Rondo (25 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists) scored 12 of the Celtics' final 17 points, with a combination of H-O-R-S-E shot-making and pure speed of both movement and thought. Rondo personally outscored the Jazz, 8-6, in the final 3:07 of play, culminating his performance by spinning in a blind bank shot for a 97-89 lead with 44 seconds remaining.
Though the Celtics are on an unprecedented roll - no team has started two successive seasons with such alacrity - they were unable to develop a rhythm for much of this contest, sinking rapidly as the reserves entered in the second quarter, then risking the bends as they recovered rapidly in the final quarter.
"Different fashions," Rivers said of the Celtics' varied ability to win this season. "We haven't played in long stretches great and, when we've played poorly, we've been able to figure out a way of winning. We've had great quarters, we've had great halves. It's a good sign in a lot of ways, because to me, we have not played to a stretch where as a coach you would say, 'We've hit our stride.' We clearly have not done that."
The third quarter displayed the Celtics at their best (17-5 rebounding advantage) and worst (seven turnovers). The Celtics appeared to be on the way to finishing off the Jazz, holding a 62-53 lead as Rondo converted a foul shot after drawing Deron Williams's fourth personal foul. But Utah rallied to cut the deficit to 69-65 on Ron Brewer's transition shot with 26 seconds to play. Pierce then missed twice just before the buzzer.
With Eddie House absent to attend an aunt's funeral, the Celtic reserves stumbled early. But they eventually found a groove, a 10-4 run starting with Gabe Pruitt's 3-pointer for a 76-70 edge 2:57 into the final quarter. Leon Powe grabbed a defensive rebound and was fouled - Phelps introduced at courtside during a timeout - and Powe's foul shot extended the lead to 77-70.
Pruitt sank two free throws for an 83-74 edge with 6:47 remaining, which turned out to be a stage-setting for Rondo.
After the game, the Celtics compared Rondo to billiard-playing legends and south-of-the-border-inspired cartoon characters.
