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Celtics handle Mavericks

The AP reports:

The Boston Celtics got the split they wanted with the Dallas Mavericks.

Paul Pierce scored 29 points, Rajon Rondo added 20 points and 10 rebounds, and the Celtics stretched their winning streak to four games with a 102-93 victory over the Mavericks on Saturday night.

Ray Allen had 21 points for the Celtics, beaten by the Mavericks 99-90 in Boston on Jan. 18 in their only other meeting this season.

Boston’s Rasheed Wallace vowed “retribution” in the rematch, complaining after the game in January that the referees give Dallas’ top scorer Dirk Nowitzki preferential treatment. Wallace refused to comment after Saturday night’s game, but Rondo said the Celtics weren’t dwelling on the past…

This time, Garnett and Wallace took turns guarding Nowitzki, who still went 11 for 19 from the floor and finished with 28 points.

Hot Bucks beat Celtics to win 10 of last 11 games

Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports:

It took some grit, guile and old-fashioned defense for the Milwaukee Bucks to continue their winning ways Tuesday night at the Bradley Center.

The Bucks survived a last-second, game-tying attempt by Celtics forward Paul Pierce to grab an 86-84 victory in a game that carried the tension of a playoff thriller. Milwaukee (34-29) won its fourth straight and its 10th game in the last 11 to continue its run as one of the National Basketball Association’s hottest teams.

Plenty of heroes showed up for the Bucks, led by center Andrew Bogut with 25 points, 17 rebounds and four blocked shots.

Carlos Delfino, who took intravenous fluids before the game to battle a case of the flu, played anyway and added 19 points and eight rebounds.

John Salmons scored 16 points and sank a critical three-pointer to give the Bucks the lead for good at 81-79 with 4:01 remaining.

And 6-foot-1, 169-pound rookie Brandon Jennings stood up to the Celtics’ 6-9, 295-pound forward Glen Davis after a hard foul on a breakaway layup attempt in the fourth quarter.

Kevin Garnett drives Andray Blatche crazy

On Sunday, the Boston Celtics edged the Washington Wizards, 86-83. But a bigger story is Boston’s Kevin Garnett (0-of-7, 8 points off free throws) frustrating the heck out of Andray Blatche (10-of-20, 23 points, 9 rebounds):

Michael Lee of the Washington Post reports:

Kevin Garnett drives Andray Blatche crazy

Blatche was noticeably upset and appeared to hold back tears as he explained his encounter with Garnett, which nearly got heated when Garnett approached Blatche and tried to wrestle the ball away from him. Blatche appeared to throw an elbow as Garnett continued to taunt him. Blatche later flung Garnett into a cameraman and sent him to the foul line for two free throws. Garnett smiled as he was helped off the ground. Reserve forward James Singleton said Garnett used his “veteran senses” to needle Blatche and get under his skin.

“I see myself as defending myself as a player. I’m a man, just like they a man. If a man is talking to me this close to my face,” Blatche said, moving his hand toward his cheek. “I’m going to say something back. He has to respect me just like I respect him. I just, ‘Get up out of my face.’ He was this close in my face – I can feel his lips touching my cheek – I wasn’t bragging saying ‘Ah we winning.’ It was ‘Back up.’ “

Celtics sign Mike Finley

The Boston Celtics announced today that the club has signed free agent guard/forward Michael Finley to a contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Finley, a 6’7”, 225 lbs guard/forward, has posted career averages of 15.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists and was a member of the 2007 NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs. The former Wisconsin Badger is a two-time All-Star and has netted over 17,000 career points. A member of the 1996 All-Rookie First Team, Finley has appeared in 111 career playoff games gaining averages of 13.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and a three-point field goal percentage of 39.1 percent. In postseason play among all active NBA players, Finley ranks third in career three-point field goals made (197) and sixth in playoff free throw percentage (.865).

Celtics assign Marcus Landry to D-League

The Boston Celtics announced today that forward Marcus Landry has been assigned to the Maine Red Claws. Landry is the team’s fourth assignment to the NBA Development League this season.

Landry, a 6’7” forward, has appeared in one game for the Celtics since his acquisition from the New York Knicks on February 18 logging two minutes against Cleveland on February 25. The former Wisconsin Badger has posted averages of 2.4 points and 1.1 rebounds in 18 games played this season between Boston and New York.

Bill Walker has chance to shine with Knicks

New York Knicks swingman Bill Walker is getting a chance to show his stuff, something he was rarely given an opportunity to do on the extremely talented Boston Celtics squad he used to be on.

Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun reports:

“It was just more mentally challenging,” Walker said of his time in Boston, a huge chunk of which he spent in the Development League. “Physically I was able to play every day and do things like that. Dealing with not being able to get on the floor. That was the hardest part. Keeping your mind positive.”

Walker’s get-out-of-jail-free card arrived in the form of a Eddie House for Nate Robinson trade deadline deal in which he followed House to New York.

Walker’s opportunity arrived in a 124-93 blowout loss in Cleveland to the Cavs. Cleveland had built a 26-point lead by the half and extended it to 49.

Walker wound up playing 35 minutes and hitting 9-of-14 from the field for a Knicks high and personal career high 21 points.

Nate Robinson will not miss post-game interviews in New York

Recently traded from the New York Knicks to the Boston Celtics, scoring guard Nate Robinson definitely notices the difference between the atmosphere around a losing team and that of a winning one.

Frank Dell’Apa of the Boston Globe reports:

Nate Robinson said he will not miss being in New York, at least taking part in postgame interviews.

“It’s tough to lose every night and get asked the same questions, what’s the problem?’’ Robinson said. “Here, we’re here to win every night, not take ‘Ls,’ and they carry themselves that way, and I have carried myself that way my whole life.

“Doc is honest and straightforward, and as a player that’s what you want from a coach, to always be honest with you and explain exactly what he wants you to do. He’s all about winning. I’ve been a winner all my life and that’s something I want to continue to be.

“Doc makes you that much more confident in becoming a winner. He said just come in and just be Nate. He doesn’t want to change me, just come in and be ready to play. I play with energy, play for the love of game.’’

It’s safe to say that New York media members look forward to covering a winning team. So hopefully they won’t have to ask such questions like the ones Nate didn’t like in the near future.

Eddie House gets standing ovation in Boston

Julian Benbow of the Boston Globe reports:

At times last night, Eddie House found himself joking around with Rajon Rondo on the court, and at others he was making plays against him. Back at TD Garden almost instantly after being traded from the Celtics to the Knicks last week at the deadline, House got a standing ovation from the crowd of 18,624 fans.

“It was hard to stay serious at times, but it was a lot of fun,’’ House said. “I was glad to see those guys. I wish the best of luck to those guys, best of luck to Nate [Robinson, who came to Boston in the deal], and best of success to those guys.’’

In the first quarter, a video tribute to House was played, flashing moments from the Celtics’ 2008 championship run, and House did his best not to look before finally coming onto the parquet and giving a nod to the fans and his former teammates.

Nate Robinson trade soon

For the last day or two, a hot NBA rumors story has been that the New York Knicks may trade Nate Robinson to the Boston Celtics. Possibly for guard Eddie House.

Early Wednesday afternoon, a source told InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner that a trade is “to be expected” — and “quite likely.” It was not word that a deal was officially done. This is not a confirmation of an agreement. But it sure sounds close to happening.

This comes about 45 minutes after Robinson, posting on Twitter, quoted some lyrics to the Eminem song “When I’m gone.” The actual lyrics are: ‘When I’m gone, just carry on, don’t mourn, rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice.’

Both Robinson and House are scorers, though Robinson is the wilder, younger and more explosive of the two.

UPDATE: Knicks trade Nate Robinson to Celtics.

Paul Pierce day-to-day with left foot strain

The Boston Celtics announced today that forward Paul Pierce suffered a strained left mid-foot during the first quarter against the Washington Wizards on February 1. He is currently listed as day-to-day.

Pierce, a 6’7″ forward, has played in 41 games this season for the Celtics and is averaging a team-high 18.9 points. He is currently shooting a career-high 46.7% from three-point land and is ranked third in the NBA. The Kansas product netted a season-high 35 points against the Hawks on January 29.