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Celtics bolt to 17th straight win, 125-108
Jamaica's Usain Bolt, who set the world record in the 100 meter dash in the Beijing Olympics, passes the ball to Boston Celtic's mascot "Lucky" on a dunk during a timeout in the second half of a NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Boston, Friday Dec. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (Charles Krupa - AP)
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By The Associated Press
The Associated Press
Saturday, December 20, 2008; 10:57 AM
-- After racing within a game of tying a team winning streak, the Boston Celtics were all abuzz _ with talk of a famous face in the front row.
Olympic gold medalist sprinter Usain Bolt watched as the defending NBA champs won their 17th straight and improved to 25-2 with a 125-108 victory over Chicago on Friday night.
Speedy point guard Rajon Rondo had 15 of Boston's 40 assists, and the Celtics jumped to an 11-point lead in the first 5 minutes.
"I told him I might see him in 2012," Rondo said, ready to challenge Bolt.
First, the Celtics have other goals to reach.
Next up: Boston would tie the longest winning streak in franchise history with a victory Sunday night against New York. That still would leave the team short of the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers, who won an NBA-record 33 in a row.
In other NBA games Friday night, it was: Cleveland 105, Denver 88; New Jersey 121, Dallas 97; Miami 89, Los Angeles Lakers 87; Houston 107, Sacramento 96; Utah 120, Detroit 114 in double overtime; the Los Angeles Clippers 117, Indiana 109 in double overtime; Philadelphia 109, Washington 103; Atlanta 115, Golden State 99; Milwaukee 105, New York 81; Charlotte 112, Memphis 83; and Oklahoma City 91, Toronto 83.
In Boston, Ray Allen scored 27 points for the Celtics, Kendrick Perkins added a career-high 25 on 12-for-15 shooting, Kevin Garnett had 17 points and Paul Pierce 16.
Luol Deng had 19 points and seven rebounds for Chicago, and Andres Nocioni added 16 points. Drew Gooden sprained his right ankle in the first quarter. Tyrus Thomas did not make the trip after sustaining a concussion against the Clippers on Wednesday.
"Playing against a team like this, you need all your guys. Drew's a big part of what we do," guard Ben Gordon said. "We tried to give them a little resistance, but we just didn't have enough manpower.
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One game after Olympic gold medalist swimmer Michael Phelps visited the Celtics' locker room and met the defending NBA champs, Bolt stopped by.
"The conversation in the locker room was who would win a race, Bolt or Rondo," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "It's Bolt. Not even close. But Rondo, he was up for the challenge. ... If you put dribbling in, I think we've got a shot at it."
Jamaica's Usain Bolt, who set the world record in the 100 meter dash in the Beijing Olympics, passes the ball to Boston Celtic's mascot "Lucky" on a dunk during a timeout in the second half of a NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Boston, Friday Dec. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (Charles Krupa - AP) Enlarge Photo Who's Blogging
ยป Links to this article
By The Associated Press
The Associated Press
Saturday, December 20, 2008; 10:57 AM
-- After racing within a game of tying a team winning streak, the Boston Celtics were all abuzz _ with talk of a famous face in the front row.
Olympic gold medalist sprinter Usain Bolt watched as the defending NBA champs won their 17th straight and improved to 25-2 with a 125-108 victory over Chicago on Friday night.
Speedy point guard Rajon Rondo had 15 of Boston's 40 assists, and the Celtics jumped to an 11-point lead in the first 5 minutes.
"I told him I might see him in 2012," Rondo said, ready to challenge Bolt.
First, the Celtics have other goals to reach.
Next up: Boston would tie the longest winning streak in franchise history with a victory Sunday night against New York. That still would leave the team short of the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers, who won an NBA-record 33 in a row.
In other NBA games Friday night, it was: Cleveland 105, Denver 88; New Jersey 121, Dallas 97; Miami 89, Los Angeles Lakers 87; Houston 107, Sacramento 96; Utah 120, Detroit 114 in double overtime; the Los Angeles Clippers 117, Indiana 109 in double overtime; Philadelphia 109, Washington 103; Atlanta 115, Golden State 99; Milwaukee 105, New York 81; Charlotte 112, Memphis 83; and Oklahoma City 91, Toronto 83.
In Boston, Ray Allen scored 27 points for the Celtics, Kendrick Perkins added a career-high 25 on 12-for-15 shooting, Kevin Garnett had 17 points and Paul Pierce 16.
Luol Deng had 19 points and seven rebounds for Chicago, and Andres Nocioni added 16 points. Drew Gooden sprained his right ankle in the first quarter. Tyrus Thomas did not make the trip after sustaining a concussion against the Clippers on Wednesday.
"Playing against a team like this, you need all your guys. Drew's a big part of what we do," guard Ben Gordon said. "We tried to give them a little resistance, but we just didn't have enough manpower.
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One game after Olympic gold medalist swimmer Michael Phelps visited the Celtics' locker room and met the defending NBA champs, Bolt stopped by.
"The conversation in the locker room was who would win a race, Bolt or Rondo," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "It's Bolt. Not even close. But Rondo, he was up for the challenge. ... If you put dribbling in, I think we've got a shot at it."