CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Boston Celtics Coach Brad Stevens said he could sense the frustration in Gerald Wallace’s voice when the two spoke Sunday.
Wallace wasn’t pleased with the Celtics losing six of their past seven and was eager to help the team get things headed in the right direction.
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WHO: Memphis Grizzlies at Boston Celtics
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
WHERE: TD Garden, Boston
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“I could sense that he was going to be focused and ready,” Stevens said. “He’s such a competitive guy.”
Wallace led a productive night for Boston’s reserves with a season-high 17 points, Jordan Crawford had 21 points and the Celtics defeated the Charlotte Bobcats 96-86 on Monday night for their second straight victory since ending a six-game losing streak.
“I had a talk with Coach and the main thing he wanted me to do was to play the way I know how to play,” Wallace said. “He told me not to try to figure out how to fit in or what to do, just go out and play basketball the way I know how to play basketball. ⦠I just wanted to go out there and be aggressive and play the way I know how to play.”
Said Stevens: “The effort was good and (Wallace) was a big part. He’s contagious in the way he plays. When he plays like that, it makes it easier to follow. We’re kind of finding our way back to that Jeff (Green) and Gerald lineup more and more.”
For most of the game he looked like the Wallace of old, spinning and twisting his way to the basket, getting good shots and drawing contact.
Crawford said Wallace gives the team “everything we need” to be successful.
“He can check the best player, he can rebound, he can pass and he can score,” Crawford said.
Boston’s reserves outscored Charlotte’s, 39-15.
The Celtics got 11 points from reserve Courtney Lee and a career-high eight assists from Phil Pressey.
“The bench play was the difference in the game,” Bobcats Coach Steve Clifford said.
Crawford was 5 of 11 from the field and had five assists as the Celtics avenged an 89-83 loss to the Bobcats on Nov. 13. Wallace, who played for the Bobcats from 2004-11, was 6 of 10 from the field.
Kemba Walker had 28 points and Gerald Henderson had 20 to lead the Bobcats (7-8), who were hoping to get above .500 after 15 games for the first time in franchise history.
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