone Of Them!
Report Abuse
The Only Thing The Celtics Have Going For Them Are Stern's Zebra's.
They Are Nothing More Than A Gang Of Over The Hill Trouble Makers Who Can't Win A Game Without Starting A Fight And Getting Players Ejected.
Can't Wait For Them To Roll Into Houston,My Boys Will Be More Than Happy To Bi*ch Slap Each & Everyone Of Them!
Report Abuse
The Only Thing The Celtics Have Going For Them Are Stern's Zebra's.
They Are Nothing More Than A Gang Of Over The Hill Trouble Makers Who Can't Win A Game Without Starting A Fight And Getting Players Ejected.
Can't Wait For Them To Roll Into Houston,My Boys Will Be More Than Happy To Bi*ch Slap Each & Everyone Of Them!
Report Abuse
The Only Thing The Celtics Have Going For Them Are Stern's Zebra's.
They Are Nothing More Than A Gang Of Over The Hill Trouble Makers Who Can't Win A Game Without Starting A Fight And Getting Players Ejected.
Can't Wait For Them To Roll Into Houston,My Boys Will Be More Than Happy To Bi*ch Slap Each & Everyone Of Them!
Report Abuse
The Only Thing The Celtics Have Going For Them Are Stern's Zebra's.
They Are Nothing More Than A Gang Of Over The Hill Trouble Makers Who Can't Win A Game Without Starting A Fight And Getting Players Ejected.
Can't Wait For Them To Roll Into Houston,My Boys Will Be More Than Happy To Bi*ch Slap Each & Everyone Of Them!
1 - 25 of 189