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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
BOSTON (AP) -- The Boston Celtics said goodbye to their parquet
floor at halftime.
The Atlanta Hawks didn't even last that long.
Antoine Walker scored 24 points, and Boston took a 14-point
first-quarter lead and coasted to a 98-81 victory over Atlanta on
Wednesday night, snapping a six-game losing streak while sending
the Hawks to their fourth consecutive loss.
The game was the finale for the famous parquet floor that has
supported the Celtics since 1946. A new floor built to resemble the
old will be unveiled Jan. 3 for Boston's game against Cleveland.
"I get very emotional about tradition," Boston coach Rick
Pitino said. "That's one of the reasons I love being a Celtics
coach. It's a memory every time you walk out."
The Celtics took a 28-14 lead after one quarter, then led by 18
after two, 24 after three and 87-59 early in the fourth before the
Hawks scored eight consecutive points.
Jamel Thomas completed a three-point play and Kenny Anderson
added a layup to squelch the charge.
"So many championships and so many legends have played on that
floor," said Anderson, who had 13 points and 10 assists. "So now
I know I've played on it."
LaPhonso Ellis, who had spent the entire season on Atlanta's injured list with a strained left calf, scored 13 points, as did
Bimbo Coles. Dikembe Mutombo had 13 rebounds.
Isaiah Rider and Jim Jackson combined to make just 8 of 27 shots
for the Hawks, who had their lowest output of the season while
tying their longest skid of the year.
"Our defense was horrendous," Atlanta coach Lenny Wilkens
said. "We play harder in practice than we do in games."
Adrian Griffin added 10 rebounds for Boston, which had not won since Paul Pierce was injured Dec. 12.
Former Celtics Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Bob Cousy, Tommy
Heinsohn and K.C. Jones each told the crowd of his favorite memory
in a halftime ceremony called "Parquet Memories." Other video
clips were shown during breaks in the game, including one of Robert
Parrish putting Detroit's Bill Laimbeer on the floor in 1987.
"This floor was a part of all that. It watched over the
greatest sports team dynasty that ever was, and probably that ever
will be," Cousy said. "It probably has had more Hall of Famers
trod on its boards than any floor in captivity."
Although Wednesday night's game may not have created anything
that rank with "Havlicek stole the ball," at least it was a win.
"We definitely didn't want to spoil it," Walker said.
Game notes
Former Celtics Jo Jo White and Gerald Henderson were also
in attendance. Also stopping by was Rudolph "Spider" Edwards, who
was a fan favorite when he dust-mopped the floor between quarters
at the Boston Garden for 33 years.... During a break in the fourth
quarter a fan went onto the floor in his underwear, smoking a
cigarette. He was quickly arrested. ... The Hawks activated Ellis
from the injured list and released Brandon Williams.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Atlanta Clubhouse
Boston Clubhouse
Longtime fans floored by loss of Celtics' legendary parquet
RECAPS
Boston 98
Atlanta 81
Orlando 103
Cleveland 97
New York 91
Toronto 90
Miami 74
Utah 72
Minnesota 106
Chicago 86
LA Clippers 103
Golden State 99
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