12.13.2017

Baby Plays Big in W

12/3/07

The Celtics used a "Big Baby" to get some much-needed energy yesterday.

Rookie forward Glen "Big Baby" Davis scored 9 points and made 4 of 5 shots, grabbed seven rebounds, had one block and one steal to spark the weary Celtics during an 80-70 victory over the Cavaliers yesterday at TD Banknorth Garden.

Davis was the leading reserve scorer on a bench that combined for 28 points.

"Being a part of the bench, we have to bring something to the game," Davis said. "That's what we needed. We needed a spark, something to get us going. That's what it's all about. When you're a bench player, you need to come off the bench and contribute any way possible.

"That's one of the things I feel we can help our team with is bring energy and just playing the game as hard as possible."

Said coach Doc Rivers: "We needed someone to just start our engines. I thought Glen Davis did it for us. That was terrific."

The 6-foot-9-inch, 289-pounder has averaged 10 points and made 11 of 14 field goal attempts during his last three games. Cavaliers coach Mike Brown also was very impressed by Davis's play yesterday.

"He's a good player," Brown said. "He's big, strong. He's athletic. He looks like he's trying to do things the right way. The one thing I like is offensively. People always say give effort and they think it's just defense that you give effort in. But offensively he's a bear when he sprints ...

"He sets massive picks and when he rolls [to the basket], he rolls with force. It's tough because he has great hands. And then defensively he's got great feet, great anticipation. He's not afraid to sacrifice his body trying to take charges."

Chilly reception

Tony Allen returned to action after missing three games with a bruised right thigh. The Celtics guard struggled with 3 points on 1-of-7 shooting and no assists, though he grabbed six rebounds in 18 minutes. Allen said his thigh felt "cool" and he is still recovering from left knee surgery.

"He has to play better," Rivers said.

When asked about Rivers's challenge, Allen said, "You've got to take it. You've got to."

Winning attitude

Celtics guard Ray Allen was on hand when his old school, Connecticut, lost, 85-82, to Gonzaga at the Garden Saturday. Allen has been able to get to know many of UConn's players well since he works out with them during the summer. After the game, the six-time NBA All-Star gave the Huskies some constructive criticism for about 20 minutes.

"Despite the loss, I just tried to encourage them to get better and to come together as a team," said Allen, who played at Connecticut from 1993-96. "When you lose, you only get better. You view it as a learning point. You find out what you are really made of. You take it seriously, but you don't take it that seriously where you let it pull you down and you don't get better."

Earning their rest

The Celtics will take today off and practice tomorrow at their Waltham facility before departing to Philadelphia for Wednesday's game ... The Celtics are allowing just 87.4 points per game, a field goal percentage of .405, and a 3-point percentage of .312, while averaging a 13.5-point margin of victory. The Celtics entered yesterday tops in the NBA in opponents' points per game, field goal percentage, and point differential, and were second in opponents' 3-point percentage.

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