Live diary: Rockets vs. Celtics

January 7, 6:40 PMHouston Rockets ExaminerDavid Hartnett

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6:32 p.m. - The game is about to begin, and it should be a fun one.  Sure both teams are struggling, but it's a bit like watching an unmovable object go up against an unstoppable force — something has to give.  Both teams can't seem to find a way to win, and per NBA rules someone will claim a 'W' from this game. 

The Celtics are 2-5 in their last seven, while the Rockets are winless in 2009.

6:41 p.m. - Ron Artest in the starting lineup, alongside Scola and Yao in the front court.  Von Wafer and Rafer Alston as the two starting guards.  No T-Mac.

6:43 p.m. - Yao with the first basket of the game, Pierce responds with a 3-pointer at the other end.

6:46 p.m. - Quick news flash, Paul Pierce can hit the 3-pointer — he's made two so far.  It may be a good idea to guard him when he's beyond the 3-point line.

6:51 p.m. -First timeout, Celtics lead 11-6. Artest just picked up his second foul on a questionable charge. Looked like Pierce wasn't set, but on the previous offensive possession Artest decided to pull an Iverson and dribble and play one-on-one with Pierce, so no complaint should be raised.

Yao has all six of the Rockets' points. 

7:00 p.m.- Celtics are shooting 77%.  Pierce has made three 3-pointers.  Garnett — who I don't believe has dribbled the ball yet — has 10 points.  Celtics lead 25-18. Boston just acquired their second illegal defense call.

7:08 p.m. - Rockets down, 31-22 , as the first quarter expires.  Yao was great, the rest of the Rockets not so much.

The Celtics shot 66.7%, as Pierce and Garnett had combined for 22  points, while only missing two shots between them.  The law of averages will eventually take place and the Celtics shooting percentage will go down, and when it does the Rockets ought to make a run. 

The Rockets' defense isn't necessarily bad, it's just the Celtics are making everything.  Even if it's contested, they'll hit it.  Now, no Rockets defender has yet to contest a Pierce 3-point attempt, (he made three). Still a long way to go.  Let's see what happens in the second quarter.

7:15 p.m. - Nine minutes to go in the second quarter, Celtics lead by six, 37-31.  The Rockets bench has done a good job so far.  Brooks has seven, while Landry has four points.  Artest just made a great pass to set-up a 3-point play for Landry.

Ron-Ron is still dribbling a little too much, but if he can continue to make plays like this last one — let him do whatever.

7:23 p.m. - Landry just got his third personal foul, but the Rockets are only down one, 42-41.  Garnett has returned, but Hayes' tough defebse has yet to allow Garnett to score.  The Rockets' bench has them back into the game, outscoring the Celtics at this time, 21-12.

The Rockets defense has improved, now the Celtics are only shooting 56%!  That's what we call  progress.

7:31 p.m. - Kevin Garnett may be the reigning defensive player of the year, but the way Chuck Hayes has played today, he may needed some consideration.  Granted, Hayes won't win it, or nor he should, but the defense he's playing on Garnett is amazing.  Garnett is 1-for-5 with Hayes on the court, and the only time Garnett made a shot was due to a screen play. Anytime Garnett tries to backdown Hayes, Hayes makes sure he doesn't score. 

Celtics lead, 46-43.

7:36 p.m. - And the Rockets lead 50-48 due to a Ron Artest 3-pointer. That makes 11 points for Artest in the second quarter.

7:45 p.m. - It's halftime, the Rockets outscored the Celtics by 12 in the second quarter to go into halftime with a 52-49 lead.

Despite early foul trouble, Artest had a strong second quarter.  With 11 points he helped spark the Rockets comeback.  Elsewhere, Yao has only missed one shot, as he and Brooks leads the Rockets with 13 points each.  In regards to Brooks, he must have seen the stat sheet these past few games and became inspired to score, because he's been great so far.  He seems to be back to his former self, draining long-range 3-pointers, and finishing at the basket.

Maybe the player who has played the best — though it won't show on the stat sheet — has been Chuck Hayes.  With only two points and five rebounds, Hayes shut down Garnett in the second quarter.  Great performance for him, and if it wasn't for his defense, there wouldn't be a lead.

The Celtics have played well, and seem intent on end their two-game losing streak at home.  Garnett leads all scorers with 14, while Pierce has only missed once, and has 11 points. 

The other member of the "Big Three", Ray Allen, is struggling as he has many points as he does shots (9).

It was a good first half for the Rockets, but there is a reason why the game is 48 minutes long.  24 more minutes, and much left to occur.

8:00 p.m. - First timeout of the second half, Rockets have increased their lead, 62-57.  Yao was just charged with an offensive foul, but the lead is still five.  Von Wafer is just fun to watch. The way he's playing, Luther Head may be on the trading block. 

 FG %:
Rockets - 54.5 / Celtics 53.5

8:08 p.m. - I don't like to praise the officiating very often, but glad to see the non-Flagrant foul called on Artest for Pierce's attempted lay-up.  It was a tough, hard foul.

8:14 p.m. - Celtics have come roaring back, and have taken the lead due to Pierce's fourth 3-pointer.   The Celtics now lead 70-67 with three minutes to go in the third quarter.  Whomever is going to claim a victory won't do it with ease.  These two teams are battling every possession.

8:20 p.m. - Well, it's only a three point deficit the Rockets find themselves.  Trailing the Celtics 74-71 going into the fourth quarter, the game is ready to be decided. 

So far, the Celtics have claimed victory in the first and third quarters, hoepfully the Rockets can win the fourth, as they did the second. 

Pierce was phenomenal in the third quarter, as he now has 24 points.

8:30 p.m. - First timeout in the fourth quarter, Celtics marginally increased their lead.  The Celtics lead 77-72.  The C's D has been good this quarter as the Rockets lone point came off an Brooks technical foul free throw on the Celtics third illegal defense of the game.

Artest and Yao are both sitting out, hopefully they can come back fairly soon.  Maybe with six or so minutes remaining.  This game isn't over yet, it keeps going back and forth.

8:36 p.m. - Rockets trail by 3, 79-76, as both Yao and Artest have returned to the game with 6:30 to go.  Artest picked up his fifth foul, so odds are he'll pick up his sixth. 

8:44 p.m. - That's terrible.  Terrible.  Terrible.  Terrible.  That sixth foul on Artest, I disagree with.  Personally, thought it was a non-call, but whatever.  Rockets lead 83-81 with about three minutes to go.  Need to claim a victory without Artest.

8:49 p.m. - Good pass by Garnett to Rondo, Celtics lead 85-84 with 94 seconds left in the contest.  Von Wafer threw up a widely inaccurate 3-point attempt which could have extended the Rockets lead to four. Instead, Celtics are on pace to win.

It should be an exciting finish.  Somebody, Yao, Alston, Wafer, Brooks, somebody needs to make a play if they want to win.

8:52 p.m - VON WAFER!!! Wow just wow! Earlier air-balled a 3-point attempt, his fourth 3-pointer gives the Rockets a 87-85 lead.

8:54 p.m. - Pierce with the miss, Brooks drives, misses the shot, Landry goes up, misses the shot and Yao finishes it.  Rockets up 89-85.

8:59 p.m. - Something had to give, and the Rockets came out with an 89-85 victory against the defending champion Boston Celtics in Boston.  Maybe the best of the season so far for this squad.

9:25 p.m. - Well it's about time the Rockets won. First win of 2009 and it may be the best one of the season so far. Granted the Celtics aren't playing at the same level they were when they began the season 27-2, but coming into the game they still had the best record in the league.

Still, it's nights like these that make watching sports enjoyable. The game was a great battle between two desperate teams, both searching for a win. The Rockets were able to execute better offensively and defensively down they stretch — and they won.

Von Wafer's 3-pointer that gave the Rockets a two-point lead was huge. Considering that on the shot prior to the go-ahead 3-pointer was something seen at your local YMCA gym. It was THAT bad. Still, he came through in the clutch, and hopefully is rewarded with a contract that lasts through the end of the year.

Elsewhere, Artest — playing on one good ankle — provided a spark for the Rockets in the second quarter. Granted he fouled out, and had to watch from the sideline 'till the very end. Though his impact shouldn't be forgotten.

Aaron Brooks — who was last night's "Goat of the Game" — came to play. He finished as the Rockets' second-leading scorer with 19 points. It was comforting to see him have a good game, considering these last few were horrendous.

Though all praise should be given to Yao. The big man from China was efficient, making shots as the game concluded, and made the shot, which extended the Rockets lead to four, and effectively ended any hope for a Celtics victory.

But maybe, the deciding factor was the Rockets defense. As the Celtics came out and shot 66.7% from the field in the first quarter, that number slowly dropped throughout the rest of the game. As the last two opponents of the Rockets shot north of 50%, this time the Rockets D clamped down. The Celtics finished the game shooting 43%, scoring only 11 points in the final quarter and making only two field goals in the last seven minutes.

This game offers a bit of reassurance. It doesn't give any extra value. A win like this won't negate the earlier losses against the Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks or Toronto Raptors, but a win against the reigning NBA champs is one to praise.

One more game is left on the road-trip against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Therefore, if they can come back into Houston on a two-game winning streak, things can begin to look much brighter than were they were a week or so ago.

******

Player of the Game:

Yao Ming, 26 points (10 –of – 13), eight rebounds

The big man was great throughout. He missed as many free throws as he did field goals. He made the short-range shot that gave the Rockets a four-point lead, and iced the game. When Artest went down, Yao took over.

Goat of the Game:

Kendrick Perkins, Zero points, three rebounds

Did virtually nothing on either the offensive or defensive end. Couldn't stop Yao, and couldn’t get any rebounds; was just a poor performance.