Celtics coach Doc Rivers pointed to a season-high 25 turnovers as the key in allowing the Golden State Warriors to rally from an 18-point deficit for a 103-99 triumph at Oracle Arena.
"I told the guys [at halftime] that we had 58 points with 15 turnovers -- that's a miracle," said Rivers. "Typically, if you have 15 turnovers, you have maybe 35 points. The fact that we had 58 points with that many turnovers was amazing. But you can't have turnovers against them. They score too quick and too easy. Honestly, that was the difference in the game.
"We were up 18 in the first quarter -- that happens. Eighteen points doesn't mean much, they're an offensive team and we knew they'd get back in it. It was more the 25 turnovers that turned the game around."
Two games after having a season-high eight turnovers against Orlando, Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo had his second-highest total of the season with six giveaways. It slightly tempered a night in which he poured in a season-high 30 points and dished out 15 assists.
Boston's starters combined for all but four of the 25 turnovers (the rest going to Glen Davis).
The Celtics hadn't turned the ball over more than 18 times in a game before Christmas, but have 56 turnovers in the first three games of this road trip, including 20 against the Magic.
"I told the guys [at halftime] that we had 58 points with 15 turnovers -- that's a miracle," said Rivers. "Typically, if you have 15 turnovers, you have maybe 35 points. The fact that we had 58 points with that many turnovers was amazing. But you can't have turnovers against them. They score too quick and too easy. Honestly, that was the difference in the game.
"We were up 18 in the first quarter -- that happens. Eighteen points doesn't mean much, they're an offensive team and we knew they'd get back in it. It was more the 25 turnovers that turned the game around."
Two games after having a season-high eight turnovers against Orlando, Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo had his second-highest total of the season with six giveaways. It slightly tempered a night in which he poured in a season-high 30 points and dished out 15 assists.
Boston's starters combined for all but four of the 25 turnovers (the rest going to Glen Davis).
The Celtics hadn't turned the ball over more than 18 times in a game before Christmas, but have 56 turnovers in the first three games of this road trip, including 20 against the Magic.
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UPCOMING GAMES
| W-L | PF | PA | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOS | 15-17 | 89.4 | 88.5 | 11-8 | 4-9 | L5 | 3-7 |
| CLE | 13-18 | 93.7 | 97.3 | 8-9 | 5-9 | L1 | 5-5 |
| W-L | PF | PA | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIL | 13-20 | 94.5 | 96.8 | 7-8 | 6-12 | L2 | 3-7 |
| BOS | 15-17 | 89.4 | 88.5 | 11-8 | 4-9 | L5 | 3-7 |
| W-L | PF | PA | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJN | 10-25 | 92.5 | 99.3 | 3-13 | 7-12 | L1 | 2-8 |
| BOS | 15-17 | 89.4 | 88.5 | 11-8 | 4-9 | L5 | 3-7 |
TEAM LEADERS
| POINTS | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Paul Pierce
|
|||||||||||
| OTHER LEADERS | ||||||||||||
| Rebounds | K. Garnett | 7.8 | ||||||||||
| Assists | R. Rondo | 9.5 | ||||||||||
| Steals | R. Rondo | 1.6 | ||||||||||
| Blocks | J. O'Neal | 1.7 | ||||||||||
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