Notes: Celtics dug a hole too deep

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By JessicaCamerato
CSNNE.com

BOSTON - Giving up 30 points in the first quarter is never a good way to start a game.

Giving up another 30 in the second, well, thats just digging a hole thats challenging to climb out of.

The Boston Celtics gave up 60 first-half points to the Los Angeles Clippers during Wednesday nights 108-103 loss and found themselves down by 18 at halftime.

Doc Rivers thought Celtics were behind on everything to start the game, but told his team during halftime that they could get back in the game.

The problem was, the Clippers werent going to back down. Even though the Celtics outscored the Clippers in the second half, that initial deficit was too much to overcome.

Its tough when you get out to bad starts, and a lot of that has to do with the starters, said Paul Pierce. How we come out at the beginning of the games, weve got to come out with a better focus. Once you give a team confidence like the Clippers, then they feed off that for the rest of the game and were able to get
the win.

All Rivers wanted was one more healthy big man. Just one.

But theres no such luck on the Celtics, who are playing without Shaquille ONeal, Jermaine ONeal, and Glen Davis.

The Clippers exploited this void and took advantage of their own size, getting 21 points and 9 rebounds from center DeAndre Jordan.

Just one extra big is all we needed, said Rivers. But we dont have it with injury. This has nothing to do with the trade or anything - we just dont have healthy bigs. Hopefully Baby will be back soon.

It didnt have the same flair as last seasons playoff games between the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, but Mo Williams was excited nonetheless.

The former Cavalier, who was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers last month, still looked forward to playing against the Celtics on Wednesday night.

This was the team, after all, that had sent him packing two out of the past three seasons.

He got his revenge in the form of a regular season win. Williams led all players with 28 points, including five three-pointers, while dishing four assists and grabbing three rebounds.

For some reason I just love the battles Ive had in Boston, he said. I always get up for this game. I was up for this game today.

Jessica Camerato is on Twitter athttp:twitter.comjcameratoNBA

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