Boston Sports Then and Now

Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul are not best friends.

According to NBA.com, the league office is investigating the Chris Paul/Rajon Rondo, post game, altercation after Sunday’s showdown between the Hornets and Celtics in Boston.

The Celtics pulled out the victory (97-87) but not without a fight from Paul and the Hornets. The game swung back and forth until the Celtics pulled away for good at the end of the fourth quarter.

Rondo and Paul’s rocky relationship has been well documented. The Celtics point guard had previously insinuated that Chris Paul is successful because he is the main scoring option for the Hornets. CP3 seemed to take exception to that comment though, in my estimation, it’s accurate.

The Hornets point guard seemed aggrevated with Rondo throughout Sunday evening’s game, the two players received double technical fouls in the second period. Paul, normally a loose player, displayed a demeanor throughout Sunday’s game that  seemed to indicate Rondo was continually getting under his skin. The tension culminated after the buzzer sounded as Paul alledgedly pursued Rondo towards the Celtics locker room. Reports indicate that Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau had to hold CP3 back from confronting Rondo outside the C’s lockerroom.

Byron Scott admitted to hear Paul shouting to Rondo,

“He’s going to respect me as a man”.

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Paul Pierce scored 20 first half points and Kevin Garnett, for the first time this season, anchored the offense

KG and Paul Pierce led the C's to their fourth straight win.

in the fourth quarter as the C’s beat the Hornets 97-87 at the Garden. Pierce, continuing his hot shooting (27 points, 10-14 from the field, 3-5 from long distance).

Garnett struggled through the first half as he seemed to be over-thinking his shot. Clearly a timing and confidence issue, for the third time in four games, KG missed a lob-dunk. In the fourth quarter, however, he forced his will in the paint, hitting a variety of shots from the post. Kevin finished with 14 points on 7-15 shooting and grabbed 7 boards.

In what has become a nightly occurrence, the second unit (and Ray Allen) spread the lead in the second. Upon returning, Pierce hit a three and the lead blossomed to 47-38 at the half but not before Rondo and Chris Paul tangled up and received double technicals.

During half time, there were reports Chris Paul (can’t yet be confirmed) tried to enter the Celtics lockerroom as Paul and Rondo’s relationship became even more abrasive.

CP3 stung the Celtics throughout the second half, scoring 17 points and assisting Peja Stojakovic on several of his 6 three point field goals. Stojakovic scorched the Celtics from long range and led Garnett, determined to force him to play defense, to take over in the fourth.

The Hornets cut the lead to 72-69 at the end of the third quarter.

Coach Doc Rivers began to run a flurry of Garnett/Pierce plays that helped The C’s pull away with 2:52 remaining in the fourth.

Nick Gelso covers the Boston Celtics and NBA for Boston Sports Then and Now. You can check out more of his great work on his blog: North Station Sports.