NBA: Celtics Erase 26-point Deficit To Shock Rockets
Muhammad Rameez Published December 29, 2017 | 01:50 PM
The Boston Celtics fashioned the biggest comeback of the NBA season as they rallied from 26 points down to stun the Houston Rockets 99-98 on Thursday
Los Angeles, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Dec, 2017 ) :The Boston Celtics fashioned the biggest comeback of the NBA season as they rallied from 26 points down to stun the Houston Rockets 99-98 on Thursday.
"I've had a few comebacks, but this is a special one," Boston's Kyrie Irving said after a basket by Al Horford with 3.7 seconds left gave the Celtics the win. "From just how we started, it was just so ugly," Irving said.
"They came out firing. We just had to battle back. It took a lot. It took everybody." Eastern Conference leaders Boston trailed by 24 at halftime and by 26 early in the third quarter. But the Celtics out-scored Houston 31-16 in the third, when Boston's dominant defensive effort saw the Rockets make just four of 17 shots from the field while coughing up seven turnovers.
"We just didn't stop believing," said Boston's Terry Rozier, who said Irving called the players together for "a special talk" at halftime.
The Celtics had cut the deficit to 98-97 on a dunk from Jayson Tatum with 7.3 seconds remaining.
Rockets star James Harden was then called for an offensive foul as Boston's Marcus Smart was knocked down as Houston tried to inbound the ball. That opened the door for Horford's game winner, and Harden was then whistled for another offensive foul that sealed the Rockets' fate.
The Celtics topped the previous biggest comeback of the season -- the Golden State Warriors rally from 24 down to beat the Philadelphia 76ers on November 18. Irving led the Celtics with 26 points.
Tatum scored 19 while Rozier and Smart scored 13 apiece. Horford finished with nine points, and also pulled down eight rebounds. "First of all, (the Rockets) were unbelievable in the first half," Boston coach Brad Stevens said. "The result doesn't really matter. It's the resilience that (the Celtics) showed, which they could have easily folded."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Rock-solid Ruud racks up season-leading win in Barcelona
At UN, Iran says it will make Israel 'regret' reprisals
G7 hears calls for 'critical' Ukraine aid
EU seeks to leverage might to confront China, US challenge
5 Customs officials martyred as their vehicle ambushed by terrorists in D I Khan
Pak-New Zealand match called off due to rain
NHA restores traffic on roads affected by recent rains in Balochistan
China to fully support Pakistan's efforts against terrorism: Ambassador Jiang
U.S. envoy calls on Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
Poland arrests man over suspected plan to kill Zelensky
EU wants to ease youth movement to and from UK
Police foils attempt of supply mainpuri raw material
More Stories From Sports
-
Rock-solid Ruud racks up season-leading win in Barcelona
7 hours ago -
Pak-New Zealand match called off due to rain
7 hours ago -
Former England Test batsman Raman Subba Row dies aged 92
10 hours ago -
Rybakina beats Kudermetova to reach last eight in Stuttgart
10 hours ago -
Arsenal paid for 'big mistake' in Bayern defeat: Arteta
12 hours ago -
Matthews leads West Indies women to convincing victory over Pakistan in series opener
12 hours ago
-
Former number one Momota retires from international badminton at 29
15 hours ago -
Former number one Momota retires from international badminton at 29
13 hours ago -
Former number one Momota retires from international badminton at 29
16 hours ago -
Azam experiences discomfort during Wednesday's training session
13 hours ago -
Azam Khan likely to miss T20I series against Kiwis due to discomfort in right knee
16 hours ago -
Former number one Momota retires from international badminton at 29
16 hours ago