Celtics Beat Nets: Forte, Mott the Hoople, Bremer Play Well; Jefferson Best Player

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>From NBA.Com:

The Boston Celtics scored the final 12 points of the game, outscoring
the New Jersey Nets 26-9 in the fourth quarter on their way to an 81-69
win at the Shaws Pro Summer League in a rematch of last seasons
Eastern Conference Finals. Boston (1-0) held New Jersey (0-1) to just
three field goals on 14 shots (21.4 percent) in the final quarter to win
going away.

The fourth quarter was all Boston. A layup by Terquin Mott and a three
by J.R. Bremer evened the game at 60-60 with 8:02 to go in the game. The
teams traded baskets over the next four minutes and with 3:56 to go, the
game was still even, 69-69. The Nets would not score again in the
contest as they turned the ball over three times down the stretch, and
Boston made the most of their opportunities. Joseph Forte hit a free
throw to give Boston the lead for good, then hit a jumper and made a
layup to give Boston a 75-69 lead. Derrick Allston and Mott each hit a
pair of free throws in the last 32 seconds to ice the victory.

Boston fell behind early as Jason Collins and Brandon Armstrong each
scored six points in the first quarter and the Nets led 16-4 with 3:10
remaining in the quarter. A three-pointer by Bremer, two free-throws by
Greg Stempin and a jumper by Alston cut the deficit to 16-11 after one.
The Nets built the lead back to 11 on the strength of five free-throws
by Richard Jefferson, a three by Billy Thomas and jumpers by Victor
Thomas and Brian Scalabrine before Celtics guard Omar Cook (9 points)
took over in the last two minutes of the half. He made a three-point
play, hit a three-point jumper and a made driving layup with 7.4 seconds
left in the half to tie the game at 31-31.

The Celtics looked to be in command in the third quarter, taking a 47-42
at the 4:32 mark, led by Fortes six points and five points by rookie
Darius Songaila. But the Nets came back on the strength of six points
each by Richard Jefferson and Brandon Armstrong to take their own five
point lead at the end of the third quarter, 60-55.

Forte (14 points) led four Celtics in double-figures. Mott and Bremer
scored 12 points each and Kedrick Brown threw in 11 points and blocked 3
shots. Jefferson led all scorers with 19 points and finished just shy of
a triple double with 9 assists and 8 rebounds.


21 Brian Scalabrine F 23 1 5 0 0 0 0 5 7 12 2 5 0 1 2 2
24 Richard Jefferson F 36 5 14 0 1 9 10 2 6 8 9 3 1 4 0 19
35 Jason Collins C 20 3 6 0 0 1 2 4 0 4 0 6 0 2 0 7
1 Brandon Armstrong G 31 8 17 0 1 0 0 2 1 3 2 5 0 3 0 16
13 Tony Akins G 33 2 11 1 7 0 0 0 4 4 2 2 3 2 0 5
40 Kevin Lyde 15 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 3 0 1 2 4
8 Tamar Slay 19 5 9 1 4 0 0 0 1 1 2 3 2 1 0 11
20 Billy Thomas 12 1 2 1 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 3
14 Victor Thomas 6 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2
22 Darren Kelly 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0
TOTALS: 200 28 68 3 15 10 12 14 22 36 17 28 7 17 4 69
PERCENTAGES: 41.2% 20.0% 83.3% TM REB: 12 TOT TO: 18 (22 PTS)

HOME: BOSTON CELTICS (1-0)
NO PLAYER MIN FG FGA 3P 3PA FT FTA OR DR TOT A PF ST TO BS PTS
42 Kedrick Brown F 37 4 10 1 3 2 4 0 3 3 4 2 3 2 3 11
58 Darius Songaila F 28 3 9 0 0 1 1 0 2 2 3 5 3 0 0 7
31 Derrick Alston C 30 2 3 0 0 4 10 3 4 7 1 5 0 0 1 8
12 Omar Cook G 21 4 7 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 2 0 9
40 Joseph Forte G 27 5 11 0 2 4 5 0 1 1 2 2 1 1 0 14
5 Terquin Mott 18 4 6 0 0 4 4 3 2 5 1 5 2 1 0 12
38 J.R. Bremer 19 4 9 2 5 2 2 0 3 3 2 1 0 3 0 12
56 Greg Stempin 5 0 0 0 0 2 4 1 2 3 0 0 0 2 0 2
46 Larry Abney 15 3 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 1 2 0 0 1 6
27 Luis F. de Souza NWT
41 Jaka Lakovic DNP - Coach's Decision
51 Sonny Watson DNP - Coach's Decision
TOTALS: 200 29 58 4 12 19 31 8 19 27 15 22 11 11 5 81