Here’s how easy it looked to hit home runs at Great American Ball Park on Sunday: Todd Frazier lost his grip on the bat during a swing. The ball wound up in the seats anyway.BOSTON – Paul Pierce has been around long enough to know what Rajon Rondo’s performance can mean for the aging Boston Celtics.
“The way he played tonight, we’re a pretty tough team to stop,” the Celtics’ captain said Sunday after Rondo recorded a triple-double with 32 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds in a 95-91 victory over the Chicago Bulls, who were without star guard Derrick Rose.
Running the Celtics’ offense smoothly without having to worry about covering the reigning MVP Rose, Rondo helped Boston rebound from a miserable loss in Toronto on Friday.
“I just think he wanted to win,” Boston coach Doc Rivers said when asked whether Rondo may have been extra motivated. “I thought we played at a better pace today.”
Kevin Garnett added 13 points and 12 rebounds, reserve JaJuan Johnson, a Purdue product, had 12 points and Ray Allen 11 for the Celtics, who snapped a two-game skid.
C.J. Watson, who started in Rose’s spot, scored 22 points for the Bulls, whose win streak ended at five in the finale of a 6-3 road trip.
LAKERS 94, RAPTORS 92: In Toronto, Kobe Bryant hit a baseline jump shot with 4.2 seconds left as Los Angeles wrapped up a six-game road trip by holding on to beat the Raptors. Bryant, who scored 27 points, took an inbound pass from Metta World Peace and shot over the outstretched arms of James Johnson.
WIZARDS 98, PISTONS 77: In Auburn Hills, Mich., JaVale McGee had 22 points and eight rebounds and John Wall dished out 14 assists for Washington. Detroit entered on a season-best four-game winning streak, but saw it end when the Wizards went on a 22-2 run spanning the third and fourth quarters. Greg Monroe had a game-high 27 for Detroit.
HEAT 107, HAWKS 87: In Atlanta, LeBron James scored 23 points and Dwyane Wade added 21 as Miami blew out the Hawks after racing to a 22-point lead at halftime. The Heat made a big statement in the Southeast Division against the second-place Hawks, leading by as many as 32.
WARRIORS 106, ROCKETS 97: In Oakland, Calif., Monta Ellis had 33 points and seven assists and David Lee added 15 points to lead Golden State past Houston.
