BOSTON – The Boston Celtics had a little fun after this game.
In fact, they probably could have been joking around earlier in the game, too.
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Paul Pierce and Ray Allen each scored 22 points and the Celtics rebounded from a lopsided loss and handed one to Portland on Friday night, beating the Trail Blazers 104-86.
When it was over, the Celtics were all smiles. Rajon Rondo, who recently has avoided talking to the media, said he was answering questions for reserves Sasha Pavlovic and Avery Bradley before walking over to Pierce during his postgame news conference and saying, “P. I got this. Head home.”
The win came after Boston lost by 32 points at Atlantic Division-leading Philadelphia on Wednesday, its worst setback in more than six years.
“Not a lot to talk about,” said a smiling Pierce as he walked over to the media, before Rondo took over. “It was just a good response, especially with the way we played down in Philadelphia. A good way for us to head out west.”
The Celtics led by 35 points at halftime and 34 after three quarters.
Kevin Garnett grabbed seven defensive rebounds to move into second place on the NBA’s career list with defensive rebounds since the league started keeping the stat in 1973-74.
He has 10,122 and moved ahead of Robert Parish (10,117). Karl Malone holds the top spot with 11,406.
LaMarcus Aldridge led the Trail Blazers with 22 points.
Portland has dropped five of six games and played the second of seven straight away from the Rose Garden.
It was the Trail Blazers’ eighth consecutive loss in Boston. They’ve lost 12 of their past 13 overall against the Celtics.
“That was an unprofessional approach,” Portland Coach Nate McMillan said. “There was no basketball being played out there tonight. We can play harder than that. We can play better than that.”
Boston begins a season-high, eight-game road trip at the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday afternoon.
“It’s good to get away with one like this,” Pierce said.
Boston Coach Doc Rivers even teased Pierce as he headed out the locker room door because he hadn’t packed yet.
“I’m a veteran,” Pierce said, laughing. “I know how. I’ll be ready.”
The Celtics opened a double-digit lead on Rondo’s driving layup with 39 seconds left in the first quarter and rolled from there.
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