On this day in Boston Celtics history, the Boston Celtics have had a fair amount of success against regular-season opponents since the season they won Banner 17. Most recently, the Celtics defeated the Miami Heat 101-96 on March 19th, 2014 as Boston began its rebuild in earnest.
A LeBron James-less Heat were surprised by the Massachusetts franchise at TD Garden, with late heroics from point guard Rajon Rondo and forward Jeff Green securing the victory. James sat due to back spasms, but that should take away from the win given both Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh played an outmatched Celtics team and lost.
Boston was carried by Avery Bradley’s 23 points and 18 points from Brandon Bass.
Boston also defeated the Atlanta Hawks 79-76 on this date in 2012, stealing a road win with a 13-0 fourth-quarter run powered by Ray Allen’s sharpshooting.
Allen would score 19 points, shooting 4-of-6 from 3-point range, and Kevin Garnett added 16 points and 8 rebounds.
“We could have easily been beaten tonight,” Allen said via the Associated Press. “We took their hit and we counterpunched.”
The Celtics squeaked by the then-New Orleans Hornets 89-85 on the road on this date in 2011, with Allen providing another late push to steal the win.
The UConn product clinched the win with free throws in the game’s final seconds and scored 20 points in the victory. Center Glen Davis — a graduate of nearby LSU — added 20 points and 8 boards off the bench.
Finally, in 2010, Boston stole a road game against the Houston Rockets 94-87, ending a 4-game win streak for Houston.
Paul Pierce led all scorers with 26 points and 5 rebounds, and Allen poured in five 3-pointers on 8 attempts to log 19 points and 6 assists in the win.
The Big Ticket also contributed 15 points and 8 boards.
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