TUESDAY'S NBA : East bottom-dweller shocks Celtics
Posted on Wednesday, January 7, 2009
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Raymond Felton scored 25 points, rookie D.J. Augustin added 11 of his 20 points in overtime, and the Charlotte Bobcats stunned the Boston Celtics 114-106 on Tuesday night.
Beaten by their surprising nemesis for the second time in two seasons, the defending champions came undone in overtime.
After a team-record, 19-game winning streak and an NBA-record 27-2 start, the Celtics lost for the fifth time in seven games.
Paul Pierce scored 28 points, but had a key turnover in overtime. Ray Allen scored 20 points on 7-of-20 shooting for the Celtics.
The Bobcats, who also got 23 points from Gerald Wallace and 13 points and 17 rebounds from Emeka Okafor, were able to neutralize Kevin Garnett.
Playing despite a sore calf, Garnett had 14 points and 13 rebounds, but shot only 7 of 18 and was called for traveling in overtime.
Augustin's three-pointer and two free throws came in a 7-0 run that put Charlotte ahead 108-101. Pierce later dribbled the ball out of bounds, giving a slight shove to Augustin to end Boston's chances in a physical game that saw the Celtics unable to close out one of the Eastern Conference's worst teams.
The Bobcats, despite entering with a 44-72 record over the past two seasons, have always played the Celtics tough. Charlotte won in Boston last season, lost on Allen's buzzer-beater in another game, and dropped a close game in the first meeting this season in November.
Tuesday was another thriller, as the Celtics rallied from a 10-point, third-quarter deficit, took a 79-72 lead in the fourth quarter, then allowed the Bobcats to get back in it.
Felton's fadeaway with 38 seconds left in regulation put Charlotte ahead 96-95. After Allen missed a jumper, Felton was fouled and hit only one free throw with 20 seconds left.
Pierce then dribbled off a screen and made a turnaround jumper with 3.4 seconds left to tie it. Felton missed a straightaway 20-footer at the buzzer to force overtime.
But the Bobcats dominated the extra period, despite playing again without Raja Bell (groin) and getting five consecutive defensive stops.
In other games, Kevin Durant had 27 points and 12 rebounds, Jeff Green scored 27 points and Russell Westbrook had 22 points and 9 assists as the host Oklahoma City Thunder beat the New York Knicks 107-99. Oklahoma City (5-30) shot 52.7 percent from the field, including an 11-for-16 performance by Durant, but nearly blew a 23-point, second-half lead before recovering. Al Harrington scored 21 points and Chris Duhon added 18 for the Knicks (13-20). ... Andre Iguodala scored 28 points and the host Philadelphia 76ers beat the Houston Rockets 104-96. Luis Scola led the Rockets with 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, Von Wafer and Carl Landry each scored 14 points for the Rockets. ... Hedo Turkoglu scored 22 points and the host Orlando Magic held off a late scoring burst by Caron Butler in an 89-80 victory over the Washington Wizards. Butler had 29 points, all in the second half, but the Wizards (7-26) failed in their bid to win for the fourth time in six games. Orlando center Dwight Howard had 15 points and 16 rebounds. ... Randy Foye scored 23 points, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 40 seconds left, as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the host Memphis Grizzlies 94-87. Al Jefferson added 19 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks for Minnesota. Hakim Warrick scored 22 points, and O.J. Mayo had 20 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists for Memphis. Marc Gasol had 13 points and Rudy Gay 12. ... Dirk Nowitzki scored 34 points, including the go-ahead jumper with 37 seconds left right after he blocked a shot, as the host Dallas Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Clippers 107-102. Rookie Eric Gordon led the Clippers with 32 points. ... Ben Gordon scored 24 points and the host Chicago Bulls beat the Sacramento Kings 99-94 to end a three-game losing streak.
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