Philippines, 19 Sep 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


"Old" Celtics derail rampaging Bulls


PhilBoxing.com




CHICAGO - With Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce getting up there in age, the Boston Celtics have often been dismissed this season as old and ravaged, and running on toxic fumes.

Injuries to key players, including point guard Rajon Rondo, who has missed 9 games due to a litany of woes, have done little to silence the murmurs that the Celtics are no longer a championship contender and that the glory days have passed them by.

But on Sunday afternoon at the TD Garden in Boston, the 2008 NBA champions proved that they might have enough left in the tank for one more run at the Larry O'Brien trophy as the Celtics beat the streaking Chicago Bulls, 95-91.

It was a healthy Rondo who led the way. The 6-foot-1, 186-pound guard registered his 9th career triple-double with 32 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds. The 25-year old Rondo shot 11-of-22 from the field and 10 of 13 from the free throw line.

Boston's once-vaunted Big 3 also made an impact as 35-year old Kevin Garnett had 13 points and 12 rebounds while 36-year old Ray Allen drilled 11 points. Paul Pierce, 34, chipped in 9.

Chicago played without reigning MVP Derrick Rose, who missed his second consectuive game due to painful back spasms. Without him, the Bulls didn't have the sync, the stride, and the firepower to beat a veteran Celtics team that still plays defense at an elite level.

The Bulls have been on a tear lately, winning 6 of 8 away from home, including an NBA record four straight road games by 20 points or more. But they couldn't weave such magic on Sunday.

Against the Celtics, the Bulls made just 34 of 88 field goals (38.6 percent), 6 of 20 triples (30 percent) and 17 of 24 free throws (70.8 percent).

Boston converted only 3 of their 13 three-points and 18 of 26 free throws, but the Celtics sank 37 of their 75 field goals for a high 49.3 percent clip. The Celtics also outrebounded the Bulls, 44-42, and had more assists, 23-18.

Trailing for most of the game and down by 14 in the fourth quarter, the never-say-die Bulls fought back and came to within 91-88 with 1:23 left to play. But after Paul Pierce turned the ball over, CJ Watson missed a 3-point attempt, forcing the Bulls to foul Rondo, who sank the insurance free throws.

Watson paced the Bulls with 23 points and 6 assists. Carlos Boozer also had 22 with 7 rebounds while Joakim Noah had 16 and 9 boards. Luol Deng chipped in 10 points.

The Celtics improved their record to 15-12. Despite the hiccup, the Bulls kept the best record in the East with a 23-7 won-lost slate.

But the Bulls, who just finished a 16-day, 9-game road trip, aren't concerned with records at this point. They have an elephant-size worry -- Derrick Rose's ailing back.

"It's been hurting the whole trip," Rose told the Chicago Tribune. "I just played through it. It tended to get worse after every game. I was really worried about it. But I'm trying to stay positive. I don't know what the diagnosis is. I just know my back is not right."

The Bulls return to action on Tuesday, at home at the United Center against the Sacramento Kings.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Tim Trimas.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: A wonderful spectacle in Las Vegas
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • TRAINER OF THE YEAR BOB SANTOS TO MAKE BROADCASTING DEBUT AT BOXLAB PROMOTIONS' “NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS” ON SEPTEMBER 19
    , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • Five Boxers Closed Fights Early via RSC During Wednesday’s Competition
    , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • “Thrilla” card takes shape
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Wishing Best to Jayson Vayson in his World Title Challenge!
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Vayson aims to make history
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • KAIPO GALLEGOS TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Day Two of 2025 USA Boxing National Open Delivers 108 Action-Packed Bouts in Tulsa
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Bryce Mills Boxes James Bernadin At del Lago Resort & Casino On Thursday, Oct. 30, in Waterloo, NY
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Caribbean Clash Returns Friday, November 7th at Gulfstream Park Casino in Hallandale, Florida
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • VM Sotto, City Council Recognize GM Joey Antonio
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Larida is Southern Coach of the Year
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • D.C. Knockout Artist Scooter Davis Signs Promotional Contract with Top Rank
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 15 SEPTEMBER 2025: Crawford Snatches Canelo's Undisputed Crown at 168 Lbs; Inoue Defeats Akhmadliev to Retain 4 Superbantam Belts; Crocker Outpoints Donovan
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • TICKET NEWS: EUBANK JR-BENN II ON SALE FROM THIS WEDNESDAY
    , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • “Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
    , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Canelo-Crawford: The Consolidation of Boxing’s New Commercial Empire
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • A New Era for Boxing: Canelo vs. Crawford Shatters Global Viewership Records on Netflix
    By Dong Secuya, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Crawford Not the First Lightweight to Distinguish Himself at Super Middleweight
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Kurt Scoby and Josh Popper Headline Boxing Insider Card September 19 in Times Square
    , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Green and Gold 2025: Amateur Boxing’s International Gathering in Bolivia
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Pakistan's Sameer Khan Set to Battle for UBO Youth World Title in Brico Santig’s Sep 27 Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • SAMBO Pilipinas is Southern NSA of the Year 2025
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh To headline historic “Legacy Nights” Inaugural Pro Boxing event in El Salvador
    , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • Smarts over power
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 16 Sep 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.