Songalia scores 19; C's roll Spurs

[CeltsSteve@xxxxxxx]

    San Antonio 21  18  16  16  71
                        Boston           19 23  25  26  93
Leaders: Points: J. Forte (BOS), 21; Rebounds: K. Brown (BOS), 8; Assists:
Goldwire (SA), 5


The Boston Celtics shot 76.9 percent in the third quarter, turning a 3-point
halftime lead into a 12-point lead after three quarters and held off a San
Antonio rally in the fourth quarter to post a 93-71 victory over the San
Antonio Spurs (1-3) to stay undefeated at the Shawbs Pro Summer League.

The Celtics went on a 17-8 run to start the third quarter and stopped after
the Spurs cut the lead to 2, outscored the Spurs 26-6 over the final 4:16 of
the game.

Derrick Alston started the third quarter run for Boston (4-0) with a pair of
short jumpers and two free-throws. J.R. Bremer then hit a 19-footer and
Joseph Forte converted a Darius Songaila steal into a fast-break layup.
Kedrick Brown then hit a three-pointer to make it 55-45.

The Spurs made one last run by scoring the first 10 points of the fourth
quarter. Anthony Goldwire converted an Altron Jackson steal into a fast break
layup, Brian Green converted a three-point play, Goldwire hit a free-throw
after a technical foul on Oliver Miller then hit an 18-footer and Jameel
Watkins scored his only points of the game on a 16-footer to make it 67-65.

But that was as close as they would get. Two layups by Bremer and one by
Miller built the lead back to 8 and Forte scored 7 of his game high 21 points
down the stretch, including a game-breaking three-pointer with 3:08 to play
to allow the Celtics to cruise to the victory.

Bostonbs hot shooting was the key as the hit 73.3 percent from the floor in
the quarter. Although they never led in the game, San Antonio kept it close
through the first half, trailing 21-19 after one and tying the game with 7:51
left in the second quarter. Then Boston went on a 9-1 run to go ahead by 8.
Brown hit a 19-footer, Larry Abney made a three-point play, Terquin Mott made
a reverse-layup and Jaka Lakovic hit a 17-footer to make it 34-26.

The Spurs cut it to 6 before Saddie Washington hit a three-pointer at the
buzzer to make it 42-39 at the half. But the Celtics came out of the locker
room sizzling and went on 13-6 run over the first four minutes of the third
quarter.

Songalia scored 19 points and pulled down 7 rebounds. Brown added 15 points
and 8 rebounds and Bremer tacked on 14. Stephen Jackson led the Spurs with 19
points.

<A HREF="http://www.nba.com/media/celtics/game19.pdf";>READ THE COMPLETE BOX
SCORE</A>


CeltsSteve

"Life Is a Bowl of Gumbo. Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much!"