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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
BOSTON (AP) -- Antoine Walker was told to take as much time as he
needed to grieve after his grandmother's funeral. The Boston
Celtics captain decided the best therapy for his grief was to play
basketball.
Missing just one day for the funeral, Walker returned Sunday and
had 36 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Celtics to their sixth
straight win, 103-82 over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"Obviously, my first thought was with my family," Walker said.
"My grandmother was very special, but for three hours I had to
focus on basketball."
Paul Pierce added 22 points for the Celtics. Walker also had
eight assists before leaving the game with 5:44 left.
"(Walker) just went out there and did his job like nothing ever
happened," Pierce said. "When he gets between those lines on the
basketball court, he's able to clear his mind and not worry about
what's going on off the court."
Andre Miller scored 17 points, and Clarence Weatherspoon had 14
rebounds for the Cavaliers.
Walker had 19 points in the third quarter, scoring every point
in a 10-0 Celtics run. He hit a 3-pointer, followed it with a steal
and then finished the fast break with a layup to give Boston an
80-55 lead with 3:56 left in the third.
Then, when he was taken out for a breather, he went to the bench
pointing skyward as the Boston fans, who have not always been kind
to him, gave him a warm ovation.
"I think the people of Boston have a pretty good idea of who
Antoine Walker is at this point," Celtics coach Jim O'Brien said.
"I'm still disappointed a guy of his caliber isn't on the All-Star
team."
Walker wasn't concerned about being left off the All-Star
roster.
"My goal is to make the playoffs," he said.
The win lifted the Celtics over the Cavaliers and into a tie for
the eighth and final playoff spot with Indiana, which was idle
Sunday. The Celtics have not qualified for the playoffs since 1995.
"We set a goal in the first week to be in the eighth spot at
the All-Star break," O'Brien said.
Cleveland led 6-5 before Boston scored eight consecutive points
to take a lead it never lost.
The Cavaliers lost ground in the playoff race, but coach Randy
Wittman has other things to worry about.
"We've got to get our team healthy and back playing together,"
he said.
Cavaliers rookie center Chris Mihm hurt his right knee in the
first half. Mihm was not sure of it was the same injury that cause
him to miss 10 games earlier this season. The knee will be examined
Monday.
Game notes
The Celtics won two of three against the Cavaliers this
season. ... Boston is 9-4 since Rick Pitino resigned as coach. ...
Celtics coach Jim O'Brien was called for a technical foul after
yelling "What?" when a foul was called against his team in the
third quarter. It was O'Brien's third technical since taking over
for Pitino. ... Milt Palacio, who hit a stumbling half-court
3-pointer at the buzzer to help Boston beat the Nets on Dec. 28,
hit a 42-footer at the end of the first half, twisting around Andre
Miller in the process. ... Before missing Friday's game for the
funeral, Walker had played in 129 consecutive games, which had been
the longest active streak on the Celtics.... Boston's win streak is
the longest active streak in the Eastern Conference. ... The
Celtics hit a season-high 13 3-pointers, on 27 attempts.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Cleveland Clubhouse
Boston Clubhouse
RECAPS
New York 103
Miami 100
LA Lakers 100
Sacramento 94
Boston 103
Cleveland 82
New Jersey 96
Philadelphia 89
Phoenix 85
Charlotte 82
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Antoine Walker Official Site
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