NBA Wire Notes | Allen’s 3 a winner for Celtics
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - While winning has become routine for the new-look Boston Celtics, this victory was different. It had the players huddled around the locker room TV, giggling like school kids as they watched it again.
Ray Allen made a three-pointer at the buzzer after Eddie House knocked away Jason Richardson’s inbounds pass with 4.7 seconds left, and the Celtics stunned Charlotte 96-95 on Saturday night.
Allen had missed 11 of his previous 14 shots in a flat performance, yet hit nothing but net on the jumper from the left wing, setting off a wild celebration for the Celtics, who won their third straight game.
“The minute Eddie touched the ball, it was like everything went into slow motion,” Allen said. “The rest is history.”
Pierce scored 23 points and Kevin Garnett had 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics, who had gone more than 3 minutes without scoring until Allen’s bucket.
“Give a shooter enough chances, and eventually one will fall,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said.
Richardson had 25 points for the Bobcats, who lost their third straight.
“We handed them the game,” Richardson said. “Stupid turnover on my behalf. I lost this game for my teammates.”
James’ triple-double leads Cavs
CLEVELAND - LeBron James continues to make difficult feats look easy.
The star forward had 37 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists for his third triple-double this season in the Cavaliers’ 111-108 victory over Toronto.
“He’s phenomenal,” Cleveland coach Mike Brown said. “He makes the triple-double seem effortless. I have to tell myself not to take it for granted.”
James’ performance was nearly offset by Chris Bosh, who led Toronto with 41 points to tie his career high. The 6-foot-10 forward was unstoppable near the basket, going 13 of 25 from the field and making 15 of 17 free throws.
In the end, the decision went to the Cavs and James, who took his usual low-key approach to his performance.
“It’s not really as easy as it may look,” he said. “I have to do what is best for the team to win. No matter what plays I have to make, I need to do them.”
Note
• A former beverage manager at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas has sued Dennis Rodman, claiming the former NBA star assaulted her in March 2006 by rubbing up against her body and slapping her on the buttocks.
In her federal lawsuit filed this week, Sara Robinson also accused her former employer of retaliating against her after she complained about Rodman’s behavior.