Celtics (30-4) at Wizards (18-16) 1/12

[FLCeltsFan]

at
Boston Celtics (30-4) at Wizards (18-16)
Saturday, January 12
7:30 pm ET
Game #35, Road Game # 18
TV: NBA LP ch 751, CSN HD, CSN
Verizon Center


Probable Starting Matchups
Point Guard
vs
Rajon Rondo* vs Antonio Daniels
(Rondo left the Nets game in the third period with a sore back after taking a hard fall into the crowd. If he can't start, Tony Allen will probably get the nod).

Shooting Guard
vs
Ray Allen vs Deshawn Stevenson

Small Forward
vs
Paul Pierce vs Caron Butler

Power Forward
vs
Kevin Garnett vs Antawn Jamison

Center
vs
Kendrick Perkins vs Brendan Haywood




Off the Bench
Glen Davis, Eddie House, James Posey, Brian Scalabrine, Scot Pollard, Leon Powe, Gabe Pruitt

Injuries:
Scot Pollard, ankle, day to day
Rajon Rondo, back, day to day


Off the Bench
Darius Songaila, Roger Mason, Andre Blatche, Neil Young, Dominic McGuire,

Injuries:
Gilbert Arenas, knee, out
Oleksey Pecherov, ankle, out
Etan Thomas, heart surgery, out

Key Matchups
vs
Paul Pierce vs Caron Butler
Pierce PPG 21.2 RPG 5.70 APG 4.9 EFF + 21.00
Butler PPG 21.9 RPG 6.80 APG 4.6 EFF + 24.22

vs
Kevin Garnett vs Antawn Jamison
Garnett PPG 19.2 RPG 10.00 APG 3.6 EFF + 26.73
Jamison PPG 21.6 RPG 10.60 APG 1.5 EFF + 22.27

Keys to the Game
1. Play team defense. The Celtics have allowed way too many easy baskets in their last two games. They came back in the 4th with good defense against the Nets but allowed the Bobcats easy baskets the entire game. They have to get back to playing good team defense for the entire game.

2. Control the Boards. For the second game in a row, the Celtics were out-rebounded. They need to put out the effort to grab the rebounds. They need to stop allowing second and third chance baskets.

3. Play 48 minutes. The Celtics need to come out with energy and give a solid effort for 48 minutes. Their recent habit of getting into a hole and then tightening the defense to pull it out in the end is a dangerous habit that they need to get out of.

Game Notes:
The Celtics' last meeting with the Wizards was their home opener when Gilbert Arenas guaranteed a win for the Wizards and instead they lost 103-83. Arenas has been out with a knee injury, but the Wizards have been playing well in his absence. They are 5-5 in their last 10 and have played well at home winning 10 out of 18.

Jamison and Butler are the league's highest scoring forward tandem, averaging 44 points between them per game. They will be a tough matchup for Pierce and KG.

The Celtics are playing in the second of back to back games and they have had 8 back to back games and have won every one of them so far this season. The Wizards will also be playing in the second of back to back games as they won a tough overtime game in Atlanta on Friday night. Four of the Wizards' starters played over 40 minutes including over 48 minutes from both Daniels and Jamison.

X-Factors
Fatigue could be a factor for both teams and so the bench play may be the deciding factor in the game. Also, if Rondo can't go, the Celtics will need a big game from Tony Allen.

[FLCeltsFan]

Rondo not playing tonight. Tony to get the start. Hopefully "Good Tony" will show up tonight. Stuck with the Wizards feed tonight YUK

[FLCeltsFan]

Wizards win the tip. Stevenson drives quickly to the hoop and lays it in and is fouled. Contact was before the shot but refs put him on the line. He hits the FT. KG misses a jumper. Wiz with the rebound. Butler misses a jumper and KG rebounds. Tony drives to the hoop along the baseline and lays it in off the glass. Haywood misses from the corner. KG rebounds. KG misses a jumper. Wiz rebound. Jamison misses and long rebound comes out to Daniels at mid court. Daniels misses and Wiz rebound. Wiz miss again and KG rebounds. KG gets inside for a short jumper. Haywood's jumper no good and Celtics rebound. Tony steps out of bounds and turns it over. Daniels with 3 fakes and he draws the second foul on Tony on the third fake. He misses the first. House comes in for Tony. He hits the second. KG brings the ball up. Perk gets a pass inside and is fouled going up for a layup. He hits the first and misses the second. Wiz rebound. Wiz miss and Jamison gets the rebound. Pierce called for a foul. Wiz inbound on the side. Haywood misses and Jamison gets the rebound and put back. RA misses a 3 and Haywood rebounds. Jamison misses in the lane. House rebounds. House hits a 3 from the corner off the catch. Butler's pass picked off by KG.. House misses a 3 from the corner. KG saves the rebound from going out of bounds but Wiz come away with it. Jamison gets inside and lays it in. KG hits a jumper. Haywood misses a jump hook. House rebounds. House misses from the FT line and Jamison rebounds. Stevenson takes it baseline to the hoop and dunks. No defense there to stop him. Celtics miss Wiz rebound. Butler takes it to the hoop for a dunk. Again. No defense. Butler with a steal and he takes it to the hoop and misses the layup. Time out with Washington up 12-10

[FLCeltsFan]

I really miss Mike and Tommy. Haywood hits a jumper from about 16 feet. PP has his shot blocked. Gets his own rebound. Blocked again. Wiz come away with it. Nets miss and Celtics rebound. House hits a jumper from the corner. Haywood misses and Jamison gets the rebound. He misses a jumper and KG rebounds. Perk called for a loose ball foul. Posey comes in for Perk. Stevenson hits a 3 as the SC winds down. KG is double teamed and passes to PP who misses. Wiz rebound. Stevenson shoots an airball and Celtics rebound. Celtics turn it over on a bad pass. Jamison misses and PP rebounds. Jamison steals the ball from RA. Wiz miss and Celtics come away with it. KG with a layup. Daniels hits a jumper. Time out with Wiz up 19-14 and 1:02 left in the first

[FLCeltsFan]

House hits a jumper from the top of the key. Davis called for a foul. Daniels hits both FTs. Davis, Scal, Posey, House and RA on the floor for Boston. Scal misses from the corner but RA is there to tip in the miss. Songaila hits a jumper. Travelling called on RA. Wiz inbound with 2.1 on the clock. Songaila misses a jumper at the buzzer. Score at the end of 1 is Wizards 23 and Boston 19

[FLCeltsFan]

Celtics inbound to start the second. RA is tied up and foul is called on Blatche. Celtics inbound on the side. Butler with a steal of RA's pass. mason misses a 3 and Blatche rebounds, lays it in and is fouled by Scal as Scal grabs his jersey. He hits the FT. Wiz up by 7. RA is forced to put up a long 3 that hits the top of the backboard and Celtics with a 24 second violation. Wiz turn it over. Scal grabs the loose ball. House misses a jumper. Wiz rebound. Songaila misses and Butler rebounds. Wiz turn it over on a bad pass. House hits a 3 from the corner. Daniels drives baseline and lays it in but is called for an offensive foul as Scal takes the charge and basket doesn't count. Celtics inbound on the side. Wiz playing good defense. PP hits a jumper from the FT line. defensive 3 second violation on Boston. Time out with Wiz up 26-24 and 8:50 left in the half

[FLCeltsFan]

Wiz hit the T and inbound on the side . Wiz miss at the SC. Blatche tracks down the rebound and then turns it over. Blatche almost gets the steal but PP recovers and gets it to House for a 3 from the corner. Mason hits a jumper. PP brings the ball up. Wiz with a steal. Songaila hits a jumper. PP misses a 3 and Blatche gets the rebound. Blatche turns it over. PP is fouled by Blatche, his second. KG comes in for Davis. Celtics inbound on the side. PP is doubled and turns the ball over. Posey called for a foul to prevent the fast break. Mason misses a wide open 3 but the rebound comes out to Young who hits a jumper off the catch. Scal turns it over as he can't handle the pass from KG. Time out with Wizards up 33-27 5:38 left in the half

[FLCeltsFan]

Wiz inbound on the side with 20 on the SC. Young takes it to the hoop and misses a layup but Jamison flies in for the put back. Wiz up by 8. PP has it blockes inside and Mason comes away with it. Haywood has his shot blocked by Posey Celtics come away with it and Mason called for a foul. Illegal defense on Wiz. RA comes in for Posey. Starters on the floor for Celtics. PP hits the FT. Celtics inbound on the side with 14 on the SC. KG spins toward the basket and is fouled by Haywood. Celtics inbound on the side. Celtics almost throw it into the back court but RA saves it and KG hits a jumper from the corner. Butler hits a jumper over PP on the baseline. Perk misses a hook shot and Wiz rebound. Mason has his shot blocked and KG gets out ahead on a break and is pushed from behind and goes down. He stays down and looks to be in some pain. He gets up and looks like he is ok They called it a clear path foul. KG hits both FTs. Celtics inbound on the side. KG misses and gets the rebound and hands off to Perk for a dunk. Wiz turn it over on a bad pass. Time out with Wiz up 37-34 and 2:37 left in the half.

[FLCeltsFan]

Celtics inbound on the baseline RA brings it up. KG's jumper goes in and out. Jamison rebounds. Butler's shot doesn't hit the rim and Wiz with a 24 second violation. Tony brings it up out of control and turns it over. Wiz miss a 3 and Jamison misses the tip. Tony rebounds on the baseline. Tony is fouled by Butler. He hits both FTs. Stevenson drives to the hoop and is fouled by Perk, his second. Tony out and House in. He makes both FTs House brings the ball up. KG backs Blatche in and hits a hook shot over him. Blatche misses a 3. Jamison is fouled on the rebound by KG, his first. Jamison hits both FTs. House brings it across and Time out with 21 seconds left in the half and Wiz up 41-38. Celtics inbound on the side. House holding the ball up top. He gets it to RA who is doubled and passes off to PP who hits a jumper. Wiz miss a heave at the buzzer. Score at the half is Wizards 41 and Celtics 40

[FLCeltsFan]

Celtics inbound to start the 3rd. Perk gets the ball inside and is fouled. He hits both FTs. Celtics pressing in the back court and trapping at mid court. Wiz miss a 3 and Tony rebounds. Tony drives baseline to the basket and lays it in. Celtics trapping mid court again and are called for a foul. Wiz inbound on the side and 24 second violation. Tony misses a 3 from the corner. Haywood misses a jumper and Celtics rebound. Celtics miss a jumper and Wiz rebound but throw it away as the upcourt pass is too hard and goes out of bounds. KG hits a jumper over Haywood. Perk with ablock and Celtics come away with it. KG gets the ball under the basket and is fouled. He misses the first. He hits the second. Wiz have it knocked out with 2 on the SC. Haywood misses an open jumper and Wiz rebound. They miss again and rebound goes out off Boston. Wiz inbound with a new 24. Butler hits a long jumper. PP loses the ball out of bounds. Jamison misses and Stevenson rebounds and lays it down to Haywood for a layup. Pass goes inside to Perk who finds an open PP who hits a long jumper. Wiz save the ball from going out of bounds but Tony comes up with it and is fouled going to the hoop. He hits both FTs. Butler hits a tough jumper over PP. PP passes to Tony under the basket and is fouled as he misses the layup. Tony hits the first and misses the second. REbound goes out of bounds off Wiz. RA misses a jumper from the top of the key. Stevenson rebounds. Butler hits a jumper from the corner as he once again beats PP. PP hits a fall away jumper. PP blocks Butler's shot and Celtics with a fast break get too unselfish and take one pass too many and Wiz come up with a steal. Perk called for a foul to prevent the layup. Time out with Celtics up 54-49 and 4:56 left in the third

[FLCeltsFan]

Daniels hits the frirst misses the second FT. Perk rebounds. RA drives to the hoop and misses a runner in the lane. Perk gets the rebound and is tackled by Haywood. Perk hits both FTs. Celtics trapping at mid court again. Stevenson misses and Celtics rebound. Long pass upcourt to KG for an easy layup. Haywood hits a jump hook. Perk gets the ball inside and quickly passes out to PP who is doubled and he finds an open RA for a 3. Perk called for a foul. Time out with Celtics up 61-52 and 2:59 left in the 3rd

[FLCeltsFan]

Haywood hits both FTS. RA misses a straight away 3. Haywood rebounds. Wiz turn it over. Butler called for a foul on PP. PP at the line. hits both FTs. Young misses a jumper. Blatche with a tip and Celtics called for goal tending. PP misses a 3. Butler rebounds. Butler called for an offensive foul as PP takes the charge. Not a good call as PP was still moving. Blatche blocks Tony's shot. Wiz come away with it. Young is fouled by PP and goes to the line. He hits both FTs to cut the lead to 5. PP drives to the hoop and misses a layup. Wiz rebound. Young hits a fadeaway jumper in the lane. Perk gets the ball inside for a dunk. Wiz look for the final shot of the quarter but turn it over. House misses a 3 from the top of the arc at the buzzer. Score at the end of three is Boston 65, Washington 60

[FLCeltsFan]

Wiz inbound to start the 4th. Celtics with a steal and an alley oop to Posey for a dunk. Wiz turn it over. RA is fouled. Celtics inbound on the side. Allen's shot is short and Davis rebounds but doesn't get it up in time and Celtics with a 24 second violation. Blatche hits a jumper from the top of the key. Celtics turn it over. Bad pass and Posey tries to save it and goes into the crowd and goes into a sign that gives way and he comes up limping but stays inthe game. Wiz inbound with 16 on the SC. Blatche misses and Wiz rebound but Posey picks off the pass. Tony called for an offensive foul. Songaila misses but Blatche is there to tip in the miss. Celtics miss and Wiz rebound. Blatche misses from the corner. House is there for the rebound. Time out with Celtics up 67-64 and 8:34 left in the 4th

[FLCeltsFan]

KG back in. KG is fouled on a turn around jumper. He hits the first and misses the second. Butler is there for the rebound. Posey called for a foul. Wiz inbound on the side . They miss a layup and Tony comes away with the weak side rebound. KG misses a layup and Blatche rebounds. Stevenson spins into the lane and hits a layup. RA misses a 3 and KG tips the rebound out to Tony. KG is fouled by Songaila inside. Celtics inbound on the side. Butler with a block and a foul and he takes is all the way to the hoop and is fouled by KG. He hits both FTs to tie the game at 68. KG misses a jumper. Jamison rebounds. Butler misses a jumper and KG rebounds. KG is fouled by Blatche. Time out with game tied at 68 and 5:28 left in the 4th

[FLCeltsFan]

Celtics inbound with 14 on the SC. Posey hits a 3. Jamison misses a jumper. rebound is tipped and KG comes down with it. PP with a bad pass turns it over. Stevensom misses and Jamison rebounds and puts it in. Posey hits a 3 with a defendrer in his face. Wiz miss and Celtics rebound. RA misses a layup off the glass and Jamison rebounds. Daniels loses the ball out of bounds. Posey misses a 3 and Jamison rebounds. Butler drives into the paint and Posey called for a blocking foul. Time out with Boston up 74-70 and 2:34 left in the 4th