video credit: nba.com
BDiddy scores 24 points and dishes 13 assists to lead the Clippers over the visiting Celtics, 92-90. Celtics' pg Rajon Rondo chokes in major fashion as he misses a pair of FTs close to end of game to set up Baron's clutch shot.
Davis' winner gives Clips another Staples win over Celtics
By Dan Arritt, for NBA.com
Posted Monday December 28, 2009 1:37AM
LOS ANGELES (NBA.com exclusive) -- Baron Davis sent another shockwave through Staples Center on Sunday night.
Davis swished a 22-foot fallaway jumper at the end of regulation, lifting the L.A. Clippers to a surprising 92-90 victory over the Boston Celtics, the top team in the Eastern Conference.
"You have to prepare your mind when you're about to take that shot," Davis said. "I was confident."
The game played out eerily similar to another buzzer-beater inside Staples Center earlier this month, when Kobe Bryant gave the Lakers an improbable one-point victory against the Miami Heat when he banked in a off-balance last-second 3-pointer.
And like Miami, the Celtics will look back on several missed opportunities to close out the game.
The Celtics (23-6) had a chance to add to their three-point lead in the final minute, but Ray Allen missed a 21-footer with 25 seconds remaining. Chris Kaman corralled the rebound and fed it to Davis, who dribbled into the key for what looked like an uncontested layup.
Allen was guarding Rasual Butler on the wing, but collapsed on Davis, leaving Butler wide open beyond the 3-point stripe. Davis kicked the ball to Butler on the baseline and he sank the tying 3-pointer with eight seconds remaining.
Davis then fouled Celtics guard Rajon Rondo as he drove to the basket. The officials reviewed the play and determined the foul occurred with 1.5 seconds remaining. Rondo, who came into the game shooting 62.5 percent from the free-throw line for his career and just 53.6 percent this season, missed both attempts.
"I felt confident shooting my free throws and my follow through was great," Rondo said. "I did my routine and took my time, they were just long."
After grabbing the rebound and calling timeout, the Clippers (13-17) were left with one second on the clock. That's when Davis decided it was his turn to shine.
"Baron said, 'Coach, draw it up and I will make this shot,' " said Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy.
Butler inbounded the ball on the Celtics end of the floor, finding Davis near the top of the key. Davis caught the pass with his back to the basket, spun and let the shot go just as the game clock expired.
"We had [Davis] set a pick on a big, move to the top where [Rasual] made the pass and Baron put it away," Dunleavy said.
After the shot fell through, Davis was mobbed by his teammates. The officials again reviewed the shot and determined Davis had released the shot in time.
"He uses his physicality and he made a big shot for them in the end," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers.
Kaman finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds, just two points off the career high he set last week at Houston. Davis had 24 points and 13 assists.
The victory was the Clippers' second straight against the Celtics at Staples Center. They defeated Boston 93-91 on Feb. 25.
Boston was playing without leading scorer and Los Angeles native Paul Pierce, who has an infected knee and did not accompany the team on its current six-game road trip that began with a victory in Orlando on Christmas.
The Clippers were also shorthanded. Marcus Camby, the team's leading rebounder, did not play due to a knee injury, and rookie forward Blake Griffin, the No. 1 overall draft pick last June, is still a couple weeks from making his season debut after suffering a stress fracture in his kneecap during the preseason.
DeAndre Jordan made his first career start in place of Camby and finished with six points, eight rebounds and three blocks.
The Clippers had trouble guarding Rondo early. He scored 10 of his team-high 20 points in the opening quarter, when the Celtics took a one-point lead. Allen was the team's second-highest scorer with 13 points.
Rasheed Wallace had the hot hand in the second quarter for Boston, scoring six points, but he went scoreless in the second half and finished with eight. Kevin Garnett didn't convert his first field-goal attempt until the closing minutes of the first half and he finished with 12 points. Tony Allen and Eddie House contributed 10 points each for the Celtics.
"For a veteran team, we played with zero composure," Rivers said.
"I was disappointed with our mentality, composure, execution and focus. Tonight, we beat ourselves."
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