FanPost

A 130-point game?

Yesterday, the San Antonio Spurs scored 132 points (making a franchise record for three-pointers in a game) against the Charlotte Bobcats. The Spurs have scored at least 99 points in all but one of their 21 games this season. The Celtics haven’t been offensive juggernauts for a while, so I decided to do a little looking into the Celtics’ history and find the last time the Celtics scored 132 points.

Their season high insofar, is 116 points in that overtime against the Orlando Magic.

Last season, they were just 24th in Offensive Efficiency yet 2nd in Defensive Efficiency, per Hollinger Rankings on ESPN. Their highest output last year was 115 points, which they scored once against the New York Knicks (albeit in OT) and once against the Miami Heat. Nonetheless, they weren’t close to the 132-point number we’re looking for.

Two seasons ago, they managed 119 points in a blowout win against the Sacramento Kings at home, and also had a 118 point outing against the Knicks, but were unable to even break the 120-point barrier once.

Three seasons ago, they had two 122-point games, one against the Minnesota Timberwolves and on against the Pacers. Near the end of the season, they did have a 5-game run of 100+ points, but somehow went 2-3. However, they weren’t close to 130 that year.

Four seasons ago, the Celtics had their greatest offensive year. In the 2008-09 season, they managed to have back-to-back games of 118- and 119-points, 122- and 122-points, 126- and 124-points, 115- and 118-points, and 124- and 119-points. They pulled off an astounding fifty-two 100-point games (including 8 in the playoffs). Amazingly, they scored above the 100-point mark in all seven playoff games against the Chicago Bulls, including 127-points in a loss to the Chicago Bulls (3OT) that we will never forget. But, their highest scoring output was a ridiculous 128-point game against the Phoenix Suns (when Rajon Rondo scored 32 points)

Five seasons ago wasn’t anything special offensively, and the first season of the KG era which produced a championship was mostly built on defense. They had two 117-point games against the Suns (again) and the Golden State Warriors, and a season-high 119-point performance against the Denver Nuggets on just their third game together.

As we delve into pre-KG Celtics, we look at the 2006-2007 season where the Celtics ended with the second-worst record in the league. However, no KG also meant less defense and potentially more offense, and they did have a 128-point win over the Memphis Grizzlies, their last win before a 18-game losing streak.

During the 2005-06 season, the Celtics had a streak of 8 100-point games, and did have two 124-point games, one in a triple-overtime loss to the Philadelphia 76ers and another in a win over the Toronto Raptors.

Finally, we reach the 2004-05 season, 8 seasons back in the annals of history. This is where they finally broke 130 points, scoring 134 against the Los Angeles Clippers, during an away game, in a 2OT victory. On December 13th, 2004, they won 134-127 led by 33 points for Paul Pierce and 34 points off the bench from Ricky Davis. The Clippers were paced by 38 points from Corey Maggette (one away from his career high).

Anyways, the Celtics haven’t scored 130 for a long time, so I just thought it was an interesting find. It’s doubtful the Celtics can keep their offense at the Spurs’ level, and 130 is a number we don’t see often in scores anymore. But, I do want to see a 50-point game by a Celtic one last time from someone like Paul Pierce or Jason Terry.



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