5. 2015 SAN ANTONIO SPURS v 12. 2008 PHOENIX SUNS
Spurs: 55-27, 3rd SW Div, 7th Off, 2nd Def
Lost Clips West 1st Rnd 4-3
#72 overall seed
Coach: Gregg Popovich
Starters
C Tiago Splitter 30 8.2 PPG 18.9 PER 4 WS
F Tim Duncan 38-Wake 13.9 22.6 9.6
F Kawhi Leonard 23-San Diego St 16.5 22 8.6
G Tony Parker 32 14.2 15.9 4.1
G Danny Green 27-UNC 11.7 16.5 7.8
Rotation Reserves
C Aron Baynes 28- Wash St 6.6 15.9 3.9
F Boris Diaw 32 8.7 12.7 3.6
F Marco Belinelli 28 9.2 12.4 2.9
G Cory Joseph 23-Texas 6.8 15.5 4.5
G Manu Ginobli 37 10.5 16.2 3.7
Leaders: Kawhi: 5th Steals, 1st Steals/Gm, 2nd Def +/- Kawhi 1st Def Rtng, 2nd Steal %
Duncan: 4th Def, 4th Def +/-, 3rd Def Rtng
Couple of first round playoff losers meeting here; 38 year old Duncan and 23 year old Kawhi both go over 20 PER; there's not anyone w/ double digit WS on this Spurs club, the 2nd best defensive club in the league in 2015.
Suns: 55-27, 2nd Pac Div, Off 2nd, 16th Def
Lost Spurs West 1st Rnd 4-1
#185 overall seed
Coach: Mike D'Antoni, GM Steve Kerr
Starters
C Amar'e Stoudemire 25 25.2 PPG 27.6 PER 14.6 WS
F Shawn Marion 29-UNLV 15.8 20 6.5
F Grant Hill 35-Duke 13.1 15.7 5.9
G Steve Nash 33-S Clara 16.9 21.1 10.5
G Leandro Barbosa 25 15.6 15.8 5.5
Rotation Reserves
C Shaquille O'Neal 35-LSU 12.9 16.5 1.7
F Brian Skinner 31-Baylor 3.3 11.4 1.2
F Boris Diaw 25 8.8 12 3
G Marcus Banks 26-UNLV 5.2 10.1 .3
G Raja Bell 31- FIU 11.9 10.5 4.5
Leaders: Stoudemire: 5th PPG, 5th blocks, 5th FG% 1st TS% 3rd PER, 3rd WS, 3rd WS/48
Nash: 2nd Assts, 2nd Assts/Gm, 3rd FT%, 4th Eff FG%, 3rd TS%, 2nd Asst%
Shaq: 4th FG%
25 year old Stoudemire leads the way; a PER over 27 and nearly 15 Win Shares. Nash is 33 and right behind, 20+ PER and double digit WS. Shaq's 35 and provides some bench offense - and look what we have, 25 year old Boris Diaw against 32 year old Boris Diaw, both in the rotations of their respective teams. This Phoenix team is all offense.
Lineup Matchup:
C Stoudemire (Suns)
F Duncan (Spurs)
F Kawhi (Spurs)
G Nash (Suns)
G Green (Spurs)
Bench: Spurs
Game One
1st Qtr
9 Spurs 6 Suns 6
Spurs Duncan, Splitter, Leonard
Suns Barbosa, Marion, Stoudemire
6 Suns 16 Spurs 12
Spurs Splitter, Leonard, Splitter
Suns Marion, Nash(3) Marion, Barbosa(3)
Shawn Marion opens with 6 and this series is underway.
3 Suns 25 Spurs 21
Spurs Green(3) Duncan, Leonard, Duncan
Suns Hill, Stoudemire, Bell(3) Nash
1st Qtr Score Suns 37 Spurs 32
Spurs Baynes, Ginobli, Duncan, Leonard, Ginobli(3)
Suns Bell(3) Hill, Marion(3) Bell, Marion
#2 offense in 2008 against the #2 defense in 2015 - it's the offense that gets off first; Raja Bell scores 8 in the back half of the quarter and the Suns are up 5.
2nd Qtr
9 Suns 44 Spurs 43
Spurs Diaw, Joseph, Joseph, Belinelli(3) Belinelli
Suns Shaq, Banks, Shaq(3)
6 Spurs 57 Suns 51
Spurs Splitter, Belinelli, Splitter, Belinelli, Green(3) Diaw, Parker, Joseph(3)
Suns Barbosa, Diaw, Nash(3)
Yikes - San Antonio scores 25 in six minutes, 9 from Belinelli.
3 Spurs 59 Suns 57
Spurs Green
Suns Marion, Marion, Bell
Halftime Score Spurs 64 Suns 61
Spurs Duncan, Splitter(1) Leonard
Suns Stoudemire, Stoudemire
Tight one played at a blistering pace.
3rd Qtr
9 Spurs 76 Suns 68
Spurs Green, Leonard, Green, Parker, Splitter, Ginobli
Suns Marion(3) Marion, Diaw
6 Spurs 82 Suns 73
Spurs Baynes, Baynes, Diaw
Suns Bell(3) Diaw
We get our Diaw v. Diaw matchup; Spurs have a little daylight.
3 Spurs 88 Suns 82
Spurs Baynes, Green, Parker
Suns Barbosa(3) Stoudemire, Stoudemire, Stoudemire
3rd Qtr Score Spurs 97 Suns 89
Spurs Baynes, Leonard(3) Duncan, Leonard
Suns Nash, Marion, Hill (3)
Both sides pounding the baskets; Spurs by 8.
4th Qtr
9 Spurs 106 Suns 91
Spurs Ginobli, Duncan, Duncan, Ginobli(3)
Suns Stoudemire
6 Spurs 111 Suns 97
Spurs Ginobli, Green, Splitter(1)
Suns Shaq, Shaq, Hill
San Antonio ends it in this stretch; 7 more for Manu.
3 Spurs 119 Suns 101
Spurs Belinelli, Baynes, Duncan, Williams
Suns Marion, Strawberry
Final Score Spurs 126 Suns 106
Spurs Williams(3) Ayres, Mills
Suns Marks, Piatkowski
Phoenix wanted a track meet and they got one; the Spurs just overwhelming today.
Duncan: 18 pts/16 boards/6 assists-Player of the Game
Leonard 17 pts/8 boards
Green: 16 pts/6 boards
Splitter: 12 pts/7 boards/6 assists
Ginobli: 14 pts
Baynes: 12 pts/5 boards
Marion: 24 pts/10 boards/5 steals
Nash: 10 pts/17 assists
Stoudemire: 16 pts/12 boards
Barbosa: 10 pts
Bell: 13 pts
Game Two
1st Qtr
9 Suns 12 Spurs 6
Spurs Splitter, Duncan, Duncan
Suns Barbosa, Barbosa, Marion, Marion, Hill, Stoudemire
6 Suns 19 Spurs 16
Spurs Green(3) Duncan, Leonard, Leonard(3)
Suns Hill, Nash(3) Hill
Both sides filling it up again to open game 2; Grant Hill's got 6.
3 Suns 29 Spurs 20
Spurs Parker, Duncan
Suns Stoudemire, Marion, Hill, Hill, Marion
1st Qtr Score Suns 31 Spurs 25
Spurs Belinelli(3) Baynes
Suns Diaw
Hill's got more than he did all of game one and it's Phoenix up 6.
2nd Qtr
9 Suns 33 Spurs 29
Spurs Joseph, Baynes
Suns Shaq
6 Suns 38 Spurs 33
Spurs Parker, Duncan
Suns Bell(3) Hill
Defense stiffens.
3 Suns 43 Spurs 35
Spurs Joseph
Suns Barbosa, Stoudemire
Halftime Score Suns 52 Spurs 44
Spurs Ginobli, Splitter, Belinelli(3) Diaw
Suns Stoudemire, Nash(3) Marion, Marion
It's Phoenix with the halftime lead - can they even this thing up?
3rd Qtr
9 Spurs 61 Suns 55
Spurs Baynes, Leonard, Duncan, Duncan, Leonard(3)
Suns Stoudemire, Hill, Marion, Barbosa
6 Spurs 66 Suns 65
Spurs Splitter, Splitter, Duncan, Duncan, Green
Suns Barbosa, Barbosa(1) Hill
Tim Duncan gears up; he scores 8 and cuts the deficit to a point.
3 Spurs 73 Suns 70
Spurs Baynes, Leonard(3) Splitter(3)
Suns Hill, Nash
3rd Qtr Score Spurs 77 Suns 76
Spurs Baynes, Duncan
Suns Barbosa, Stoudemire, Stoudemire
San Antonio takes the lead - 12 minutes from advancing.
4th Qtr
11:33: SA: Kawhi goes off glass
11:02: SA: Barbosa misses - Danny Green hits a corner 3 and it's 82-76
10:34: PHO: Big Marion rebound after an Amar'e miss - kick out to Hill who buries a 3 from the wing.
9:39: PHO: A minute later it's Nash with a 3 from the wing to tie this score.
9:23: PHO: Parker misses - Marion scores from the lane; 8 straight for the Suns.
7:33: SA: 2 minutes later Duncan ties the score by banking one in from the foul line.
7:14: PHO: Raja Bell from the wing.
7:02: SA: Back to Duncan, again tying the score.
6:39: SA: Nash misses the 3 - Duncan again powers one home.
6:27: PHO: Grant Hill drives and scores. 88-88
6:04: SA: Duncan hits a long 2 as the shot clock expires. He's got 8 straight Spurs points.
5:24: SA: Shaq enters, gets the ball and misses - Parker scores from the foul line.
4:57: SA: Suns turnover and Kawhi goes isolation for the score and the lead is 6.
4:46: PHO: Raja Bell from 17
4:30: SA: Duncan 1 FT
4:04: PHO: Nash misses - but Hill is there with the putback. 95-92 Spurs
3:55: SA: Duncan - just dominating this 4th quarter.
3:48: PHO: Starters now on the floor for both sides, Marion drives and scores.
3:26: SA: Amare Stoudemire fouls out - Splitter hits both, Spurs up 5 and that means Shaq checks back in.
1:52: PHO: Multiple empty trips - Shaq dunk.
1:42: SA: Kawhi just takes it right at the Suns.
1:23: SA: Barbosa misses - Kawhi again, just taking the ball, isolation play - creating space and hitting midrange jumpers.
1:10: PHO: Nash pull up.
:50: PHO: Parker misses - Barbosa connects from the foul line and now the Spurs lead is down to 3.
:42: SA: Danny Green - ice cold - hits a deep 3 to make it 6.
:21: PHO: Nash hits a triple.
:18: SA: Green 2 FT
:13: PHO: Nash.
:09: SA: Kawhi 1 FT, it's a 4 point game.
Barbosa misses. Splitter gets the board - fouled - makes both - it's done.
Final: Spurs 111 Suns 105
Another big assist game from Nash; but Duncan's monster 4th quarter brings it home.
Duncan: 31pts/10 boards - Player of the Game
Leonard: 22 pts/7 boards/6 assists/5 steals
Splitter: 15 pts/6 boards
Green: 13 pts/5 assists
Baynes: 10 pts/7 boards
All Region Team:
C Kareem ('82 Lakers - 1 PotG)
F Duncan ('15 Spurs- 2 PotG)
F Leonard ('15 Spurs)
G Jordan ('91 Bulls - 2 PotG)
G Magic ('82 Lakers - 1 PotG)
4. 2003 DALLAS MAVERICKS v. 13. 1969 NBA CHAMPION BOSTON CELTICS
Mavs: 60-22, 2nd MW Div, 1st Off, 9th Def
d. Blazers West First 4-3
d. Kings West Semis 4-3
Lost Spurs 4-2 West Finals
#57 overall seed
Coach: Don Nelson
Starters
C Shawn Bradley 30-BYU 6.7 18.3 PER 7.4 WS
F Dirk Nowitzki 24 25.1 25.6 16.1
F Michael Finley 29-Wisconsin 19.3 17.6 6.7
G Steve Nash 28-S Clara 17.7 22.6 11.6
G Nick Van Exel 31-Cincinnati 12.5 15.6 4
Rotation Reserves
C Raef LaFrentz 26-Kansas 9.3 16.5 5.8
F Eduardo Najera 26-Oklahoma 6.7 14.8 4
F Walt Williams 32-Maryland 5.5 11.7 2.5
G Avery Johnson 37-Southern 3.3 12.2 .4
G Adrian Griffin 28-S Hall 4.4 11.5 2.9
Leaders: Dirk: 4th Def Reb, 2nd WS, 3rd WS/48, 4th +/- 5th VORP
Nash: 3rd FT%
Bradley 3rd Def +/- 5th Def Rtng, 2nd Block%
LaFrentz 4th TO%
24 year old Nowitzki has a 25 PER and 16 Win Shares; we saw Nash with the Suns in the last series and 5 years earlier he's still in Dallas with 20+ PER and double digit WS. Raja Bell was in the last series, he's not in this Mavs rotation. Nellie coaches this Mavs team...
Celtics: 48-34, 4th East, 10th Off, 1st Def
d. Sixers East Semis 4-1
d. Knicks East Finals 4-2
d. Lakers NBA Finals 4-3
#200 overall seed
Coach: Bill Russell, GM Red Auerbach
Starters
C Bill Russell 34-USF 9.9 PPG 15.2 PER 10.9 WS
F Bailey Howell 32-Miss St 19.7 19.4 11.3
F Don Nelson 28-Iowa 11.6 17.5 7.5
G Larry Siegfried 29-Ohio St 14.2 13.6 5.6
G John Havlicek 28-Ohio St 21.6 17 7.3
Rotation Reserves
C Jim Barnes 27-UTEP 5.1 14 2.1
F Rich Johnson 22-Grambling 2.2 9 .1
F Satch Sanders 30- NYU 11.2 12.8 5.4
G Em Bryant 30-DePaul 5.7 8.8 1.9
G Sam Jones 35- NC Central 16.3 17.6 4.9
Leaders: Russell 3rd Reb, 3rd Reb/Gm, 1st Def WS
Siegfried 1st FT%
Havlicek 3rd Def WS
Howell 3rd WS/48
Nelson 5th WS/48
34 year Russell is the player/coach for the World Champion Celtics; he and Howell have double digit WS. Another bad offensive Celtics club, another top defense in the league. Note, Nellie is in the starting lineup. It's player Don Nelson v Coach Don Nelson, spanning 30+ years.
Lineup Matchup
C Russell (Celts)
F Nowitzki (Mavs)
F Push
G Nash (Mavs)
G Havlicek (Celts)
Bench: Push
The best offense from 2003 faces the best defense from 1969.
Game One
1st Qtr
9 Mavs 6 Celtics 6
Mavs Van Exel(3) Van Exel(3)
Celtics Havlicek, Nelson, Howell
6 Mavs 11 Celtics 6
Mavs Bradley, Finley, Dirk(1)
Celtics
Van Exel opens with 2 quick 3s and this series is underway.
3 Celtics 20 Mavs 18
Mavs Dirk, Dirk(3) Bradley
Celtics Nelson, Havlicek, Siegfried, Russell, Havlicek, Howell, Russell
1st Qtr Score Celtics 24 Mavs 20
Mavs Nash
Celtics Russell, Howell
The tournament has not been easy for these Celtics championship teams, they just don't have the kind of offense that can keep up - but they're up early here.
2nd Qtr
9 Celtics 26 Mavs 22
Mavs Najera
Celtics Siegfried
6 Celtics 32 Mavs 28
Mavs Johnson, Najera, LaFrentz
Celtics Sanders, Howell, Jones
First 6 of the quarter is tight defensively, the game slowing to the Celtics pace.
3 Celtics 39 Mavs 29
Mavs Finley(1)
Celtics Johnson, Havlicek, Nelson(3)
Halftime Score Celtics 49 Mavs 36
Mavs Najera(1) Nash, Nash, Bradley
Celtics Jones, Howell, Howell, Howell, Jones
The Celtics are seeded 13th in the Region, traveling to Dallas to face a Mavs team that can fill it up - the Mavs are not filling it up, Boston holds them to 36 first half points.
3rd Qtr
9 Celtics 56 Mavs 49
Mavs Nash(3) Nash(3) Nash, Finley, Van Exel(3)
Celtics Howell, Jones(3) Havlicek
6 Celtics 52 Mavs 56
Mavs Van Exel, Van Exel(3) Nash
Celtics Sanders, Nelson, Havlicek
The Mavs come out bombing 3s, Nash goes for 10, Van Exel 8 to start the third - meanwhile Havlicek picks up his 4th foul.
3 Celtics 64 Mavs 64
Mavs Nash, Dirk, Bradley, Finley
Celtics Howell
3rd Qtr Score Celtics 74 Mavs 72
Mavs Finley, Najera, Finley, Nash
Celtics Howell, Howell, Havlicek, Russell, Nelson
Bailey Howell goes for a half dozen and Celts have the slender lead headed to the 4th.
4th Qtr
11:42: DAL: Dirk goes backdoor to tie the score.
11:27: BOS: Nellie hits the midrange J - will Don Nelson the player stick it right at Don Nelson the coach?
11:02: DAL: Dirk misses, but Finley is there for the board and he finds Nash with the kickout.
10:27: BOS: Boston goes back to Nelson - he misses, but Howell boards - finds Nelson cutting to the goal.
9:44: DAL: Bradley's blocked by Russell but Dallas maintains possession and Bradley dunks over the legendary Russell to tie the score.
8:47: BOS: A minute later it's Sam Jones from the foul line.
8:17: BOS: Dallas throws one away - Jones lays it in for the Celtics and the lead is 4
6:52: DAL: Empy trips leads to a LaFrentz putback on a Finley miss.
6:37: BOS: It's Hondo - he drills a corner 3 to out the Cs up 5.
6:24: DAL: Michael Finley hits a triple of his own from the wing. Good game one.
6:11: BOS: Nellie again - sticking it to his future self with the fadeaway.
5:47: BOS: Siegfried scores after the Finley miss and Boston's lead is 6.
5:28: DAL: Dirk dunk.
4:54: BOS: Siegfried is blocked by Dirk, but Russell maintains possession for Boston and finds Howell underneath for the bucket.
3:59: BOS: Big empty trip for Dallas turns into another Don Nelson jump shot - Boston's up 8.
3:15: DAL: Big offensive board for Bradley turns into a Nash jumper.
2:54: DAL: Bradley blocks Nelson and Finley converts the layup. 93-89.
2:32: DAL: Nellie misses the triple - Bradley dunks hard from the baseline and now it's 93-91.
2:16: BOS: Howell from the foul line.
2:03: DAL: Dirk hits a corner 3. Boston's lead is 1.
1:48: BOS: Bradley fouls Russ, that's 5 on the tallest man in the building, he hits 1 - but then gets his own rebound on the missed second shot - finds Hondo who hits the J and Boston's up 4.
1:21: DAL: Dirk again with the corner 3. 98-97 Celtics.
1:11: BOS: Siegfried dips and dives to the tin. 3 point Boston game.
Dirk pumpfakes the long 2 and drives to the goal - but Russell is there with the huge swat - Nelson comes away with it - Dallas doesn't foul - they look to clamp down on Boston --- but Hondo comes throughy with what probably ends game one with the shot in traffic.
Dallas misses a 3 - Howell will get the board, get fouled, hit both. Nash hits a triple for Dallas but it's too late.
Final: Celtics 104 Mavs 100
It's the C's, they go on the road and take game one from the 4th seeds in the 8th region.
Howell: 28 pts/10 boards - Player of the Game
Havlicek: 21 pts/10 boards
Nelson: 19 pts/15 boards
Jones: 13 pts
Russell: 9 pts/17 boards/6 assists
Nash: 27 pts/10 boards
Nowitzki: 18 pts/15 boards
Bradley: 12 pts/13 boards/6 blocks
Finley: 16 pts
Van Exel: 14 pts
Game Two
1st Qtr
9 Mavs 8 Celtics 7
Mavs Finley, Van Exel, Nash(1) Finley(3)
Celtics Havlicek, Nelson, Siegfried(3)
6 Mavs 14 Celtics 13
Mavs Van Exel(1) Finley, Dirk
Celtics Nelson, Siegfried(1) Siegfried(3)
It's Larry Siegfried with two triples to open game 2; Celtics trying to close out.
3 Mavs 17 Celtics 15
Mavs Nash(3)
Celtics Sanders
1st Qtr Score Celtics 25 Mavs 24
Mavs Finley, LaFrentz, Griffin, Najera
Celtics Russell, Russell, Barnes, Havlicek, Barnes
Jim Barnes, on the floor for Russell, hits the 8 footer as the quarter ends and Boston takes its first lead.
2nd Qtr
9 Celtics 34 Mavs 33
Mavs Johnson, LaFrentz, Dirk(3) Dirk
Celtics Siegfried, Chaney, Jones(3)
6 Celtics 41 Mavs 39
Mavs Finley, Bradley, Finley
Celtics Havlicek, Havlicek, Nelson(3)
Foul trouble for both Shawn Bradley and, more critically, Bailey Howell, each with 3 - Boston still leads.
3 Mavs 44 Celtics 43
Mavs Dirk(3) Najera
Celtics Nelson
Halftime Score Mavs 54 Celtics 53
Mavs Najera, LaFrentz(1) Bradley(3) Finley, Van Exel
Celtics Siegfried, Russell, Nelson, Jones, Olsen
Howell has 4; that's Boston's best player, Dallas is poised to go on a nice run in the third quarter and even up this series.
3rd Qtr
9 Mavs 62 Celtics 59
Mavs Van Exel, Bradley, Nash, Bradley
Celtics Johnson, Nelson, Jones
6 Mavs 73 Celtics 65
Mavs Najera, Bradley, Van Exel, Dirk(3) Dirk
Celtics Howell, Siegfried, Havlicek
Howell has 5 - so much time left, the Mavs have their biggest lead of the game, this sure looks like it's about to be squared.
3 Mavs 81 Celtics 70
Mavs Bradley, Williams(1) Nash(3) Dirk
Celtics Sanders, Howell(3)
3rd Qtr Score Mavs 87 Celtics 74
Mavs Van Exel, Nash, Dirk
Celtics Siegfried, Jones
Russell's got 4 - Howell 5 - double digit Mavs lead and they're a dozen minutes from tying this series.
4th Qtr
9 Mavs 93 Celtics 79
Mavs Nash, Van Exel, Johnson
Celtics Nelson, Jones, Olsen(1)
6 Mavs 99 Celtics 81
Mavs Van Exel, Finley(3) Finley(1)
Celtics Russell
Easy one for Dallas - we've got a decisive game 3 coming.
3 Mavs 109 Celtics 85
Mavs Finley(3) Nash(3) Finley, Harrington
Celtics Nelson, Barnes
Final Score Mavs 116 Celtics 96
Mavs Harrington(3) Abdul Wahad, Jones
Celtics Olsen(3) Olsen, Olsen(3) Olsen(3)
We'll see you for Game 3 - winner moves on.
Finley: 25 pts/5 boards - Player of the Game
Dirk: 19 pts/11 boards
Nash: 16 pts/12 assists
Bradley: 13 pts/13 boards
Van Exel: 15 pts
Nelson: 17 pts/7 boards
Siegfried: 15 pts
Havlicek: 10 pts/6 boards
Russell: 8 pts/20 boards/5 assists
Jones: 13 pts
Olsen: 14 pts/6 boards
Game Three
1st
9 Celtics 8 Mavs 2
Mavs Dirk
Celtics Havlicek, Howell, Havlicek, Havlicek
6 Mavs 15 Celtics 13
Mavs Nash(3) Dirk(3) Dirk Dirk(3) Dirk
Celtics Nelson, Havlicek
Dirk's had a good serries with some high rebound totals but he hasn't gone off yet - until now; Dirk opens game 3 by shooting the ball - a dozen points in the first 6 minutes of action. Boston though is still right there as Havlicek has 8 of his own.
3 Mavs 23 Celtics 20
Mavs Finley, Finley(3) Nash(3)
Celtics Nelson, Havlicek
1st Qtr Score Mavs 31 Celtics 22
Mavs Nash(3) Dirk(3) Dirk
Celtics Bryant(3) Sanders
4 more Dallas triples; Nowitzki scores 17 first quarter points and Dallas might end this early.
2nd Qtr
9 Mavs 40 Celtics 28
Mavs Williams, Finley(3) Johnson, Finley
Celtics Jones, Havlicek, Sanders
6 Mavs 49 Celtics 38
Mavs Johnson, Finley, Johnson(1) Bradley, Nash
Celtics Barnes, Barnes, Jones, Sanders, Howell
7 for Michael Finley to open the quarter and Dallas is up 11.
3 Mavs 51 Celtics 46
Mavs Finley
Celtics Havlicek, Siegfried, Howell, Nelson
Halftime Score Mavs 57 Celtics 53
Mavs LaFrentz(3) Nash(3)
Celtics Nelson, Nelson, Siegfried(3)
Nice Boston run and we have a game; Nellie scores 6 in the back half of the second.
3rd Qtr
9 Mavs 63 Celtics 59
Mavs Van Exel, Finley, Griffin
Celtics Havlicek, Sanders, Nelson
6 Mavs 69 Celtics 61
Mavs Van Exel, Najera, Bradley
Celtics Russell
Dallas can just rip off 3s - you get the sense Boston's just holding on for dear life.
3 Mavs 74 Celtics 71
Mavs Bradley, Nash(3)
Celtics Havlicek, Havlicek, Jones, Nelson, Nelson
3rd Qtr Score Celtics 79 Mavs 77
Mavs Nash(3)
Celtics Howell, Siegfried, Siegfried, Russell
It turns out that it's Dallas that's holding on - Boston attacking the basket and defending ferociously. 12 left - one team moving on.
4th Qtr
11:53: BOS: Nellie goes backdoor, gets the Sam Jones dish.
11:29: BOS: Najera misses and Hondo connects from the paint.
9:39: BOS: 2 minutes of tough, tough defense ends with a Don Nelson dunk and it's 85-77 Celtics.
9:22: DAL: Bradley goes to the rack.
9:04: BOS: Howell from 12 feet.
7:32: DAL: Multiple empty trips ends in an Avery Johnson J.
6:39: DAL: Boston can't find the tin and Najera goes off glass to make it 87-83
6:03: DAL: Van Exel steals the ball; Dirk will be fouled and hits a shot.
4:51: BOS: After some empty trips, Hondo scores a long 2.
4:30: BOS: Howell scores following a turnover.
4:04: BOS: Dirk misses, Havlicek scores.
3:33: BOS: Finley misses, Nelson scores and that might do it - 8 straight for Boston gives them an 11 point lead.
3:04: DAL; Nash hits 1 FT, Dirk gets the rebound on the miss - the ball gets kicked out to the wing -
2:48: DAL: Nash hits a triple., 95-88
2:37: BOS: Nellie from 18.
1:31: BOS: The Mavs can't score, they have to foul Nelson, hits them both.
1:22: DAL: Van Exel 3
1:20: BOS: 2 more FT for Nelson. He has the last 8 Boston points.
1:11: DAL: Dirk 3
1:09: BOS: 2 more for Nelson - the player Nelson sticking it to the coach Nelson.
1:02: DAL: Dirk's fouled. Hits both.
1:00: BOS: Russell 1 FT
:45: DAL: Van Exel 2. 104-98
:15: DAL: Howell misses both foul shots - Nash scores the other way. 104-100.
:11: BOS: This time Howell hits both - that's the series - big win for the Celtics.
Finley hits a triple, Hondo hits 2 FT that's the final.
Final: Celtics 108 Mavs 103
Its the Celtics, they take the 13/4 upset and will be moving on to play the '15 Spurs.
Havlicek: 29 pts/10 boards - Player of the Game
Nelson: 30 pts/8 boards
Howell: 14 pts/18 boards
Russell: 5 pts/16 boards/6 assists
All Region Team:
C Kareem ('82 Lakers - 1 PotG)
F Duncan ('15 Spurs- 2 PotG)
F Nelson ('69 Celtics)
G Jordan ('91 Bulls - 2 PotG)
G Magic ('82 Lakers - 1 PotG)
