First impression: Celtics 106 , Bulls 80
December, 12, 2009
12/12/09
11:04
PM ET
By
Chris Forsberg | ESPNBoston.com
Instant reaction following the Celtics' 106-80 triumph over the Bulls Saturday night at the United Center in Chicago:
How the game was won: Seven different Celtics finished in double figures, including 15 points for both Rasheed Wallace and Eddie House off the bench. Kevin Garnett (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Rajon Rondo (16 points, 14 assists) registered double-doubles for Boston.
Turning point: The Bulls were rallying from a double-digit deficit in the third quarter when Luol Deng fumbled the ball out of bounds on a fastbreak that should have cut the Celtics' lead to four. Instead, Ray Allen drilled a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession and Rondo added a bucket soon after to put the Celtics out front, 63-52, with 8:29 to go in the frame. Boston led by 20 (83-63) by the end of the third frame.
Stat of the game: The Bulls finished 30 of 92 from the floor overall, an absolutely dismal 32.6 percent.
Unsung hero: Celtics forward Shelden Williams quietly logged 21 quality minutes off the bench. With center Kendrick Perkins in foul trouble, Williams registered eight rebounds and two blocks, while adding four points.
What it means: The Celtics have now won 10 in a row and seven straight away from the Garden. For the second time this year, Boston annihilated the Bulls, absolutely running Chicago out of its own building Saturday. The Celtics can wrap up a perfect second leg of this total seven-game road trip (with one home game squeezed in between) on Monday in Memphis.
PODCASTS
ESPN Boston Radio with Adam Jones
ESPN Boston Radio: Darnell McDonald
ESPN Boston Radio: Henry Abbott
Cedric Maxwell, NBA
ESPN Boston Radio with Adam Jones
Play Podcast Red Sox OF Darnell McDonald and True Hoops' Henry Abbott
Play Podcast Red Sox OF Darnell McDonald
Play Podcast True Hoops' Henry Abbott on the Celtics-Sixers and other NBA notes
Play Podcast Celtics analyst Cedric Maxwell comments on Boston's loss at Philadelphia in Game 6, Elton Brand, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley, Ray Allen, Larry Bird and more.
Play Podcast ESPNBoston.com's Joe McDonald and Peter May
TEAM LEADERS
| POINTS | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Paul Pierce
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| OTHER LEADERS | ||||||||||||
| Rebounds | K. Garnett | 8.2 | ||||||||||
| Assists | R. Rondo | 11.7 | ||||||||||
| Steals | R. Rondo | 1.8 | ||||||||||
| Blocks | J. O'Neal | 1.7 | ||||||||||




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