Sunday, December 02, 2001
NBA roundup
Pierce posts 48 on Nets
The Associated Press
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Paul Pierce scored a career-high 48 points despite going just 1-for-16 in the first half and led the Boston Celtics past New Jersey 105-98 in overtime Saturday.
After scoring two points by halftime, Pierce was unstoppable in the second half and extra period, hitting 12 of 18 shots from the field, including 5-for-5 on 3-pointers. He also went 17-of-18 on free throws to lead Boston back from a 17-point deficit.
“My role on this team is I'm one of the go-to guys,” said Pierce, who scored 13 of the Celtics' 15 overtime points. “I've got to stay aggressive. This team needs me to stay aggressive, mix it up, drive to the basket.”
“If they see me out there losing confidence, they lose confidence,” he the fourth-year player added. “They need to see me playing basketball, the way Paul Pierce plays basketball.”
The Celtics rallied with coach Jim O'Brien in the locker room after being ejected early in the third quarter for walking on to the court to argue with referee Jess Kersey.
Antoine Walker added 25 points before fouling out.
Spurs 85, Rockets 75
HOUSTON — Tim Duncan had 25 points and 12 rebounds to lead the San Antonio Spurs to an 85-75 victory over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night.
David Robinson added 12 points and 10 rebounds as the Spurs dealt the Rockets their fifth straight loss.
Magic 96, Wizards 87
WASHINGTON — Tracy McGrady scored 16 of his 26 points in the second half as Orlando snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory over Washington.
Michael Jordan shot 6-for-19 for the game and just 2-for-12 in the second half. He missed all four shots he took in the fourth quarter and finished with 15 points in 33 minutes. Jordan is heading home to Chicago to have his ailing knee examined.
Playing his fourth game in five nights, Jordan faded badly in the second half of the game. Jordan has barely been able to practice for at least a week because of tendinitis in his right knee., which bothered him during his summer comeback workouts and flared up again during training camp. He has already had the knee drained once, and he is going to Chicago on Sunday to see the former Bulls team physician.
Patrick Ewing had 18 points and 12 rebounds in a reserve role for Orlando. Darrell Armstrong had 17 points and 12 assists.
Richard Hamilton scored 21 points, making 11 of 12 free throws, to lead the Wizards. Rookie Brendan Haywood came off the bench to score 18 points.
76ers 93, Bulls 76
CHICAGO — Dikembe Mutombo took care of the Chicago Bulls in record-setting fashion. Mutombo recorded the 10th triple-double of his career and tied an NBA record with eight blocked shots in the third quarter.
Mutombo finished with 16 points, 19 rebounds and 10 blocked shots, a United Center record. Allen Iverson added 30 points and eight assists for the 76ers.
Matt Harpring also had 16, and Raja Bell scored a career-high 12.
A.J. Guyton scored 14 to lead the Bulls.
Pistons 100, Knicks 97
NEW YORK — Chucky Atkins made five 3-pointers, including one with 15.6 seconds left in a wild fourth quarter to give Detroit the lead for good.
The Pistons opened the fourth with a 15-0 run, went ahead by 13 with 4:22 left and then allowed the Knicks to go on a 17-2 run to regain the lead.
Latrell Sprewell, who scored New York's final six points and finished with 26, missed a jumper with six seconds left that would have given New York the lead. Marcus Camby back-tapped the rebound all the way to midcourt, where Jerry Stackhouse took it in for an uncontested layup and a three-point lead with 3.9 seconds left.
With no timeouts left, the Knicks could only manage a heave from beyond midcourt by Sprewell that missed.
Stackhouse led Detroit with 25 points, Clifford Robinson had 21, Atkins had 20 and Zeljko Rebraca added 17.
Raptors 104, Hawks 103 ATLANTA — Hakeem Olajuwon's baseline jumper with 1.8 seconds lifted Toronto to the win. Vince Carter scored 19 points — just the third time in 17 games he has fallen short of 20 — as Toronto won its season-high fourth straight game.
Cavaliers 93, Hornets 81
CLEVELAND — Andre Miller and Wesley Person each scored 19 points to lead Cleveland. The veteran guards combined to spark a decisive 11-3 run early in the third quarter as Cleveland overcame a lackluster first half.
Sports Stories
St. Ignatius rolls past Bombers in title game
Wildcats blow out Bombers in final
St. X errors costly
SULLIVAN: Dream dies hard for Bombers
SULLIVAN: State setup a long drive from fair
Dixie Heights 61, Newport Central Catholic 32
Doerger 2-0 in return
Kings 49, Indian Hill 40
No. 1 CovCath survives Brossart
Redskins romp over Firebirds
Roger Bacon routs North College Hill
Loveland 55, Badin 46
Girls basketball roundup
Ohio boys basketball roundup
Turpin girls 11th in national poll
Losing run rolling again?
Bucs have makings of another late-season run
Keys to the game
The Edge
By the numbers
Isolation Booth
Nov. 15, 1981 - Bengals 24, L.A. Rams 10
NFL notebook
Curnutte's NFL power ratings
Week 12 NFL picks
Bearcats bound for Motor City Bowl
Guidugli follows UK but keeps focus on his team
UC pours it on... and on and on
UC notebook
Musketeers put on a road show
XU notebook
Reds Q&A with John Fay
Reds should share
Baseball insider
Mets sign seven-time Japanese All-Star pitcher
NBA roundup
