The Boston Celtics shut down the Miami Heat in the fourth quarter to record an 85-76 victory and take a 1-0 lead in their Eastern Conference playoffs first-round series on Saturday.
Kevin Garnett scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Celtics before he picked up two technical fouls and was ejected following a fourth quarter scuffle.
Video replays appeared to show he threw an elbow at the head of the Heat’s Quentin Richardson.
PHOTO: AFP
“He clearly made contact with Richardson,” official Joe DeRosa told the NBA’s Web site (www.nba.com). “But even if he had not, he still would have been ejected for a second technical foul for throwing an elbow.”
The flare-up, which came with about 40 seconds left to play, occurred after Boston’s Paul Pierce fell into the Heat’s bench and aggravated a shoulder injury
Garnett went to check on his teammate and wound up in a shoving match with Richardson.
Richardson and Udonis Haslem of the Heat and Boston’s Glen Davis also received technical fouls and the league could take more action.
Boston trailed 66-64 after three quarters, but held the Heat to 10 points in the fourth.
“It wasn’t about offense for us,” Pierce told reporters. “It was about how we played defense. Once I got going, the defense came through for us.
“When you get Game One, it sets the tone for the series.”
Dwyane Wade led Miami with 26 points but had seven turnovers.
“We played great until the fourth quarter,” Miami’s Richardson said.
Cavs 96, Bulls 83
At Cleveland, Ohio, LeBron James had 24 points and four blocks and a slimmed-down Shaquille O’Neal, playing for the first time since Feb. 25, scored 12 points in 24 minutes to help top-seeded Cleveland beat Chicago in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference series.
O’Neal looked remarkably sharp despite missing the Cavs’ final 23 regular-season games after tearing a thumb ligament.
Derrick Rose had 28 points and 10 assists for Chicago, which trimmed a 22-point deficit in the third quarter to seven in the fourth.
However, James converted a three-point play with 2:29 left and Mo Williams followed with a 3-pointer to put Cleveland up 94-81.
Williams added 19 points and 10 assists and Antawn Jamison had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Cleveland blocked 12 shots — 10 in the second half.
Hawks 102, Bucks 92
At Atlanta, Joe Johnson scored 22 points and Mike Bibby had 19 for Atlanta in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference series.
Jamal Crawford added 17 points for Atlanta in the first postseason appearance in his 10-year career. Rookie Brandon Jennings led Milwaukee with 34 points.
The Hawks had mismatches all over the court, taking advantage of the injury that took out Milwaukee center Andrew Bogut late in the season.
The home team never trailed, building a 20-point lead in the first quarter and going to halftime with a 62-40 edge.
Nuggets 126, Jazz 113
At Denver, Carmelo Anthony scored a playoff career-high 42 points and J.R. Smith’s fourth-quarter flurry of 3-pointers helped Denver beat Utah in Game 1 of the Western Conference playoff series.
Anthony benefited from the absence of Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko, who re-injured his strained left calf in practice Thursday and won’t play in the series.
Although Carlos Boozer (rib) returned to Utah’s lineup and scored 19 points, the Jazz lost center Mehmet Okur, who aggravated his left Achilles’ tendon injury in the first half and C.J. Miles also missed some time because of nausea after colliding with Chauncey Billups in the second half.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely