GANG GREENED

Celts come back late to top Champs

Fierce Pierce was Texas-sized big

In a matchup of what many predict to be a Finals preview, the Celtics and Spurs provided an action-packed St. Patrick’s sneak peek. The Celtics won a nail-biter 93-91, despite looking as inebriated early on as their fans celebrating the holiday back home, down 17 after the first and as many as 22 at one point. The Celtics once again overcame the absence of Jesus Shuttlesworth nursing an ankle injury undoubtedly suffered at the hands of his father, Jake, with 3 players scoring 20 or more points. P-Double lead the way with 22 and Kevin Garnett added 21, as the Celtics rode to the winner’s circle after stage one of the Tour de Texas.

The Spurs, despite Manu Ginobili pouring in 32 points from all over the court, forgot to charge the batteries for their machine-like game for the second half. The Celtics came out strong after the break as baskets went down faster than half-off Irish car bombs, while the Spurs struggled offensively as their lead shrank to just 2 after the third. The Celtics took their first second-half lead after Sam Cassell phoned home a three with 45 seconds left. Down 2 with 4 ticks left, Bruce Bowen stole the inbound, legally, and passed the ball to Big Shot Bob, who looked more like Mediocre Ol' Bob as he missed a fallaway three pointer as the buzzer sounded.

Not tonight, Bob

The Celtics get no extended St. Patty's celebration tonight, however, as they move on to face the Rockets and their mind-boggling 22-game winning streak. The national stage is set for undoubtedly the biggest game of the season as the leaders in their respective conferences square off in a Houston showdown, as KG and Co. look to end the Rockets' historic streak.

ROUT-MATCHED

Nuggs stomp Sonics by 55; set franchise record

It’s no secret that the Seattle Supersonics are a fry cry from yesteryears that boasted defensive-specialist Gary Payton and All-Star Shawn Kemp (minus 50 pounds and nine bastard children), but come on. In a rematch of a playoff series known as one of the greatest upsets in the sport, Sunday’s game between the Sonics and Nuggets was just plain upsetting.

The Nuggets dropped a face-melting 168 points on the near-cellar-dwelling squad from the northwest, who have lately been more concerned with exactly where they will lose their typical 60 games next year and might as well have been playing defense in wheelchairs.

Inside the debacle:

• Denver’s 168 points in regulation was 5 points shy of the record, held by the 1990 Suns who put 173 on the board against, who else, the Nuggets.
• Seattle gave up 138 points to the Nuggets last month. Spygate’s effects must be rippling beyond football, as game tapes are being destroyed across all sports leagues and hindering game preparations.
• Pass it Around: Carmelo Anthony led the team in scoring with 26 and was one of eight Nuggets in double figures.
• The Nuggets shot 60.4% from the floor, including a lights-out 16-for-31 from downtown.
• Denver put up 84 points at the half. The Hornets scored 84 and the Heat ended up with 73 points in their entire respective games on Sunday.
• The Nuggets out-assisted the Sonics, 44-28.
• “Let’s Get the Hell Outta Here”: The game only lasted 2 hours and 11 minutes from tip-off to the final buzzer.