HARD IN THE PAINT: OVERTIME MADNESS

Last night’s Celtics/Heat and Thunder/Grizzlies are what’s real about the playoffs, big stars going hard and high ranking teams being pushed into OT by squads that wont let go. (photo above via AP)

The Celtics and Heat went at it in Boston, the beat up and aging Celtics were just barley hanging on the last second of the game when Paul Pierce missed a long range 3 sending the game into over time. As you can imagine, it was pretty much over at that point, offensively the Celtics were done. Rondo moved the ball up the court much of the game, but was pretty ineffective do to only being able to use one half of his body. KG was strong in paint, but provided little in the way of offense going 1 for 10 on the night with 7 points. Paul Pierce came up big with 27, but in the end it wasn’t enough to deal with Lebron James (who was beasting we might add, 35 points/14 rebounds), D.Wade, and Bosh. The Heat head back to Miami up 3-1 in the series and to try and close it out Wednesday night.

Heat 98 – Celtics 90

Westbrook and Durant make it happen

Thunder and Grizzlies went through a true test of who’s ready and who’s not last night in a triple overtime tussle in Memphis. Durant and Westbrook both missed consecutive game winning shots, stretching the game out until after midnight. No matter though, these two combined for 75 points(Westbrook – 40, Durant – 35) as Westbrook specifically took control of the lane late in the game. The game got sloppy late, with players like OJ Mayo, Kendrick Perkins and Mike Conley fouling out in the extra periods. Even though the Thunder pulled this game out, one thing that’s become incredibly clear in this series is that there’s no answer for Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. That combo is filthy, Randolph had 34 points and 16 rebounds with Gasol adding 26 points, 21 rebounds.

Thunder 133 – Grizzlies 123