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On Sunday night, the Boston Celtics struggles continued as they dropped their third straight game at the hands of Greg Monroe (17 points, 10 rebounds) and the Detroit Pistons, 96-81, at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
Rajon Rondo let his emotions fly free in Sunday night's debilitating loss to the Detroit Pistons, throwing a basketball at a referee following a non-call under the basket late in the third quarter. Rondo received a double technical foul for his actions, resulting in his ejection. Rondo will likely face a fine, a suspension or both as a result of the incident.
For more Celtics and Pistons coverage, visit our blogs, CelticsBlog and Detroit Bad Boys.
The Boston Celtics simply could not keep the Detroit Pistons off of the free throw line on Sunday night. Detroit went to the line 46 times for the game, which they converted into 29 points on their way to a 96-81 win. The loss was the Celtics' third straight and fifth in their last six games, putting them back at .500 on the season.
The Celtics made it to the charity stripe just 15 times by comparison. Perhaps even more discouraging were the turnovers. Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce committed five and six, respectively, and Boston gave up the ball 22 times total. 13 came off steals by the Pistons, including four by Rodney Stuckey.
The Pistons guard had 16 points on the night, going 12-for-15 from the free throw line. Greg Monroe led Detroit with 17 points on 8-for-19 from the field. He and Jason Maxiell had 10 rebounds each. Pierce led the Celtics with 18 points. Ray Allen and Chris Wilcox were the only other Celtics players to hit double digits, as Rondo went 1-for-6 from the field for two of his five points on the night.
For more Celtics and Pistons coverage, visit our blogs, CelticsBlog and Detroit Bad Boys.
The Boston Celtics could not chip away at the Detroit Pistons halftime lead after a quarter. Detroit shot just 3-for-13 for the quarter, but the Celtics sent them to the line early and often. For the game, the Pistons own a 40-14 advantage in free throw attempts.
Boston has struggled mightily to keep Rodney Stuckey off the charity stripe. Coming off a 36-point performance against the Sacramento Kings, the fifth-year guard has 14 points on the night, 10 of which have come from the line. Greg Monroe leads the Pistons with 15 points. He would have more, but he is just 1-for-7 on his free throw attempts.
The Pistons continue to win the turnover battle as well. Rajon Rondo has bee forced into six on his own, and the team has committed 20 total compared to just 12 for Detroit. Paul Pierce now leads the Celtics with 16 points on 5-for-10 shooting.
For more Celtics and Pistons coverage, visit our blogs, CelticsBlog and Detroit Bad Boys.
The Boston Celtics trail the Detroit Pistons, 55-42, at halftime from the Palace of Auburn Hills on Sunday.
After a close first quarter which ended tied at 26, the Pistons started to pull away in the second quarter. Boston's poor shooting at the end of the first quarter carried over into the second frame. However, a hot start in the first quarter (9-12) has Boston shooting 50% at the break (16-32). The Pistons have been held to just 39.5% shooting during the contest but hold the double-digit lead because they are completely dominating the turnover battle and free throw attempts. Boston's 13 turnovers have killed their chances so far, though the majority of them came in the second quarter. Through two quarters, Detroit holds a 29-10 lead in free throw attempts and have a 9-point lead at the free throw line.
Chris Wilcox is leading Boston with 12 points at the half. Paul Pierce chipped in 10 points (7 in the first quarter). Rodney Stuckey and Tayshaun Prince are leading Detroit with 13 and 10 points at the half, respectively.
For more Celtics and Pistons coverage, visit our blogs, CelticsBlog and Detroit Bad Boys.
The Boston Celtics are tied with the Detroit Pistons, 26-26, after the first quarter at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Sunday.
Boston shot the lights out through most of the first quarter (starting 9-12 from the field) before going cold right at the end. Detroit only shot 8-21 from the field but a big advantage at the charity stripe allowed them to keep it close. The Pistons made 8-13 from the free throw line while Boston only had four total free throw attempts. The rebounding battle and turnover battle was nearly tied after the first quarter.
Boston was led by 7 points from Paul Pierce in the quarter. Chris Wilcox and Jermaine O'Neal each chipped in six points for the Celtics. Detroit was led by 10 points from Rodney Stuckey, who hit 6-7 from the free throw line.
For more Celtics and Pistons coverage, visit our blogs, CelticsBlog and Detroit Bad Boys.
Rajon Rondo and his Boston Celtics (15-14) were caught off guard by Greg Monroe and the Detroit Pistons (10-22) in their last meeting this past Wednesday, and the C's are looking for revenge when the two teams clash at 6:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday night in Auburn Hills, Michigan (TV/Radio: CSNNE/WEEI).
Rondo had a career night on Wednesday, scoring a career-high 35 points, but the Celtics couldn't back up their point guards' effort in a 98-88 loss at TD Garden. Boston was able to hang around for most of the game thanks to the performance of Rondo, but Ben Gordon turned the clock back to the 2009 playoffs and burned the C's down the stretch.
Rodney Stuckey led the Pistons with 22 points and was 11-for-11 from the free throw line while Monroe added 22 points and nine rebounds. Gordon had 22 points off the bench and hit 4-of-6 three pointers. Tayshaun Prince finished with 10 points as Detroit shot 47.3 percent.
Aside from Rondo, it was Chris Wilcox who stole the show for the Celtics. Wilcox had 17 points and nine rebounds and was the beneficiary of several Rondo alley-oop passes that resulted in dunks or layups. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, who usually carry the Celtics' scoring load, had only 10 points apiece. JaJuan Johnson added 10 points off the bench.
Sandwiched in between Wednesday and Sunday for the Celtics was a loss to the Eastern Conference leading Chicago Bulls, who were once again missing reigning league MVP Derrick Rose. That didn't seem to matter, though, as the Bulls walked all over the Celtics en route to an 89-80 victory. Kevin Garnett had 18 points and 10 rebounds while Rondo once again approached a triple double, totaling 17 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Boston shot 39.7 percent.
Detroit won its bridge game to the rematch with the Celtics, defeating the Sacramento Kings, 114-108 on Friday. Stuckey followed up his good game in Boston with a gem, amassing 36 points and three boards. Brandon Knight had 23 points and 10 assists, Prince had 22 points and 10 boards and Gordon added 13 points off the bench for Detroit.
For more Celtics and Pistons coverage, visit our blogs, CelticsBlog and Detroit Bad Boys.
Rajon Rondo Suspended Two Games For Tossing Ball At Referee
Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics has been suspended two games without pay for throwing a ball at an official and striking him in the chest during yesterday's game against the Detroit Pistons.
Rondo threw the ball at official Sean Wright in the third quarter of the game. Rondo was visibly frustrated about the lack of a foul call after he drove to the basket. The Celtics guard was assessed two technical fouls and was ejected from the game. Rondo now has seven technical fouls on the season. However, the ejection was the first of Rondo's NBA career.
Rondo will miss Celtics road games against the Dallas Mavericks (Feb. 20) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (Feb. 22).
For more Celtics coverage, visit our blog CelticsBlog.
Feb 20 5:31p by Pat Johnston