Mavericks’ Rondo turns in special game on special night
If Rajon Rondo was emotionally spent leading up to Friday night’s homecoming game against the Boston Celtics, it was difficult to tell.
With the sellout crowd of 18,624 on hand to thank him for his many years of service with the Celtics, Rondo turned back the clock by turning in a special game. Playing seemingly with nerves of steel, the nine-year veteran point guard scored a season-high 29 points to pace the Dallas Mavericks to an emotionally charged 119-101 triumph over the Celtics.
Rondo, who received a standing ovation during pregame introductions, spent the first eight-plus years of his career with the Celtics until they traded him to the Mavs on Dec. 18. Then he went out Friday at TD Garden, dripping with raw emotions, and made 12 of 19 shots, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range, in his first game in Boston since the trade.
“Obviously it was a special day today,” said Rondo, who made a career-high five 3-pointers and also added six rebounds and five assists. “I’m emotionally tired, I’m physically tried, I’m drained right now.
“It was a tough game to get through, but my teammates came through for me and we got the win.”
The victory came for the Mavs (24-10) mainly because Rondo took charge whenever the Celtics would make a mild threat. Rondo scored 15 of the 31 points the Mavs scored in the first quarter by making all six of his field goals, including hitting all three of his 3-pointers.
Then when Rondo sank a 3-pointer early in the second quarter — he made his first seven shots — the crowd was ecstatic and the Mavs were ahead 38-20.
“It’s extremely difficult to come back in this kind of situation and play the way that he did,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “But he came out and hit his first six or seven shots and set the tone for the game.
“He was 5-for-7 from 3, he hit a lot of big shots down the stretch when they started to get it close to single digits. He showed a lot of class, he showed a lot of class with the way he played and the way he acknowledged the crowd.”
A 3-point basket and breakaway dunk by Richard Jefferson gave the Mavs a 92-64 lead headed into the fourth quarter. But the scrappy Celtics (11-19) used a 23-5 run to chop the deficit to 97-87 midway through the fourth quarter.
But Rondo, who had his biggest scoring night since scoring 30 points against Chicago on Jan. 18, 2013, popped in a 16-footer and later scored on a layup and the Mavs built their lead to 107-90.
Monta Ellis (22 points, five rebounds), Dirk Nowitzki (17 points, seven rebounds), Chandler Parsons (13 points, 7 rebounds) helped compliment Rondo. And Tyson Chandler pulled down 16 rebounds as the Mavs won that battle 52-38 for one of the rare times in recent games.
“Our defense has started to pick up, so now it’s all about controlling the boards,” Chandler said. “If we can control the boards and limit teams to one shot, the way we execute on offense we’re going to win our fair share of games.”
Especially if Rondo continues to shoot the ball the way he shot it Friday.
“If you’ve got a homecoming game it’s either a complete disaster or you’re on fire,” Nowitzki said. “It seems to be no in-between.
“[Rondo] was on fire. Just great shot-making, and he stepped into them with confidence early on right away.”
Not even the three-minute video tribute the Celtics gave Rondo between the first and second quarters could slow him down. But after the night he had Friday, all he wanted was a pillow and a bed.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been this tired after a game before,” Rondo said. “It’s even hard to talk to you guys right now.
“I’m tired.”
Dwain Price, 817-390-7760
This story was originally published January 2, 2015 at 11:36 PM with the headline "Mavericks’ Rondo turns in special game on special night."