Celtics handle Grizzlies, earn fourth straight win

Basketball Betting Lines

02/05/2012 - Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Garnett had 24 points and nine rebounds as the Boston Celtics handled the Memphis Grizzlies, 98-80, at TD Garden.

Paul Pierce added 21 points while Ray Allen and Chris Wilcox each netted 12 as the Celtics won their fourth straight game and remained perfect in a five-game homestand.

Rudy Gay had 21 points and seven rebounds to pace Memphis, which wrapped up a three-game road trip with a 1-2 record by dropping its last two contests.

After an 8-2 spurt by the Grizzlies put them up, 12-6, in the first quarter, the Celtics reeled off 10 straight points to jump ahead and held a 24-16 lead after the opening frame.

Memphis then came out hot in the second, opening the quarter with a 16-3 run that included five consecutive Boston turnovers and eight points by O.J. Mayo to take a 32-27 lead with less than seven minutes to go in the half.

The Celtics, though, responded with their own 16-3 swing to close out the half and owned a 43-35 advantage at the break.

Neither team shot well from long distance in the first half, as Memphis went 1-for-7 from three-point range and Boston connected on 1-of-10 shots from beyond the arc. Both teams also had 10 turnovers apiece in the first 24 minutes.

But Boston found its three-point stroke in the third quarter, converting on 5- of-8 shots from long distance -- three from Allen -- as the Celtics led by no less than five points and by as many as 12 en route to a 69-61 lead at the end of three quarters.

The game was never in doubt in the fourth, with Boston leading by double digits for the majority of the quarter.

Game Notes

Boston improved to 9-6 at home this season while Memphis fell to 5-9 on the road...The Celtics will also host Charlotte and the Los Angeles Lakers in the homestand...Boston recorded its first win of the season against a member of the Western Conference. The Celtics had been 0-4 against Western Conference foes...Pierce sits nine points shy of tying Larry Bird (21,791) for second on Boston's all-time scoring list...Mayo finished with 15 points for the Grizzlies.

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Pacific-10 Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Stanford

Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.

Should be in:

Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.

Southeastern Conference odds
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State

It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.

Work left to do:

Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.

Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.

Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.

Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile.

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