Celtics-Pistons Game 5: Boston Holds on, Takes 3-2 Series Lead

Thankfully for the Celtics, there are only 48 minutes in an NBA game. 

Had there been one more minute on the game-clock, the outcome of Game Five might have been different.  But in the end, Boston built a 15-point fourth quarter lead and then made enough plays down the stretch for the 106-102 victory.

For the third time this postseason, the Celtics went into a Game Five with the series tied 2-2, and came away with the win.

The Celtics appeared to be on their way to a decisive victory.  The game went back and forth early on, with Detroit building a six-point lead, 42-36, following a Richard Hamilton (25 points) 20-foot jumper with 5:03 left in the second quarter.

Boston then responded with an 11-0 run—KG (33 points) hit a pair of free throws, and Paul Pierce (16 points) and Ray Allen hit back to back three-pointers.

Allen played his best game of the series and of the playoffs, finishing with 29 points on 9-15 shooting, including 5-6 from beyond the arc.  But the story for the Celtics was the man who finished the 11-0 run with a layup, Kendrick Perkins.

Perk had playoff highs of 18 points and 16 rebounds and was an absolute monster, especially in the second and third quarters.

The Celtics led 52-46 at the half.  They would push the lead to as many as 17 in the third, and be up 84-71 heading into the fourth.

I liked that the Celtics had the cushion going into the fourth, but was still concerned.  The reason being fatigue.  You knew Detroit would turn up the defense in the fourth, and the fear was that the defensive pressure combined with game fatigue could cause problems for Boston in the final 12 minutes.

And it did.  Detroit kept coming at Boston, with Hamilton and Billups each scoring nine in the fourth.

With 1:23 remaining and Boston clinging to a four-point lead, Billups drove to the hoop from the top of the key.   Pierce came to help, coming off his man, Rodney Stuckey (or as Mike Breen believes his name is, “the impressive rookie Rodney Stuckey from Eastern Washington").  Stuckey stayed put in the left corner, and Billups passed out to Stuckey who nailed the three. 

Lead down to one.

The Celtics appeared to be in more trouble on their ensuing possession.  Until, on an inbounds play with only six seconds left on the shot clock, Allen got free from Hamilton and knocked down a huge jumper from just inside the three-point line.

Billups would miss a layup for the Pistons, and Boston survived with Allen and Garnett each knocking down a pair of free throws to seal the win.

Towards the end of the third quarter, I saw signs of fatigue from the Celtics, in particular conseuctive Detroit possessions where Boston did not get back on defense.  I had a feeling that the team's collective gas tank had to be pretty low for the fourth quarter.  First, this was game 101 for Boston this season, and game 19 in the playoffs (Detroit has played three fewer games).

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