{"id":356383,"date":"2011-04-01T03:49:27","date_gmt":"2011-04-01T03:49:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/04\/01\/celts-send-spurs-to-fifth-straight-loss-ap\/"},"modified":"2011-04-01T03:49:27","modified_gmt":"2011-04-01T03:49:27","slug":"celts-send-spurs-to-fifth-straight-loss-ap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/04\/01\/celts-send-spurs-to-fifth-straight-loss-ap\/","title":{"rendered":"Celts send Spurs to fifth straight loss (AP)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

SAN ANTONIO (AP)\u2014The Boston Celtics<\/a> finally got a big win and their big
\nman back. They may also reclaim the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n

And the San Antonio Spurs<\/a>, at this dismal rate, may give first place in the
\nWest away.<\/p>\n

Rajon Rondo<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> had 22 points and 14 assists, center Jermaine O\u2019Neal<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> returned
\nfrom knee surgery, and the Celtics ended a miserable March by not slipping
\nfurther from first in the East, beating the slumping Spurs 107-97 on Thursday
\nnight.<\/p>\n

Paul Pierce<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> added 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Kevin Garnett<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> scored 20.
\nThe Celtics won for just the second time in five games and, ending the month at
\n9-7, moved within two games of Chicago for the No. 1 playoff seed with eight
\ngames to go.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a good place to try and gather some momentum,\u201d Pierce said. \u201cYou
\ntalk about the team with the best record. What better place to get back on track
\nthan here?\u201d<\/p>\n

Yet these days, San Antonio\u2019s luster isn\u2019t what it used to be.<\/p>\n

The Spurs lost their fifth straight\u2014their longest skid all season\u2014and
\nthe timing couldn\u2019t be worse. San Antonio has seven games left but is in danger
\nof falling out of first place after comfortably being No. 1 in the West all
\nseason.<\/p>\n

San Antonio\u2019s woes have renewed hopes the Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> and Dallas have
\nof taking the top spot. The Lakers were 3 games back and hosted the Mavericks\u2014
\nwho were 3 1\/2 games behind the Spurs\u2014later Thursday night.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course we want to be No. 1. We don\u2019t want to give it way just because
\nwe like being underdogs,\u201d Spurs guard Manu Ginobili<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> said. \u201cWe want to win it.
\nWe put ourselves in an unbelievable situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tony Parker<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> led the Spurs with 23 points. Tim Duncan<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> returned after missing
\nthe last four games with a sprained ankle and finished with 20 points and 13
\nrebounds.<\/p>\n

The Celtics celebrated the return of their own big man: O\u2019Neal. The 14-year
\nveteran played for the first time since January after having arthroscopic
\nsurgery on his left knee. He scored five points in 11 minutes and hit his only
\ntwo shots.<\/p>\n

He turned his last into a three-point play after getting fouled, a play that
\nswung the momentum back to Boston after the Spurs had gotten within seven early
\nin the fourth.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Neal said he felt winded at times and said he was shocked at the pace of
\nthe game. It was just the 18th game for O\u2019Neal this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need him back,\u201d said Celtics coach Doc Rivers, alluding to his
\ndepleted frontcourt that is still without Shaquille O\u2019Neal<\/a>(notes)<\/a>.<\/span> \u201cAnd we need the
\nminutes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Glen Davis<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> scored 16 points as Boston had four players in double figures.<\/p>\n

The Celtics broke open a tie game at halftime behind a 12-0 run in the third
\nquarter. The Spurs never got closer than six after that.<\/p>\n

The Celtics arrived in San Antonio after losing to Indiana, Charlotte and
\nMemphis in three of their last four games. Two weeks ago, Boston (52-22) was
\ntied for first place in the East.<\/p>\n

Miami has also crawled back into contention for first, sitting a half-game
\nbehind Boston, but a big win against the toughest opponent they\u2019ve seen in weeks
\nkept the Celtics ahead of the Heat.<\/p>\n

Then again, the Spurs aren\u2019t looking so tough lately.<\/p>\n

San Antonio (57-18) didn\u2019t panic after losing four games with Duncan
\nsidelined. But not even its starting five back and healthy could help the Spurs
\nstop their season-worst skid.<\/p>\n

The Spurs had nine losses at the All-Star break. They\u2019ve dropped more than
\nhalf that number of games in the past week alone.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt happens to everybody. And this is about the worst time it could happen,
\nat the end of the year,\u201d Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said before tipoff. \u201cIf it
\nhas to happen, you want it to happen 30 games in so you can get back and
\nrecover. So we got to step on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ginobili, who sat out Monday\u2019s loss against Portland with a left quad
\ncontusion, had nine points on just 4-of-13 shooting. Richard Jefferson<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> added 14
\npoints.<\/p>\n

Notes: Boston swept the season series 2-0 and will be the only team the
\nSpurs didn\u2019t beat this season. \u2026 Spurs F Antonio McDyess<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> tweaked his left
\nankle in the second half but was cleared to return.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

View the original here:
\nCelts send Spurs to fifth straight loss (AP)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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