::SUBSCRIBE:: Rockets blast struggling Celtics at home 89-85.
BOSTON (AP)—Now the Celtics are losing at home, too.
The defending NBA champions dropped their sixth game in eight tries Wednesday night, falling to the Houston Rockets 89-85 on Von Wafers go-ahead 3-pointer with 44 seconds left. It was the Celtics first loss in Boston since a Nov. 14 defeat to Denver sent them on a 19-game winning streak.
In our last timeout, you could see it in our guys eyes. Like, Shoot, were going to lose this home game, Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. It bothered them. You could see that. And I was thinking Thats a good thing.
Yao Ming had 26 points and eight rebounds, clinching it on a putback with 12.9 seconds left to help the Rockets snap a three-game losing streak and a five-game road skid.
Yao is unstoppable, said Rockets forward Ron Artest, who scored 17 points playing most of the game in foul trouble. Then, when you have shooter surrounding him, its hard to guard him. He shot right over the top. When hes playing like that, were going to be tough to beat.
Paul Pierce scored 26 points, and Kevin Garnett had 18 and eight rebounds for the Celtics, who opened the defense of their 17th NBA title with victories in 27 of their first 29 games. But talk of running away with another championship has disappeared as the people in Boston—and the rest of the league—wonder whats happened.
Nobody said it was going to be easy. I know, at times, we do make it look easy, Garnett said. We are a very, very confident team. I feel we have the mind-set to weather the storm.
Wafer, starting in place of Tracy McGrady, had 12 points on 4-for-10 shooting. But he squared up for the open 3 when Aaron Brooks regained control of his dribble and made the pass into the corner.
McGrady had missed one game with a sore left knee before returning against Philadelphia on Tuesday night and struggling in the second half. Brooks came off the bench with 19 points for the Rockets, who avoided a second straight season sweep by Boston.
Aaron Brooks made big shots in the fourth quarter, Yao said. This is a big win for us, because we have a lot of respect for the Celtics.
Glen Davis scored a season-high 12 for the Celtics.
Houston led 62-55 early in the second half when Garnett scored on the fast break and then hit a jumper to cut it to three points. The Rockets managed just a pair of baskets, by Artest and Chuck Hayes, over the next 4 minutes while Pierce made six straight free throws and hit a 3-pointer to give Boston a 68-66 lead with 3:49 left in the third.
But Boston scored just 11 points in the fourth quarter, getting just two baskets in the first 9:17—both by Gabe Pruitt.
Houston led 83-81 when Artest fouled out with 3:14 left. Pierce pointed him tauntingly to the sideline, while Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck stood at his courtside seat and waved goodbye.
Pierce made a jumper to tie, it then Yao missed one of two free throws and Garnett hit Rajon Rondo for a layup that gave Boston an 85-84 lead with 1:34 to play. Garnett blocked Brooks and came down with the rebound, but Boston couldnt score and after Brooks nearly lost the ball, he chased it down and dished it to Brooks for the 3.
Pierce missed a jumper and Brooks grabbed the rebound over Rondo. After Carl Landry missed from in close, Yao put it in to make it 89-85.
Notes
Garnett moved into 26th place on the NBAs career scoring list, passing Walt Bellamy (20,941). The Celtics are 18-2 at home and 11-6 on the road.
Scores :
T-Mac - Absent
Yao Ming - 26 pts,3 blocks
Ron Artest - 17 pts,3 steals
Aaron Brooks - 19 pts,1 steal
Von Wafer - 12 pts
Carl Landry - 6 pts,1 block
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9:22
T-Mac tries his 13pts in 33sec. once again!!!by BMACPOLAND136,307 views
i dun like the way weafer runs
redphiveII 6 months ago
They weren't free throws. Brooks dished it to Landry who got blocked on a layup/dunk attempt, Yao got the loose ball and laid it up easily with 12 seconds left.
1ahmadrockets1 9 months ago
Good old times...
1ahmadrockets1 9 months ago
@KauLuby lol retard
chestnut321 1 year ago
@KauLuby actually if you watched the game you would know that thos were free throws to ice the game wafer actually won it
bobert923 1 year ago
@bobert923 no, because he hits point number 87 for rockets. Score 89 - 85 ;P
KauLuby 1 year ago
cool
dynamitesteel 2 years ago
:35 lmfao
CHEEZHE4D 2 years ago
i was at that game i was so happy rockets won i had 3 seats above the hoop
rkoistheman 2 years ago
rockets own
marceant1 2 years ago