Kings (8-12) at Celtics (17-2) 12/12

[FLCeltsFan]

Sacramento Kings (8-12) at Boston Celtics (17-2)
Wednesday, December 12
7:30 pm ET
Game #20 Home Game #11
TV: NBA LP ch 754, CSNHD, News 10
TD Banknorth Garden


Probable starting matchups
Point Guard
vs
Rajon Rondo vs Beno Udrich

Shooting Guard
vs
Ray Allen vs John Salmons

Small Forward
vs
Paul Pierce vs Ron Artest

Power Forward
vs
Kevin Garnett vs Mikki Moore

Center
vs
Kendrick Perkins vs Brad Miller




Off the Bench

Posey/ House/ Davis/ Pollard/ Powe/ Scalabrine

Injuries
None

Key Stats
Celtics are 10-0 at home
Average margin of victory at home is 21.1
Points allowed 87.73, best in the NBA
Celtics are out rebounding teams by 5.21 rpg
Celtics are averaging 2.57 more steals per game than opponents
Celtics are averaging 16.10 turnovers per game


Off the Bench

Garcia/ Thomas/ Douby/ Williams/ Hawes

Injuries
Mike Bibby, torn ligament in thumb
Kevin Martin, strained groin
Shareef Abdur Rahim, knee surgery

Key Stats
Kings are 1-8 on the road
Kings are averaging 99.8 points per game
Kings are allowing 102.9 points per game
Kings are being out-rebounded by opponents by 2.9

Key Matchup
vs
Paul Pierce PPG 20.2 | RPG 5.4 | APG 5.4
Ron Artest PPG 20.3 | RPG 6.5 | APG 4.3
Ron Artest guards Paul Pierce as well as anyone in the league. In the past, shutting down Pierce was a way to shut down the Celtics but now, Artest can shut down Pierce and the Celtics still have plenty of weapons. With Pierce's new found love of defense, he should be able to slow down Artest as well.

Game Notes
Ron Artest was suspended for the first 7 games and has been averaging 21 points, 6.5 rebounds. 4.3 assists, and 2.4 steals in his last 11 games. The Kings won both games against the Celtics last season. The Kings were 0-8 on the road before beating the Bucks 96-93 on Monday night. The Celtics are coming into this game well rested. They last played on Saturday and had two days off of practice before practicing again on Tuesday in preparation for this game.

UPDATE
Scott Pollard has a sore back and Perk injured his big toe. Both sat out practice and both are doubtful for this game.

If Perkins cannot go, Kevin Garnett will switch over to center and Glen Davis may well get his first career start at power foward. Brian Scalabrine would appear the other top option as Rivers would seemingly like to keep Posey coming off the bench to back up both frontcourt positions.
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Publish Post
“We will go small - we have no choice,” Rivers said. “When you play a team like Sacramento you don’t want to go small. … Baby right now is probably a better fit, but right now I don’t know (who will start).”

[mev17]

I hope they start Glen Davis and back him up with Powe. Vs. a young team like the Kings, they can get it done and gain good experience.

And Perk needs to hire someone to do physical labor at home, now that he has an NBA veteran's contract!

[DERRENMATTS]

Can't wait to see two of the better physical defenders in the league going at it (Posey and Artest).

Can't wait to see Spencer Hawes. He looked pretty good last time I see the Kings play.

I also get to see my former college favorite, Francisco Garcia, in action.

Did Perk really get his toe smashed by his bed? Is this a cover up?

I figure we'll be seeing Scott Pollard in place of Perk. Baby would be the fan's choice, since he is the first big man off the bench lately. But I don't see Doc giving him the nod just yet.

[FLCeltsFan]

Perk and Pollard are both out for tonight's game. Big Baby gets the start tonight at PF and KG moves to Center.

[runrondo]

Shame Perk has to miss the game but hopefully big baby will use this opportunity well

Powe or Scalabrine going to have to step up as backup to big baby..hopefully we'll see an early sighting of powe

[FLCeltsFan]

KG jumping against Miller. Kings win the tip. Kings turn it over on the first possession. PP misses a 3 and rebound comes out to KG. He gets it quickly to PP who hits a jumper. Ray tips it out of bounds. Kings inbound with 2 on the SC. Shot at the buzzer is no good. PP rebounds. KG misses and rebound goes to the Kings. Artest hits a jumper. RA hits a jumper off the catch. Davis called for a foul. Kings inbound on the side. Artest misses a 3. KG tips the rebound but Artest gets it. He misses again and KG rebounds. KG faces up and hits a jumper. Moore gets in side and lays it in. RA draws the defenders and hits KG with a bounce pass for an open jumper. KG with a steal. KG to Allen and back to KG for a dunk. NICE!!!! PP with a steal from ARtest and Artest called for a foul as he tries to get it back. Celtics inbound. Moore called for a foul. Celtics inbound on the side. RA gets to the hoop but can't finish. Kings rebound. Miller hits a jumper. Miller with an alley oop inside for Moore and the dunk. Rondo gets it to PP in the corner. His shot is partially blocked by Artest. Kings miss and PP rebounds. KG with a tip pass inside to Davis who is fouled. He hits both FTs. Udrich splits the defenders and gets to the hoop and lays it in. RA misses a straight away 3 and Moore rebounds. Udrich gets it inside to Moore for a layup. PPmisses a jumper and Moore gets to the rebound first but Davis tips it to KG. RA hits an open 3 from the corner. Kings turn it over. Rondo misses a pull up jumper. Udrich called for an offensive foul as Davis takes the charge. Time out with Celtics up 15-12 and 4:02 left in the first

[cfoo]

good game so far

[DERRENMATTS]

Wow, we are really short up front, and I mean that in both ways (short in height and short in manpower).

Baby does seem to give us a spark. We'll see how he does in the starting lineup. He does foul quite a bit and he breathes heavily through his mouth not long after he gets onto the court, so that bears monitoring.

[FLCeltsFan]

Celtics inbound on the side. PP spins and drives past Salmons as he gets to the hoop and lays it in. Travelling on Miller as he changes direction because of KG's defense. PP takes it by Artest for a layup. Miller misses off the catch. PP rebounds. PP misses a 3 and Posey is called for a foul over the back on the rebound. Time out with Celtics up 19-12 and 2:42 left in the first

[FLCeltsFan]

Kings inbound and bring it up Thomas gets to the hoop for a layup. PP hits a jumper from the top of the key. Salmons hits a jumper. Rondo, Posey, Scal, RA, PP on the floor. RA hits an open jumper on a feed from PP. Posey with good defense bothers the shot and gets the rebound. Posey called for a foul after Salmons steals the ball from him. House comes in for Rondo. Garcia misses and Rebound comes to PP. Scal is fouled. Powe comes in to the game. Scal hits both FTs. Garcia misses a jumper. RA called for a foul on the shot. Replay shows that he never touched him. Rondo and Tony come in for Scal and Powe. He misses the first FT and hits the second. Celtics holding for the final shot. Tony drives to the hoop and kicks out to House on the baseline who misses a jumper at the buzzer. Score at the end of 1 is Celtics 25 and Kings 17

[CelticsLoyalist]

There ya go Runrondo, Powe is in!

[FLCeltsFan]

Celtics inbound to start the second. Artest comes up with a steal and takes it all the way to the hoop for a layup. House, Powe, PP, Scal, on the floor. PP takes it hard to the hoop and is fouled. He hits both FTs. Artest brings the ball up. Tony almost gets a steal but Garcia recovers. Celtics with a steal. PP gets the ball inside to Powe who lays it in. Artest misses and Thomas shoves Powe on the rebound. Celtics inbound. PP hits a fall away jumper after great ball movement to find the open man. Defensive 3 second violation. Garcia hits the T. Artest hits a jumper in the paint. Tiny kicks it to the corner and House misses a 3. Powe gets ther rebound. House misses a jumper. Kings rebound. Hawes is fouled by House and goes to the line. He hits the first misses the second and Powe grabs the rebound. Lane violation called. Hawes gets one more shot. Hawes hits this one. Tony brings the ball up. Tony splits the defense and hits a runner at the SC. Kings turn it over on a bad pass out of bounds. Time out with Celtics up 33-24 and 8:27 left in the half

[runrondo]

admin said:

There ya go Runrondo, Powe is in!

And he's already getting some offensive boards..playing very solid minutes...

[FLCeltsFan]

KG and Posey back in the game with Tony, House and Powe. Powe goes hard to the hoop and has it slapped away by Thomas. Artest gets by Posey for a layup. KG gets it to a cutting Posey who is fouled as he goes up for the shot. Posey hits the first and misses the second. Another lane violation. Posey hits it this time. Miller gets into the lane and lays it in. Pass inside to KG is deflected and Kings come away with it. Kings miss and Powe rebounds. House steps out of bounds and Celtics turn it over. RA comes in for Powe. Tony with a block on Udrich but Miller gets the ball and hits a jumper. Posey misses a 3 and Kings rebound. Posey called for his 3rd foul. Time out with Boston up 35-30 and 5:50 left in the half

[FLCeltsFan]

Davis gets the ball inside and misses a layup. He gets the rebound and kicks out to RA who misses a 3. REbound goes over the backboard to KIngs. KG called for a foul, his first, 3rd on the team. KG quickly called for his second foul. Kings inbound with 14 on the SC. Tony got a hand on the ball but it goes out off RA. Kings inbound with 5 on the SC. Miller misses a jumper. Tip inside is no good. KG called for his 3rd foul as he hooks Artest and flings him to the floor on the rebound. Artest hits the first FT. Time out with Celtics up 35-31 and 4:50 left in the half