Celtics cruise to 105-86 victory over Jazz

By JIMMY GOLEN, AP Sports Writer Nov 11, 11:07 pm EST

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BOSTON (AP)—The Utah Jazz might have been caught off-guard when Rajon Rondo(notes) took the ball coast-to-coast with 3.8 seconds left in the third quarter.

The Boston Celtics weren’t: They’ve timed him.

Rondo took the inbounds pass after a Jazz free throw, letting it bounce a few times so the clock wouldn’t start, and raced to the basket for the buzzer-beating layup to help the Celtics pull away and beat Utah 105-86 on Wednesday night.

“It was just our ‘Get out of the way’ play,” said Rondo, who had 14 points and 11 assists. “Rasheed (Wallace) came up and set a great pick and left me one-on-one with a big.”

Rondo, who claims to run a 3.9 second 40-yard dash, has always counted speed among his assets at point guard. By being able to dribble 94 feet in 3.1 seconds — and yes, they’ve timed him in practice—means Boston sometimes doesn’t have to fire up a desperation shot at the end of a quarter.

So even though coach Doc Rivers put 3-point shooters Ray Allen(notes) and Eddie House(notes) on the floor, but the first option was for Rondo to head straight for the basket.

“Rondo’s job is to push it up,” Rivers said. “It has to be a straight line, though. That’s either a coast-to-coast play or a pullup (jumper) for him.”

Rondo’s basket gave Boston a 22-point lead heading into the fourth quarter and the Jazz never got closer than 17 points from there. Kevin Garnett(notes) scored 18 points, Allen had 15 and Paul Pierce(notes) 13, including two 3-pointers at the start of the third that helped put the game out of reach.

Boston has won two in a row since its only loss, to Phoenix on Friday, to match its 8-1 start from its title-winning season two years ago.

One game after winning at Madison Square Garden for the first time in more than five years, the Jazz never led.

“Right now, we’re soft,” said Deron Williams(notes), a game-time decision because of a bruised left calf and a bad back, who scored 13 points with seven rebounds and four assists. “There’s no way around it. We have to toughen up.”

Ronnie Brewer(notes) added 13 points, and Paul Millsap(notes) had nine points and 13 rebounds.

It was 23-23 before Boston scored the last five points of the first quarter and the first basket of the second.

“It wasn’t a lot fun to watch,” Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. “I wouldn’t mind if they rebounded. There aren’t any rules against rebounding. … We settled for jump shots and didn’t make them to have to run too far to get layups.”

The Celtics led by 10 at halftime, when Kendrick Perkins(notes) already had 10 points and seven rebounds, and Utah never made a move after Pierce hit a pair of 3-pointers in the opening 1:24 of the third quarter.

Boston made it 84-62 after three quarters on Rondo’s buzzer-beater when he streaked the length of the court with 3.8 seconds left for the layup. With more than five minutes left in the game, the Celtics began playing the “Gino” video they usually break out when the game is in reach.

NOTES: During a break, the Celtics honored arena usher Bill Lynch, who helped wave down a subway train to stop after a woman fell on the tracks over the weekend. … Pierce needs 21 points to tie Bob McAdoo on the career scoring list. … Utah has two more games left on its four-game East Coast swing.

Updated Nov 11, 11:07 pm EST
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109 Comments

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  1. Jason
    109. Posted by Jason Fri Nov 13 1:03pm EST

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    So funny to see little kids post on here with such ignorant rambling going on.

    I'm a Boston fan, but I don't "hate" anyone. Sitting back reading this junk is so childish. I don't sit here on yahoo sports and try to type ignorant garbage all day long about other teams, players, whatever. Don't get me wrong, I don't like Kobe because he's a douche bag off the court and everyone knows it even you Laker fans..BUT I will admit he's a good player and the Lakers are a GOOD team.

    Magic and Bird went at each other throats but off the court they became friends out of RESPECT. Let's all get along man!

    I hope for another Boston vs LA final and hope it's exciting to watch.
  2. <i>acula17</i>
    108. Posted by acula17 Fri Nov 13 5:14am EST

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    yep, stupid, drunk, coward and opportunist, guilty as charged I also like to go and rant, just to prove that I am so superior over all the other fans of the different teams and that they can all go back to where they came from if they don't support my team.
  3. GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS
    107. Posted by GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS Fri Nov 13 5:04am EST

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    #104 I love people who come here and correct peoples spelling. It shows how much of a coward and opportunist you are.
  4. GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS
    106. Posted by GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS Fri Nov 13 5:00am EST

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    Just so everyone knows, the lakers payroll is higher than bostons 'cause we dont have people on our team playing for peanuts like sheed and big baby. Our star have self respect, thats why ariza left. Ray allen is p-issed off at rondo's new contract.
  5. GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS
    105. Posted by GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS Fri Nov 13 4:57am EST

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    #103 It does matter if you get to the finals even if you dont win. It means overall succes, not 1 championship wonders like boston. Overall succes means more revenue for the franchise, more long term succes, more relevancy, I HOPE BOSTON GOES ON ANOTHER 20 YEAR DROUGHT.
  6. <i>acula17</i>
    104. Posted by acula17 Fri Nov 13 4:53am EST

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    @ #97 i don't know about the "STUPID BOSTON KELTICS" but last time I checked "leased" and "least" are not one and the same, different words with different meanings, but then again who am I to argue against you? I am just one of the "STUPID BOSTON KELTICS" who try to post intelligent opinions but we all know they are just native boston DRUNKS. Not only am I stupid, and drunk but might I add blind too! Blind in the sense that the only player on the team who looks Irish is Scal. But yeah all the players in the team are Irish and must go back to Ireland, you know to brush up on the family tree.
  7. Nate P
    103. Posted by Nate P Fri Nov 13 4:23am EST

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    I just wanted to add one thing to Mr. Harry Cox LOL funny name by the way


    L.A. Lakers $76,759,733 payroll

    Boston $73,376,991payroll

    Make sure you know what you talking about before running you mouth please!

    another thing that funny is the lakers have made the finals 10 more times than boston but still have less championships. LOL thats pretty funny just getting there doesn't mean anything asked LBJ.
  8. Nate P
    102. Posted by Nate P Fri Nov 13 4:19am EST

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    Damn it's crazy how Lakers fans just come on the Celtics Blogs and run there mouth I can't believe you guys can HATE people so much that you don't even know. I don't usually go on the Lakers blogs though after there wins so I do wonder if Boston fans do the same and if they do then I say the same thing to them, it's just basketball guys it's not life and death you can't just HATE people because they are good and we all know the Lakers and Celtics are the best two teams in the league.

    I do hope the lakers and C's do meet and Boston wins but even if they win or lose I still have to drag my ass to work like most of you people posting these comments, but do just come on the blogs with pure HATE is crazy.

    Makes me also wonder are Lakers fans insecure that they have to bash the C's or vise versa.

    I notice too some people come on and talk about teams that lost to other teams and so fourth I dont see how it has anything to do with the outcome when teams play each other just because the Suns beat boston and lakers beat the suns doesn't have anything to do with what happens when they play each other, because if it did then we would talk about how the Mavs beat the lakers but they lost to the Wizards so the wizards are better than the lakers!

    some people on here are just Idiots.

    Go Sonics!!
  9. GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS
    101. Posted by GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS Fri Nov 13 3:17am EST

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    THX to the lakers, the celtics stand alone with the best record
  10. Celtics - Not this season
    100. Posted by Celtics - Not this season Fri Nov 13 2:37am EST

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    Celtics fans.....Remember the Phoenix Suns who beat your old men team on your home court?
    The Lakers routed them for you. I can't see the Celtics beating the Lakers if you can even beat the Suns.
    .....

    Lakers are the team to beat and the current champs.
  11. BMW
    99. Posted by BMW Fri Nov 13 1:49am EST

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    I love the Celtics ability to change with the times! They will struggle in the near future when the big 3 near retirement, but Rondo and Perkins will be nice pieces to begin with, and if they can get scorers: which are roles people enjoy doing, they should transition better than most people probably think they will.
  12. GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS
    98. Posted by GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS Fri Nov 13 1:40am EST

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    Celtic fans try to post intelligent opinions but we all know they are just native boston DRUNKS.
  13. GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS
    97. Posted by GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS Fri Nov 13 1:38am EST

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    #95 You got me, i admit it but at leased the raptors are in north america. AGAIN, go back to ireland KELTICS.
  14. stinka p
    96. Posted by stinka p Thu Nov 12 11:08pm EST

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    OK, on behalf of all the other Celtic haters out there, I just want to say that #94 really isn't part of our group. Celtic fans, you are welcome to take him.
  15. <i>acula17</i>
    95. Posted by acula17 Thu Nov 12 10:37pm EST

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    @ #94 wow so toronto is now part of the United States? shucks thanks for the info man I know I could always count on you for cold blooded facts
  16. GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS
    94. Posted by GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS Thu Nov 12 10:26pm EST

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    The celtics are the only team in the league that has nothinbg to do with the UNITED STATES of AMERICA. Go back to IRELAND you stupid KELTIC warriors.
  17. stinka p
    93. Posted by stinka p Thu Nov 12 10:11pm EST

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    Celtic fans live in a dream world. Yes it is true that the current Celtic squad is a possible title contender. Yes it is true that the Celtics crushed the Lakers in the final game of the championship in 2008 (continuing to run up the score and launch three pointers long after the Lakers had conceded the game in typical classless Celtic tradition) But taking 6 games to knock out a severely depleted and beat up team is hardly an impressive showing. Not to mention that it was really the Lakers own undoing that cost them the championship that year. Absolutely giving away game four to the Celtics. Yes give the Celtics credit for not giving up in that game but it was more a matter of the Lakers not having a killer instinct that cost them the game. It was a trait that they repeated all year long, getting huge leads against teams and then taking the rest of the game off. Even the Clippers almost pulled out victories against them after being down by plus 20. Against a team as good as the Celtics you cannot give them that kind of momentum and then expect to turn it on again and win the game. The Celtics are a very good team, perhaps even great, but the bottom line is that they have yet to prove that they can beat a healthy Lakers squad. They tried to prove it last year in the regular season because they know their championship was not earned against the best the Lakers had to offer, they failed both times even though the Lakers were short handed in the game in Boston. They know that, their fans know that and that is why they have such a chip on their shoulders about the Lakers. Until the Celtics show that they can beat a healthy Lakers squad they cannot claim to be the best. I really hope that both teams are healthy come playoff time because I don't think I can handle another year of Celtic whining.
  18. HARRY COX
    92. Posted by HARRY COX Thu Nov 12 9:17pm EST

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    Celtics Fan....keep in mind that tough times calls for paper bags. Have them ready, you will soon need them again.

    BTW....proof is in the history.
  19. HARRY COX
    91. Posted by HARRY COX Thu Nov 12 9:13pm EST

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    all the Lakers fan don't care about handing the title to the Celtics two years ago. We are just responding to dumb comments from the Celtics fans.

    The Lakers are the current champs and we are and have been enjoying it. Lakers repeat time!
  20. TED
    90. Posted by TED Thu Nov 12 9:10pm EST

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    I won't be surprised if these same laker fans would blame injuries if they even don't get past the 1ST ROUND! They were blasting Celtics fans for "whining" the absence of KG last season. Without KG,the Celtics went on the brink of meeting the Cavs. That's how tough the Celtics are. You take away Pau out of the equation, Kobe would be huffing and puffing and blaming the rest of the team for a lackluster game or so. You won't hear that from Boston. As for Celtics fans, it's true we have been with the team through the toughest of times 'til we redeemed ourselves and be serious title contenders for decades to come.
  21. Chiqis
    89. Posted by Chiqis Thu Nov 12 8:46pm EST

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    NO WAY the Celts can beat the Lakers in the finals this year, NO WAY. The Celts' talent isn't as strong as the Lakers. Keep your dream alive though. GO LAKERS!
  22. boston fever
    88. Posted by boston fever Thu Nov 12 8:45pm EST

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    why in a hell some assclowning laker fans still says that the title was handed by them when in fact celts completely humiliated this pathetic team in nba finals... funny how laker fans just divulged everything but without any proof or anything such as celtics payroll, celtics dynasty, celtics age, etc. but all those nonsense talk will be slapped by the truth in their own face.

    btw, that made our title sweeter than ever, having a 20 year drought but fans are still here. (except some bandwagonning on celts victory) but heck where would you think your beloved l.a. celebrity fans or even you sc,lakerfan etc show up if your freakin team wont be on nba finals for let say 10 years. (where was the KING of the cavs where he always had something to say, ahmm what was that be a witness or something after cavs lost?)

    and also, lakers just isolate one particular best player while the celts just roll out as a team, bet if your beloved kobe got injured (though of course, i wish he would not...) where would you think l.a. will go? they'll be probably go where memphis or new jersey going..
  23. Roy
    87. Posted by Roy Thu Nov 12 8:07pm EST

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    Yeah, we love the Celtics because they play intelligent TEAM BASKETBAL, from Bob Cousy....Russel...Cowen...Bird...down to Rondo. Pure basketball prowess is not a Celtic trademark... one needs to have both talent and exemplary basketball IQ.

    Don't you guys wonder why majority of the NBA managers and coaches came from our beloved Boston Celtics....because in Boston...we get players with brains.... You cannot relate to a Boston fan if you don't have this.... SORRY... BUT THAT'S THE FACT.
  24. Jose G.
    86. Posted by Jose G. Thu Nov 12 7:58pm EST

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    The celts are gonna win it all.

    I guarantee it

    Its their year

    http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=5b9RZsm8mP92Ucz9Kohw_2fA_3d_3d
  25. <i>kissmykardi</i>
    85. Posted by kissmykardi Thu Nov 12 7:01pm EST

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    you dorks, you cant justify your own team without getting into one anothers typing habits?? (i.e ebonics) give it up. i love boston and KG but kobe is a beast, an assassin. LJ isnt going nowhere with the cavs so give him a couple of years in NY n he'll b alright. Heart says celtics, brain says lakers. YOU DECIDE
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Top Performers

 Top Performers
 Utah
D. Williams Deron Williams
5-11,  13 Pts
7 Rebs, 4 Assists
 Boston
R. Rondo Rajon Rondo
7-11,  14 Pts
1 Rebs, 11 Assists

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