Rajon Rondo has 18 points in the first half as the Boston Celtics trail the New York Knicks 45-44 at halftime of Game 2 of the team's first-round NBA Playoffs series. Carmelo Anthony has scored 16 points on 6-14 shooting for the Knicks. Boston has held New York to 32 percent shooting, but the Knicks have 12 offensive rebounds and just five turnovers.
Celtics Vs. Knicks Score: Rajon Rondo Dominant In Brick-Heavy First Half, But New York Leads 45-44
The Knicks’ defense has been painful to watch; had the Celtics not missed an inordinate number of open jumpers, Boston could have a substantial lead. Rondo ripped through the Knicks’ nonexistent transition defense regularly in the first quarter. New York made an effort to guard Rondo with a bigger player often in the second, but New York’s improved offense and a slower pace kept the Boston point guard under wraps (comparatively).
Toney Douglas committed his third personal foul on a bizarre play with less than four minutes remaining in the half. Amar'e Stoudemire needed to come out of the game as Rondo dribbled the ball in the halfcourt; Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni called for an intentional foul to get a clock stoppage. Improbably, Douglas committed it. With Chauncey Billups out for Game 2, the Knicks could ill-afford to lose Douglas for the remainder of the half, but it happened. Stoudemire went to locker room and his status is unknown.
See More:
