Fired-up Garnett, Celts put away Hawks

BOSTON — Call him old. Call him dirty.

Vintage performance: Boston's Kevin Garnett puts up a jumper over Atlanta's Josh Smith in the first half of Game 6 on Thursday night. The Celtics beat the Hawks 83-80 to take the series 4-2. AP

It just fires up Kevin Garnett even more — and that didn't work out very well for the Atlanta Hawks in their first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics.

Upset by comments from a Hawks owner calling him "the dirtiest guy in the league," Garnett responded with 28 points and 14 rebounds to give the Celtics an 83-80 victory in Game 6 on Thursday night that eliminated Atlanta.

"Thank you to their owner for giving me some extra gas tonight," Garnett said. "My only advice to him is next time he opens his mouth to know what he's talking about with X's and O's vs. checkbooks and bottom lines."

The Celtics will open the Eastern Conference semifinals on Saturday in Boston against the Philadelphia 76ers, who eliminated East No. 1 seed Chicago in six games with a 79-78 victory earlier Thursday.

"At least we don't have to travel," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers, who had hoped to be playing a day or two later. "I would rather be going to Game 1 here than Game 7 in Atlanta."

Garnett topped his regular-season high of 25 points and had five blocks and three steals for Boston. Paul Pierce had 18 points despite playing with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee, and Rajon Rondo had 14 points and eight assists.

But Garnett, who turns 36 this month, was the star, defying age and a reputation that led Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. to say within earshot of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "They are old. I know what happens when you play basketball, old guys foul. Garnett is the dirtiest guy in the league."

Garnett responded on the court, hitting a jumper with 31 seconds left to give Boston the lead for good.

Then he responded off it.

"I just found that comment to be a little rude and a little out of hand and I wanted to address it," he said. "Just because you've got a lot of money doesn't mean you can open your mouth."

Josh Smith had 19 points and nine rebounds for Atlanta, which failed to advance in the playoffs for the first time in four years. Joe Johnson had 17 points, Marvin Williams added 16 and eight rebounds and Al Horford had 15 points and nine rebounds.

Boston has won at least one playoff series every year since the new Big 3 was assembled in the summer of 2007.

"The one thing about the Celtics is those guys know how to win," Williams said.

76ers 79, Bulls 78

In Philadelphia, Andre Iguodala made the go-ahead free throws with 2.2 seconds left and the 76ers rallied for a victory over top-seeded Chicago in Game 6, advancing to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs for the first time since 2003.

Omer Asik missed two free throws with 7 seconds left that would have given the Bulls a three-point lead. Iguodala grabbed the second miss, sprinted the length of the court, was fouled by Asik and made both free throws.

Philadelphia is the fifth No. 8 seed to win a first-round series against a No. 1 seed.

Chicago lost star guard Derrick Rose to a knee injury in the series opener and center Joakim Noah didn't play in the last three games because of an ankle injury.

Iguodala scored 20 points, and Jrue Holiday and Lou Williams each scored 14 for the Sixers who were outrebounded 56-33.

Luol Deng had 19 points and 17 rebounds for the Bulls, while Richard Hamilton scored 19 points and Carlos Boozer grabbed 13 rebounds.

Nuggets 113, Lakers 96

In Denver, Ty Lawson scored 32 points and Corey Brewer added 18 as the Nuggets forced a Game 7 in their first-round playoff series.

Game 7 in the Western Conference series is Saturday night at the Staples Center.

This will be Denver's first all-or-nothing playoff game since losing to Utah in Game 7 of the 1994 conference semifinals.

Kobe Bryant followed his 43-point outburst in Game 5 with 31 points in 3? quarters despite a sour stomach that prevented him from attending the Lakers' morning shootaround and forced him to take intravenous fluids all day. He took a seat for good with Los Angeles down 101-73 with 7:52 remaining.

Andrew Bynum pulled down 16 rebounds but made just 4 of 11 shots for 11 points for the Lakers and Pau Gasol was just 1 of 10 from the field, finishing with three points and three rebounds.

OKLAHOMA CITY — In his first season fully understanding the role, James Harden won the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award after leading all bench players in scoring.

Harden averaged 16.8 points on career-best 49 percent shooting this season, and he recorded his first career 40-point game last month in a win at Phoenix.

Lou Williams, who led Philadelphia in scoring despite not starting a single game this season, was second in the balloting.

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With veteran squad, Celts keep Rivers

NEW YORK — So my opinion (contrary to citing a source; incredible how many English-speaking and, I assume, reading people don't know the difference) concerning what Doc Rivers was doing and what he would do was incorrect.

There goes my vision of a Rick Pitino revival meeting.

After actually giving the situation some thought, the Celtics had no other choice but to re-sign their coach for five years and $35 million (a vast reward for keeping his mouth caulked when Danny Ainge screwed up the roster and rhythm at trade deadline) even if he finishes only three-fifths of the contract before getting fired.

The thing is, when coaches like Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan and potentially Rivers leave the pulpit there's a colossal chasm to fill, especially when sacrosanct veterans are left behind.

How easy do you think it would be for a new guy to get Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo to buy into his command?

That's why it makes sense for the Lakers to hire someone like Rick Adelman or Mike Dunleavy vs. untested assistant Brian Shaw despite Kobe's unequivocal endorsement; in time, Bryant will accept either of the older guys or someone on their level.

However, having signed off on all of the above, paying $7 million per season to a coach (one title) not named Jackson (11) or Gregg Popovich(four) is preposterous . . . particularly now when the NBA is howling at the prospects of losing (another?) $380 million this season.

Seems like David Stern might want to insist owners include the contracts of coaching staffs in their team's salary cap. Let's see how many assistants the head guy will hire then.

Afterthought: I guess Rivers' son, Austin, isn't worth watching in person after all.

* * *

Announcer Michael Kay concludes Isiah Thomas should be given credit for Zach Randolph's harvest this season, as well as Jamal Crawford's productivity with the Hawks.

Aside from Kay's view being back-to-front, inside-out and crooked, his position is almost on target.

Had Thomas guided the Knicks anywhere worthwhile when coaching the pair, he would have deserved praise. What they're doing for their respective successful clubs makes him look worse.

In any event, the ghost of Elvis prepared the Grizzlies pregame meal of fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

Unfortunately, Eddy Curry and Jerome James (recruited to New York by Thomas), were hired to deliver them.

Before moving on to the Heat-Bulls hoedown, think about the nightmarish flashback Jack Nicholson must have had after the Mavericks smothered his team in four straight:

I put zero weight into Chicago's three-game skid against Miami (one minus LeBron James) during the regular season . . . unless, of course, Chris Bosh decides to unleash another 1-for-18 field goal onslaught.

Here's what concerns me about the Heat, which has to embezzle at least one game in Oprahville. LeBron James & Co. appeared so amped to take down the Old Green Mare that Pat Riley might want to remind them they're only halfway to paradise.

My Grand Prix trainer would jerk me out of the saddle if I celebrated after overcoming turns and distances I had failed to navigate before when there are two additional difficult obstacles ahead.

"What will LeBron do if he wins the conference finals?" column contributor Mike Lione wonders. "Pass out! Set himself on fire! Demand a pyramid of his likeness in the sands of South Beach!"

You don't have to steal money from TNT, ESPN or NBA-TV to comprehend the team that zip-locks its opponent most often will prevail. As renowned as the Bulls are for their premeditated and incessant defense, the Heat have the length, quickness and desire to bewitch, bother and bewilder more effectively.

Particularly since Dwyane Wade matches up with Derrick Rose as well as anyone in creation.

My staff finds it interesting that everyone is going wild over the Bulls' defense being ranked first in field-goal defense this season. Imagine that; the brainpower of (Coach of the Year) Tom Thibodeau was able to lift Chicago all the way up from third place in that category, which is where Vinny Del Negro and defensive assistant Bob Ociepka had it the previous year before being fired.

Taking nothing away from what Thibodeau accomplished, but where credit is due, it should be acknowledged.

True, the Bulls gave up more points per game under Del Negro. Still, field goal defense is generally regarded as a better barometer of the defense being played.

Regardless, this season's Bulls' edition didn't come from nowhere to do what it has done, and the addition of several big bodies—Carlos Boozer, Kurt Thomas and Omer Asik—had to help. Moreover, the leftovers are a year smarter.

Again, not to sleet on Thibodeau's show, but Del Negro got waxed for his effort with a constantly regressing roster—making the Bulls competitive in two consecutive playoff presentations and got little internal support and no acclaim.

Meanwhile, these Bulls play at a pace rated 23rd vs. 11th for Del Negro. His Bulls took 250 more shots, including field goals and free throws; Thibodeau's team went to the line more often.

The point is, this was not a miracle job, as squawking heads would have you believe, simply an improvement.

Peter Vecsey covers the NBA for the New York Post.

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Heat drop Celts in OT, take 3-1 lead

BOSTON — Miami's Big Three was assembled for just this purpose: To dominate the bullies from Boston who knocked them from the playoffs so many times before.

Pulling away: Miami's LeBron James dribbles past Boston's Kevin Garnett during overtime in Game 4 on Monday night. The Heat beat the Celtics 98-90 to take a 3-1 lead in the series. AP

LeBron James scored 35 points, Dwyane Wade had 28 and Chris Bosh had 20 on Monday night to give the Heat a 98-90 overtime victory over the Celtics and move Miami within one game of the Eastern Conference finals. The Heat lead the best-of-seven East semifinals 3-1, with a chance to close out the series in Miami on Wednesday.

"Wednesday night will be our greatest challenge that we've had with this group so far," Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We'll get their best games on Wednesday. And we have to be better. If we're real about what we want to do, we have to beat the Boston Celtics at their best."

One game after their worst performance as a threesome, James, Wade and Bosh had 83 of Miami's 98 points and 35 of its 45 rebounds. They scored all 12 of Miami's points in overtime; Bosh and Wade had five apiece after James' fallaway jumper on the Heat's first possession of the extra period gave them the lead for good.

"We're the guys. We're the ones who get all the attention. We're the ones that get all the praise," Wade said. "This team is going to go as far as us three takes it."

Paul Pierce scored 27, Ray Allen had 17 and Kevin Garnett had seven points and 10 rebounds for Boston. Rajon Rondo, who dislocated his left elbow Saturday night in Game 3, played 39 minutes with a padded sleeve covering what appeared to be a brace on his left arm, scoring 10 with five assists.

The Celtics would need to win the next three games — two in Miami — to have a chance to defend their Eastern Conference championship.

"These are those moments. I look forward to it," Allen said. "Everybody on this team, we know what to do. We can't talk about it; we just have to put our best foot forward. It's not easy. It just makes it that much more special if we're able to do it."

Boston has reached the NBA Finals in two of the last three seasons, both times knocking James and the Cavaliers out along the way. The Celtics eliminated the Heat last year one round after knocking Cleveland out and sending James on the journey that landed him in Miami.

In all, Wade had lost 11 straight regular-season and playoff games in Boston. James had lost 13 of 15, including the one that ended his Cleveland career.

"I haven't had much success in this building," James said. "We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to just come out and do whatever it took."

Okla. 133, Memphis 123 (3OT)

In Memphis, Kevin Durant scored six of his 35 points in the third overtime, and Oklahoma City survived a thriller in holding off the Grizzlies.

With the victory, the Thunder grabbed back home-court advantage and tied this Western Conference semifinal at two games apiece.

Durant credited Memphis with playing an unbelievable game and pressuring Oklahoma City throughout. He said this was a fun game he'll tell his children about someday.

"This game is something people are going to be talking about for a while," Durant said. "I'm glad I'm a part of it."

Game 5 is on Wednesday night back in Oklahoma City. The winner of the series will play the Dallas Mavericks in the conference finals.

The finish couldn't have been more exciting in the second straight overtime game in this series. The sellout crowd stood through each overtime, though fans started trickling toward the exits as the clock ticked past midnight locally.

Russell Westbrook led the Thunder with 40 points. James Harden added 19, and Daequan Cook had 10.

The Grizzlies ran out of energy in the third overtime as they hit just 1 of 9 from the floor.

Zach Randolph led Memphis with 34 points and 16 rebounds. Marc Gasol had 26 and 21 rebounds. O.J. Mayo had 18 and Mike Conley 16 before both fouled out. Greivis Vasquez had 14.

Conley forced the first overtime with his lone 3 of the game. Vasquez, the rookie playing because Conley had fouled out late in the first overtime, hit a 3 to set up the second overtime. Gasol scored on a tip-in that set up the third OT.

Oklahoma City had its chances to win at the end of regulation and each overtime.

Westbrook's jumper hit the rim before the buzzer to end the first 48 minutes. Durant, the NBA's leading scorer, had a 3 fall short of the basket at the end of the first overtime, and Westbrook's long jumper grazed the front of the rim at the buzzer ending the second overtime.

In the third overtime, the Thunder finally took control. Westbrook scored with 3:38 left to put Oklahoma City up for good with 3:38 left. Durant added a pair of free throws, and Serge Ibaka hit a jumper before Durant scored on a running layup for a 129-123 lead with 58.8 seconds left.

Durant stole the ball from Randolph on the other end, then hit a long jumper over Shane Battier with 29.3 seconds left for a 131-123 lead.

Memphis will think about this game after jumping out to an 18-point lead only to squander it.

Oklahoma City, the NBA's best free-throw shooting team, got back into this one at the line, where much of this game was spent.

The Thunder hit 15 of 17 shots in the second quarter alone and finished 31 of 39 in regulation. Durant, who missed his lone attempt in Game 3, was 16 of 18 at the line himself.

Oklahoma City went 42 of 50 at the line compared to Memphis, which hit 37 of 40.

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