Ray Allen (G - BOS), Paul Pierce (F - BOS), Kevin Garnett (C - BOS), Rajon Rondo (G - BOS), Carmelo Anthony (F - NYK), Mickael Pietrus (F - BOS), Brandon Bass (F - BOS), Steve Novak (F - NYK), Jeremy Lin (G - NYK), Iman Shumpert (F - NYK), New York Knicks, Boston CelticsPaul Pierce (34 points, seven rebounds) and Rajon Rondo (18 points, 20 assists, 17 rebounds) fueled the Boston Celtics for the second straight game, leading the C's past Jeremy Lin and the New York Knicks, 115-111, in overtime on Sunday afternoon.
"It's big," Pierce said afterwards. "Especially you know we've got these home games, we've got to start playing better at home, and we have a huge road trip coming up so we have to take advantage of these home games right now before we go on this two week road trip."
Rondo's triple-double was his fourth of the season and 17th of his career (11 in regular season). It was the first triple-double in the NBA with at least 17 in each category (points, assists, rebounds) since Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers did so with 24 points, 17 assists and 17 rebounds on April 18, 1989. In addition, it was the first time a player has had a triple-double with at least 18 points, at least 17 rebounds and at least 20 assists since Wilt Chamberlain had 22 points, 25 rebounds and 21 assists on February 2, 1968.
"It was a big win for us," Rondo said. "I think we were tied at the eighth seed, or seventh seed, but we tried to get a little separation tonight with a good win against a good team."
"You know he really stepped up," Pierce said about Rondo. "That's the Rondo we like to see, playing with all that energy, he got guys the ball in the open shots. He did everything for us tonight. He rebounded, he passed, he got the clutch rebound there in overtime and got the layup. That's the Rondo I like to see."
Jeremy Lin, of course, was the main attraction for a packed Garden crowd, but he struggled through the first three quarters, scoring only six points while picking up three fouls. Lin picked up his play in the fourth and finished with 14 points and five assists.
"The difference I think today, I was a little more comfortable but still not where I want to get to," said Lin. "Obviously Boston is a very good defensive team and hopefully as I play them a couple more times I'll get comfortable."
"The thing about Jeremy is that he's going to make some mistakes, he's got a learning curve" said Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni. "There's no way you can throw him in here first time he ever does it and expect it to be perfect, but he finds a way to be very positive in the end of games, hit the big three and a couple of other shots. It was good and he's going to be good. Just a matter of going through some learning experiences, but I thought overall he's good."
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