BOSTON – Doc Rivers met with his team after Friday’s shootaround to make sure everyone knew his role. Rajon Rondo’s was simple: spread the ball around.
The Celtics’ point guard immediately put the lesson into practice.
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Rondo had a triple-double with a career-high 24 assists Friday night to lead Boston to a 105-101 victory against the New York Knicks. It was second-most in franchise history and the most since Bob Cousy had 28 in 1959.
“It means a lot but I’ll try and catch him,” Rondo said of being on a list with the Hall of Famer. “(It’s) all about the teammates. If they don’t make the shots, we don’t get team assists.”
Rondo had 10 points and 10 rebounds, and topped his regular-season best of 18 assists set against Sacramento in March; he also had two playoff games with 19.
“If you’re not ready he’ll embarrass you. He’ll hit you right in the head with the ball,” said Kevin Garnett, who scored 24 points with 10 rebounds. “He’ll see something you didn’t see but he’ll make you see it.”
Rondo assisted on eight of Garnett’s 12 baskets and six of the seven by Glen Davis. He had four assists to Paul Pierce, three to Ray Allen, two to Shaquille O’Neal and one to Marquis Daniels. The only players who scored and didn’t get an assist from Rondo were Rondo himself and his backup, Nate Robinson.
“He pretty much got everyone involved,” said Pierce, who scored 25 points with 14 rebounds. “He got the popcorn man involved. He got the announcers involved.
“Everybody. It was beautiful to watch.”
Amare Stoudemire scored 27 points for the Knicks, reserve Wilson Chandler had 19 and Raymond Felton scored 17.
• Rivers confirmed that backup guards Delonte West and Von Wafer scuffled after practice and said any discipline would be handled internally.
“There was a fight and that’s all you need to know,” Rivers said before Friday’s game.
Wafer declined to comment and West was not available.
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