Inside The Playbook

Rajon Rondo sees triple vision, carries Celtics over Bulls 95-91


By: Lily Zhao

(ESPN.com)

Rondosanity took over the TD Garden Sunday night.


Rajon Rondo ended the game with a triple-double with 32 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds to lead the Boston Celtics over the Chicago Bulls 95-91.

The Bulls were without star guard Derrick Rose who sat out his second straight game due to back spasms.

Kevin Garnett added 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Chris Wilcox finished with 11 points and 9 rebounds. This win snapped a two game skid for the Celtics, following a poor outing in Toronto last Friday, where the team was outplayed 86-74.

C.J. Watson, who started for Rose, scored 22 points for the Bulls, while Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah added a combined 38 points. This loss ended a five game win streak for the Bulls.

Following a 48-43 halftime lead, the Celtics opened the third quarter on a 6-2 run following a lay-up by Wilcox to stretch the lead to 54-45. The Bulls would get no closer than three to end the third.

Down 14 points with just under five minutes to play, the Bulls went on a 11-0 run, pulling within three points on Luol Deng's two free throws to make it 91-88 with just under 1:30 left to go in the fourth quarter.

With just 9.8 seconds left on the clock, Rondo hit his ninth triple-double of the season by grabbing his 10th rebound. His 32 points and 15 assists were both season highs.

Rondo set the tone early on in the game, driving to the lane wide open and creating opportunities for his teammates. He scored his first 8 points in the paint. Among his many highlights in the first half, his between the legs pass to Wilcox for the dunk set the tone for the rest of the game.

Boston held Chicago to 34 percent shooting in the first half. The Bulls bench went 6-for-23 from the field.

With the win, Boston improved to 15-12 on the season, 11-7 while playing at home.

Game Notes
Boston played without Brandon Bass (knee problems) and Jermaine O'Neal (knee and shoulder injuries)...Celtics reserve guard Keyon Dooling returned after missing 16 of the team's last 17 games following knee and right hip problems. Dooling grabbed two boards...The Celtics' next game is this Wednesday night against the Detroit Pistons. Following this home game, the team will be on a five-game road trip and will not return home until Feb. 29 when they play the Milwaukee Bucks.