BOSTON - It was time, Eddie House said, for the real Ray Allen to show up.
"We needed him to take over," House said.
The loquacious backup guard had a point.
Prior to last night, Allen was slumping. During the Celtics' two-game skid (both losses were to Washington), the sweet-shooting guard had combined for 24 points on 8 for 27 shooting. Since New Year's - a seven-game span - he'd averaged only 9.1 points per game.
"With jump shooters, you know, sometimes you go on hot and cold spurts," said House, a proud long-range gunner. "That's what happens with shooters, you have to keep taking your shots. It's up and down sometimes."
Allen gave Boston the lift it needed last night. He scored a season-high 35 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Celtics in a 100-90 win over the red-hot Portland Trailblazers at TD Banknorth Garden.
He finished 12 of 20 (4 of 10 from 3-point range) and saved his best for the fourth. He nailed a 3-pointer at 2:18 to make it 89-81, then a 16-footer at 1:14 to make it 91-84, then finally, with Boston clinging to a 91-87 lead, he sank another trey with 49.3 seconds left to put the game out of reach.
"It was very satisfying," Allen said. ".... Tonight, especially for me, I wanted to be aggressive. That's what I worked on before the game. When I got the ball, I penetrated. I put some pressure on the defense and just tried to make a play."
House marveled at Allen, who's averaging 18.1 points per game.
"It's not surprising," said House, who scored 10 points. "I don't think it's surprising to anyone."
That's just the way it is with the Celtics this season. Slumps evaporate like puddles in Death Valley. Even against Portland, which had won 18 of its last 20 games, Boston's stars picked each other up.
"It was fun to be a part of," said Paul Pierce, who finished with 12 points. "I told Ray, 'I'm going to try and get you the ball.'"
After all, Allen needed a lift. Pierce knew what he and his teammates needed to do.
"It's great that Ray played the way he did," Pierce said. "It was great to watch, when you've got a hot player like that, who's done it so many times throughout his NBA career, you just try to ride a hot hand. We tried to get him the ball as much as we could."
"We needed him to take over," House said.
The loquacious backup guard had a point.
Prior to last night, Allen was slumping. During the Celtics' two-game skid (both losses were to Washington), the sweet-shooting guard had combined for 24 points on 8 for 27 shooting. Since New Year's - a seven-game span - he'd averaged only 9.1 points per game.
"With jump shooters, you know, sometimes you go on hot and cold spurts," said House, a proud long-range gunner. "That's what happens with shooters, you have to keep taking your shots. It's up and down sometimes."
Allen gave Boston the lift it needed last night. He scored a season-high 35 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Celtics in a 100-90 win over the red-hot Portland Trailblazers at TD Banknorth Garden.
He finished 12 of 20 (4 of 10 from 3-point range) and saved his best for the fourth. He nailed a 3-pointer at 2:18 to make it 89-81, then a 16-footer at 1:14 to make it 91-84, then finally, with Boston clinging to a 91-87 lead, he sank another trey with 49.3 seconds left to put the game out of reach.
"It was very satisfying," Allen said. ".... Tonight, especially for me, I wanted to be aggressive. That's what I worked on before the game. When I got the ball, I penetrated. I put some pressure on the defense and just tried to make a play."
House marveled at Allen, who's averaging 18.1 points per game.
"It's not surprising," said House, who scored 10 points. "I don't think it's surprising to anyone."
That's just the way it is with the Celtics this season. Slumps evaporate like puddles in Death Valley. Even against Portland, which had won 18 of its last 20 games, Boston's stars picked each other up.
"It was fun to be a part of," said Paul Pierce, who finished with 12 points. "I told Ray, 'I'm going to try and get you the ball.'"
After all, Allen needed a lift. Pierce knew what he and his teammates needed to do.
"It's great that Ray played the way he did," Pierce said. "It was great to watch, when you've got a hot player like that, who's done it so many times throughout his NBA career, you just try to ride a hot hand. We tried to get him the ball as much as we could."
"It was big," said Kevin Garnett, who scored 26 points, "real big."
Afterward, Allen, who missed the Jan. 9 game against Charlotte with a pinched nerve, said it was the best he's felt physically so far this season.
"I still had shots I would've liked to see go down," he said. "I do feel like I'm turning the corner, though, being able to feel good out there on the floor after everything I've gone through early."
Ankle and back injuries have plagued him at times including last season when he missed the second half of the year following ankle surgery. He hopes the injuries are behind him.
"Everything I do is about consistency, routine, and just taking care of my body, biding my time and letting the moments come to you," he said. "I've played many games thus far, and every game I walk out of this building feeling like I left something on the table. I still feel that way tonight. I was telling someone before the game that I'm never completely satisfied."
That may be true. But don't tell House.
"If a game like that can't get you going," he said, "I don't know what can."
Alan Siegel is an Eagle-Tribune sports writer. E-mail him at ASiegel@eagletribune.com.
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CELTS BOX
Final score: Celtics 100, Trailblazers 90
Attendance: 18,624
Hero: Ray Allen. Scored a season high 35 points after combining for 24 in Boston's two previous games, both losses to Washington.
Goat: None. The Blazers' talented young trio of LaMarcus Aldridge (16 points), Brandon Roy (22 points) and Jarrett Jack (17 points) played well, but the Blazers didn't have enough down the stretch.
Stat of the game: 19. Portland's turnovers, 12 of which came in the second half. Boston had eight total.
Key players: Paul Pierce (12 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists), Kevin Garnett (26 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists), Eddie House (10 points, 5 assists).
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