Celtics beat down Bulls
BOSTON » Mean. Ugly. Not a lot of love. Yep, that pretty much describes how Kevin Garnett treated Joakim Noah and the Chicago Bulls last night.
Garnett scored 20 points with a season-high 17 rebounds to lead the Celtics to a 104-92 victory over the Bulls and leave Noah wondering if it was wise to call the Celtics star "mean" and "ugly" on a Chicago radio station last month.
"Everybody has an opinion," Garnett said, cutting off that line of questioning. "I’m not entertaining, nor addressing nobody’s."
Rajon Rondo scored 12 points and had 19 assists, Paul Pierce scored 18 and Ray Allen had 14 points as Boston never trailed in its sixth consecutive win.
Derrick Rose scored 20 points with eight assists, and Carlos Boozer scored 12 points in 21 minutes in his second game after missing the first month of the season with a broken bone in his right hand.
Noah, who had 14 points and 10 rebounds, said on WMVP-AM last month that he grew up with a poster of Garnett on his wall, but Garnett was mean to Noah when he was a rookie and he no longer admires the Celtics star. He went on to call Garnett ugly — in both looks and personality — and said he’s "just (a) very mean guy."
Don't miss out on what's happening!
Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
"Kevin Garnett will not — will not — get a Christmas gift from me. I don’t like him," Noah said on WMVP-AM. "Just where is the love, know what I’m saying? None at all."
Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he doesn’t think Garnett was thinking about those comments when he manhandled the Bulls.
"I don’t think he needed that. I don’t think they liked each other before that," Rivers said. "Kevin’s going to play. If you’re going to talk, he’s still going to play."
Knicks 100, Hornets 92
When the Hornets were able to interrupt Amare Stoudemire’s dominance inside, the Knicks responded with enough 3-pointers to make New Orleans pay.
Stoudemire had 34 points and 10 assists to power New York to its eighth win in nine games.
New York went 13-for-30 from 3-point range.
Raptors 111, Thunder 99
Andrea Bargnani had 26 points and 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the season and Leandro Barbosa scored a season-high 22 points.
Oklahoma City lost for the first time in four games this season without forward Kevin Durant, the NBA’s leading scorer at 27.3 points per game. Durant missed his second straight game with a sprained left knee.
Wizards 83, Trail Blazers 79
On a night that top draft pick John Wall struggled in his return to the starting lineup, Washington turned in its best defensive performance of the season.
The Wizards held Portland to 10 points in the third quarter and a season-worst 33.3 shooting percentage to win despite getting only 10 points on 3-for-13 shooting and a career-low two assists from Wall.
Magic 104, Pistons 91
Brandon Bass scored a career-high 27 points, and Orlando overcame a stomach virus that sidelined four key players.
Orlando was without star center Dwight Howard, and Jameer Nelson, J.J. Redick and Mickael Pietrus were also unavailable because of the stomach bug. In spite of all that, the Magic won their sixth straight game.
Rockets 127, Grizzlies 111
Kyle Lowry scored a career-high 28 points and matched his career best with 12 assists.
Kevin Martin also had 28 points, while Brad Miller contributed a season-high 23 points in Houston’s sixth straight win over Memphis. All have been by 10 points or more.
Bobcats 91, Nets 84, OT
Stephen Jackson scored 25 points, Boris Diaw added a career-best 16 rebounds and Charlotte recovered from a fourth-quarter meltdown.
After the Bobcats blew a seven-point lead with just over a minute left in regulation, Jackson hit four straight free throws in the final 31 seconds of OT.
Hawks 93, 76ers 88
Al Horford’s three-point play with 31 seconds remaining gave Atlanta its first lead and the Hawks won their fifth straight.
The Hawks trailed 85-72 in the final quarter before closing out the game with a 21-3 run. Marvin Williams led Atlanta with 22 points.
Suns 105, Pacers 97
Channing Frye scored a season-high 29 points, Jason Richardson added 21 and Phoenix rallied to beat road-weary Indiana.
Spurs 107, Timberwolves 101
Tim Duncan scored 22 points and had 10 rebounds to help San Antonio rally from a 15-point deficit to beat Minnesota.
Nuggets 109, Clippers 104
Carmelo Anthony scored 26 points, J.R. Smith had 21 and Denver held off Los Angeles to win its sixth straight and give coach George Karl his 998th career win.
Lakers 113, Kings 80
Kobe Bryant scored 22 points, Pau Gasol added 16 despite a strained left hamstring, and Los Angeles easily snapped a four-game losing streak with a victory over struggling Sacramento.
Mavericks 93, Jazz 81
Dirk Nowitzki scored 26 points on 12-for-18 shooting, Caron Butler added 16 points and Dallas beat Utah to extend its winning streak to eight games.
Dallas improved to 15-4 and ended a five-game losing streak in Utah.
Celtics 104, Bulls 92
CHICAGO
Boozer 4-10 4-6 12, Deng 5-13 2-4 15, Noah 5-8 4-7 14, Rose 7-17 5-5 20, Bogans 0-1 0-0 0, Brewer 2-4 2-4 6, Gibson 3-8 4-4 10, Watson 2-5 3-3 8, Korver 2-6 0-0 4, Asik 1-2 1-1 3, Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Scalabrine 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-74 25-34 92.
BOSTON
Pierce 8-16 2-2 18, Garnett 7-11 6-6 20, S.O’Neal 5-6 2-4 12, Rondo 6-11 0-0 12, Allen 5-12 4-4 14, Davis 3-6 0-0 6, Daniels 3-7 2-4 8, Erden 3-3 1-2 7, Robinson 2-6 0-0 5, Wafer 1-3 0-0 2, Harangody 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 43-81 17-22 104.
Chicago | 19 | 29 | 19 | 25 | — | 92 |
Boston | 31 | 22 | 29 | 22 | — | 104 |
3-Point Goals–Chicago 5-13 (Deng 3-4, Watson 1-2, Rose 1-5, Bogans 0-1, Korver 0-1), Boston 1-9 (Robinson 1-3, Wafer 0-1, Allen 0-2, Pierce 0-3). Fouled Out–S.O’Neal. Rebounds–Chicago 43 (Noah 10), Boston 52 (Garnett 17). Assists–Chicago 18 (Rose 8), Boston 29 (Rondo 19). Total Fouls–Chicago 17, Boston 23. Technicals–Noah, Garnett, Boston defensive three second. A–18,624 (18,624).
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division | W | L | Pct | GB |
Boston | 15 | 4 | .789 | — |
New York | 11 | 9 | .550 | 4 1/2 |
Toronto | 8 | 11 | .421 | 7 |
New Jersey | 6 | 14 | .300 | 9 1/2 |
Philadelphia | 5 | 14 | .263 | 10 |
Southeast | W | L | Pct | GB |
Orlando | 15 | 4 | .789 | — |
Atlanta | 13 | 7 | .650 | 2 1/2 |
Miami | 12 | 8 | .600 | 3 1/2 |
Charlotte | 7 | 12 | .368 | 8 |
Washington | 6 | 12 | .333 | 8 1/2 |
Central | W | L | Pct | GB |
Chicago | 9 | 8 | .529 | — |
Indiana | 9 | 9 | .500 | 1/2 |
Cleveland | 7 | 11 | .389 | 2 1/2 |
Milwaukee | 6 | 12 | .333 | 3 1/2 |
Detroit | 6 | 14 | .300 | 4 1/2 |
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Southwest | W | L | Pct | GB |
San Antonio | 16 | 3 | .842 | — |
Dallas | 15 | 4 | .789 | 1 |
New Orleans | 13 | 6 | .684 | 3 |
Memphis | 8 | 12 | .400 | 8 1/2 |
Houston | 7 | 12 | .368 | 9 |
Northwest | W | L | Pct | GB |
Utah | 15 | 6 | .714 | — |
Denver | 12 | 6 | .667 | 1 1/2 |
Oklahoma City | 13 | 7 | .650 | 1 1/2 |
Portland | 8 | 11 | .421 | 6 |
Minnesota | 4 | 15 | .211 | 10 |
Pacific | W | L | Pct | GB |
L.A. Lakers | 14 | 6 | .700 | — |
Phoenix | 10 | 9 | .526 | 3 1/2 |
Golden State | 8 | 11 | .421 | 5 1/2 |
Sacramento | 4 | 13 | .235 | 8 1/2 |
L.A. Clippers | 4 | 16 | .200 | 10 |
Yesterday
Charlotte 91, New Jersey 84, OT
Toronto 111, Oklahoma City 99
Washington 83, Portland 79
Atlanta 93, Philadelphia 88
Orlando 104, Detroit 91
Houston 127, Memphis 111
New York 100, New Orleans 92
Boston 104, Chicago 92
San Antonio 107, Minnesota 101
Denver 109, L.A. Clippers 104
Phoenix 105, Indiana 97
L.A. Lakers 113, Sacramento 80
Dallas 93, Utah 81
Today
Atlanta at Miami, 2:30 p.m.
Charlotte at Philadelphia, 2:30 p.m.
Houston at Chicago, 3 p.m.
Cleveland at Minnesota, 3 p.m.
Orlando at Milwaukee, 3:30 p.m.
Dallas at Sacramento, 5 p.m.
Tomorrow
Boston at New Jersey, 8 a.m.
New York at Toronto, 8 a.m.
Cleveland at Detroit, 1 p.m.
Golden State at Oklahoma City, 1 p.m.
New Orleans at San Antonio, 1 p.m.
Memphis at Denver, 3 p.m.
Washington at Phoenix, 3 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Portland, 4 p.m.
NBA LEADERS
THROUGH THURSDAY
Scoring
G | FG | FT | PTS | AVG | |
Durant, OKC | 16 | 142 | 130 | 437 | 27.3 |
Bryant, LAL | 19 | 171 | 138 | 507 | 26.7 |
Rose, CHI | 15 | 149 | 69 | 387 | 25.8 |
Ellis, GOL | 19 | 183 | 81 | 474 | 24.9 |
Nowitzki, DAL | 18 | 169 | 96 | 447 | 24.8 |
Westbrook, OKC | 19 | 152 | 157 | 467 | 24.6 |
James, MIA | 20 | 160 | 143 | 483 | 24.2 |
Gordon, LAC | 17 | 134 | 120 | 409 | 24.1 |
Stoudemire, NYK | 19 | 164 | 124 | 457 | 24.1 |
Rebounds
G | OFF | DEF | TOT | AVG | |
Love, MIN | 18 | 85 | 184 | 269 | 14.9 |
Noah, CHI | 16 | 66 | 132 | 198 | 12.4 |
Evans, TOR | 15 | 65 | 117 | 182 | 12.1 |
Howard, ORL | 18 | 51 | 166 | 217 | 12.1 |
Gasol, LAL | 19 | 68 | 158 | 226 | 11.9 |
Griffin, LAC | 19 | 71 | 150 | 221 | 11.6 |
Camby, POR | 18 | 61 | 132 | 193 | 10.7 |
Odom, LAL | 19 | 49 | 150 | 199 | 10.5 |
Biedrins, GOL | 19 | 66 | 125 | 191 | 10.1 |
Assists
G | AST | AVG | |
Rondo, BOS | 15 | 207 | 13.8 |
Paul, NOR | 18 | 189 | 10.5 |
Williams, UTA | 20 | 204 | 10.2 |
Nash, PHX | 16 | 160 | 10.0 |
Kidd, DAL | 18 | 167 | 9.3 |
Wall, WAS | 11 | 99 | 9.0 |