Rajon Rondo had his second triple-double in three games, finishing with 18 points, 20 assists and a career-high 17 rebounds, the Celtics ruined Harvard grad Jeremy Lin’s return to Boston with a 115-111 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday.
Rondo played a part in every Celtics point in overtime, collecting five points, five rebounds and two assists in the extra period.
“I know we’re all in this together, but it’s great when he takes over like that,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “He’s the smartest point guard I’ve ever been around. He’s a brilliant player like that.”
Paul Pierce scored 34, including a 3-pointer with 4.9 seconds left in regulation. Kevin Garnett had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Ray Allen gave the Celtics the lead for good with a 3-pointer to make it 108-105, then followed it with a fast-break layup ― both on assists from Rondo.
Rondo also had two baskets in overtime, and he even made the pass to Brandon Bass before he was sent to the line for two free throws.
It was Rondo’s fourth triple-double this season and the 17th of his career.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last player to record a triple-double with at least 17 in each category was Magic Johnson, who had 24 points, 17 assists and 17 rebounds on April 18, 1989. The last player to exceed Rondo’s performance in each category was Wilt Chamberlain, who had 22 points, 25 rebounds and 21 assists on Feb. 2, 1968.
“That’s the Rondo we like to see, playing with all that energy,” Pierce said. “He got the guys the ball in open spots; he did everything for us tonight. He rebounded, he passed, he got the clutch rebound there in overtime and got the layup. That’s the Rondo I like to see.”
Lin picked up two fouls in the first three minutes and struggled to 14 points in 32 minutes. He had five assists, four rebounds and six turnovers while shooting 6 for 16 from the floor.
Bryant scores 33 in win
LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Kobe Bryant scored 33 points in his third straight stellar performance since Dwyane Wade broke his nose in the All-Star Game, and Wade managed just 16 points before fouling out midway through the fourth quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 93-83 victory over the Miami Heat on Sunday.
Metta World Peace scored 17 points while leading a solid defensive effort for the Lakers, who have won 17 of their last 18 home games. Andrew Bynum had 16 points and 13 rebounds as Los Angeles never trailed in the final 44 minutes against Miami, snapping a four-game skid in Bryant’s head-to-head matchups with Wade’s Heat.
LeBron James had 25 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists for the Heat, who lost on the final two stops of their three-game trip after nine consecutive victories. Only Mike Miller’s jumper with 21.4 seconds left saved Miami from its lowest-scoring performance of the season.
Just one week after Wade gave Bryant a concussion with a hard foul in the All-Star Game, Bryant scored 18 points in a dynamic first quarter while wearing a clear plastic mask over his still-tender nose. He added just enough big baskets in the second half to keep the Lakers ahead, finishing with his third straight 30-point game as the “Masked Mamba.”
Wade scored 16 points on 7-for-17 shooting before fouling out with 5:14 to play, committing three fouls in rapid succession for an early end to a rough day.
