Pierce's big night leads C's to victory in home opener
Paul Pierce's 40 point game leads the Celtics to a 1-0 start to the seasonPreview|
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Cavalier Notables |
Celtic NotablesBoston, November 2nd (AP) - The Boston Celtics have started their season with a winning record thanks to a 40 point night from Celtic forward Paul Pierce.
Pierce scored 40 points on 18-25 from the field. The Cavaliers lack of talent at the small forward spot allowed Pierce to take advantage of every mismatch he had. Whether it was the outside shot or
a fade away from the post, Pierce found a way to score over every defender the Cavaliers threw at him.
The Celtics also got valuable contributions from forward Kevin Garnett as well as guard Rajon Rondo. Garnett was both solid on the offensive side of the court as well as the defensive side. His work
on the boards allowed the Celtics to outrebound the Cavaliers 40 to 37. Rajon Rondo ended the game with 10 points and 12 assists. His double double was a key contributor early in the game as it allowed
Pierce to find his stroke early from three.
The Cavaliers kept the game close but were unable to close out the game in the second half. Forward Alonzo Gee led Cleveland with 23 points as well as 6 rebounds and 4 assists. His ability to drive to
the rim allowed the Cavs to get the Celtic bigs in early foul trouble. Rookie Kyrie Irving also had a solid NBA debut, putting up 20 points. He was unable to find the touch from three, ending the game
0-3 from downtown.
"He had the hot hand and we looked to feed him early", commented Doc Rivers on Paul Pierce. "His size was an advantage for us. They didn't really have anyone who could body him up in the post."
Coach Byron Scott felt confident about his team's performance tonight, labeling it as a learning experience. "We played against a tough opponent and held our own. If we continue to put 100% effort
into every game, we can really sneak up on some teams."
The Celtics will have a one game break before heading out to Georgia to face Joe Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.
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