Post by FLCeltsFan on Jan 17, 2008 7:31:18 GMT -5
www.telegram.com/article/20080117/NEWS/801170627/1009/SPORTS
Allen finally comes to life
35-point effort ends C’s slide
By Bill Doyle TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
wdoyle@telegram.com
BOSTON— That’s more like it, Ray Allen.
Allen scored 35 points, his most as a Celtic and twice his season average, as Boston held off blazing Portland, 100-90, last night at the Garden.
Allen topped his previous season high of 33 at Toronto on Nov. 4 and scored at least 20 for the first time since he had 23 at Utah on Dec. 29.
In his last seven games, the veteran guard had averaged only 11.8 points. He topped that last night in each of the last two quarters, scoring 14 in the fourth — including 12 of Boston’s final 14 — and 12 in the third. His sore ankle and neck didn’t bother him at all.
“Tonight was probably the best physically I’ve felt,” he said.
Allen said the hair on his arms and the back of neck stand up when he realizes he’s about to get the ball for a big shot. He hit three of them down the stretch to hold off Portland, a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired to make it 89-81 with 2:18 to go, a 16-footer to make it 91-84 with 1:14 remaining and a 3-pointer to make it 94-87 with 49 seconds left.
Allen not only snapped out of his scoring slump, he helped the Celtics end their first two-game losing streak.
“It was very satisfying,” Allen said.
Allen played a team-high 42 minutes and made 12 of 20 shots, including 4 of 10 treys, and 7 of 8 free throws to help the Celtics score 100 points for the first time since they also had 100 on Jan. 4 against Memphis. The Celtics had averaged only 84.4 points in their last five games.
“I still had shots I would like to see go down,” Allen said. “I do feel like I’m turning the corner, though.”
Allen averaged 21.5 points in his previous 11 NBA seasons, including 26.4 last year, but he’s had trouble adjusting to playing this season with two other All-Stars, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.
“It’s been the biggest adjustment,” Allen said, “that I’ve had so far in the NBA, understanding what Doc wants. I’ve never played with a dominant big man like Kevin. I’m just getting used to how he likes the ball and looking to him first.”
Allen admitted he had spent a bit too much time watching in other games because as a shooting guard he runs to the corner and waits for the ball to find him. Last night, he got himself going by driving to the basket, then finished Portland off with his jump shots.
“When you’ve got a hot player like that,” Celtics captain Paul Pierce said, “who’s done it so many times throughout his NBA career, you go to the hot hand. We just tried to get him the ball as much as possible.”
“We’ve been waiting for that to happen,” Eddie House said. “It’s kind of been simmering. He hasn’t had one of those breakout games in awhile. He’s an all-star so stuff like that happens. It’s not a surprise to anybody, but it’s big and we needed him to take over at that time. If a game like that can’t get you going, I don’t know what can.”
Portland had come in as the NBA’s hottest team, having won 18 of its last 20, but lost its fifth straight against the C’s.
Garnett contributed 26 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Pierce had a tough shooting night, making only 3 of 11 shots and 6 of 11 free throws to finish with 12 points. He did lead the Celtics with 8 rebounds and 5 assists, however. House had 10 points and 5 assists starting in place of Rajon Rondo at the point. Rondo sat out for the second time in the last three games with a sore back and right hamstring.
Brandon Roy paced Portland with 22 points and 6 assists. Former Worcester Academy star Jarrett Jack and Travis Outlaw each scored 17 off the bench. The Blazers led by nine in the second quarter and five early in the third.
The Celtics helped keep the Blazers in the game by missing 13 foul shots, but they turned the ball over only 10 times and forced Portland into 21 turnovers.
Rookie Gabe Pruitt, who had played only 26 minutes all season, played 12 last night as the backup point guard and finished with 2 points and 1 assist.
Boston’s Leon Powe wasn’t at the game because he was with his wife Lauren for the 4:50 p.m. birth of their 7-pound boy, Leon III.