Clippers rally in fourth to stun Celtics

Basketball Betting Lines

02/26/2009 - Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Zach Randolph posted game-bests of 30 points and 12 rebounds, and hit the go-ahead basket with 19.4 seconds left, as the Los Angeles Clippers recorded their biggest victory of the season, a 93-91 thriller over the defending champion Boston Celtics at Staples Center.

Randolph tied a season-high with 30 shot attempts, making 12 for the Clippers, who have won two in a row and have won back-to-back home games for the first time all season. Baron Davis added 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists before fouling out late in the fourth quarter.

"This was huge. We hadn't beaten a top quality team yet this season," Davis said. "We will cherish this one and build on it. It was our defensive intensity tonight. We forced them into a lot of turnovers and got some easy baskets."

Marcus Camby tallied 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Mardy Collins had 12 points, five rebounds and five assists in the win. Fred Jones contributed 11 points off the bench.

"We made some defensive stops and got some crucial rebounds at the end," Randolph said. "Everybody stepped up, a big win for us."

Star rookie guard Eric Gordon, who came into Wednesday with a 30-game double- digit scoring streak, left in the third quarter with a bruised left shoulder after scoring only four points. X-rays were negative, but he'll have an MRI on Thursday.

Paul Pierce led a balanced Celtics scoring attack with 20 points, battling through two dislocations of his left thumb. Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen each scored 17 points, as Boston finished a six-game road trip with a 4-2 mark.

"We were awful. We played slow all night," Celtics head coach Doc Rivers said. "We thought we could show up and win the game, but we didn't. There was so many things we did poor."

Glen Davis recorded 14 points in the continued absence of Kevin Garnett, and Eddie House added 10 points in a losing effort.

Leading by one to start the fourth, the Celtics began the quarter on a 10-2 run to take an 82-73 edge on an Allen-to-Leon Powe alley-oop with nine minutes to play.

LA responded with the next eight points, as Camby made it a one-point game with six minutes left. Jones tied the game at 84 less than a minute later on a three-pointer that barely beat the shot clock.

Following a Celtics turnover on a five-second violation, Randolph put the Clippers ahead by two with four minutes to play.

Boston answered with three points, as Pierce drained a free throw with two minutes left for a 89-88 Celtics lead. Rondo added another free throw with just over a minute left to give the visitors a two-point edge.

Camby's bank shot with 50.1 seconds on the clock tied the game at 90, but Rondo put Boston back in front by making 1-of-2 from the line with 34.3 seconds left.

Collins' missed floater led to Randolph's layup with 19.4 seconds to go, as LA took a 92-91 edge.

Pierce missed a jumper from the free throw line on the ensuing possession, and the Clippers grabbed the rebound. With 5.2 seconds left, Randolph made 1-of-2 from the line; Rondo lost the handle on Boston's final possession, and LA walked away with the win.

The Clippers held a 27-22 lead after the first quarter, but the Celtics responded to take a 50-46 halftime advantage.

Boston led by as many as seven in the third, but Los Angeles battled back to take a 65-63 edge after four straight points from Randolph. The Celtics regained the lead, 72-71, heading to the fourth.

Game Notes

Despite the loss, Boston leads the all-time series with the Clippers, 80-30...The Celtics fell to 22-9 on the road, while Los Angeles improved to 8-21 at home...The Clippers recorded only 13 turnovers, compared to 21 for Boston...The loss is the first of the season for the Celtics when Garnett does not play (5-1).