The Celtics led, 90-86, after Tony Allen’s layup with 2:07 left, but didn’t score again. Davis made a free throw with 1:45 left, and after two Celtics’ possessions netted two missed shots, Rasual Butler tied the game with a 3-point er with 8.5 seconds left.
Rondo had a masterful night in his matchup with Davis, especially offensively. After Butler’s 3-pointer, Rondo worked the clock down and darted to the basket, only to be hacked on the right arm by Davis.
Officials determined Rondo was fouled with 1.5 seconds left, and his new free-throw motion was about to be put to the test. The first one hit the back iron, and the second rolled off the center of the rim.
DeAndre Jordan grabbed the rebound and called timeout, setting up Davis’s heroics and the final statement in an intense battle with Rondo.
“The free throws again, guys, obviously I would have loved for him to make it, but that’s not why we lost,’’ Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “The free throws had nothing to do with that game. It was our composure and our execution and our focus.’’
The composure Rivers was referring to was a technical foul by Eddie House with 4:35 left that allowed the Clippers to cut the lead to 86-82. Also, after getting scorched most of the night by Chris Kaman, Kendrick Perkins got into a heated exchange with Kevin Garnett with 1:41 left about how to defend Kaman.
“It really wasn’t a disagreement,’’ Rivers said. “I think Kevin was yelling at him to get his focus. I don’t think they were arguing. It was more Kevin yelling at Perk to get focused.’’
Boston had several chances to put the game away with a stretch of solid defense, but its 10-point lead melted twice in the third quarter. The Celtics started the second half with a 12-4 run to extend the lead to 60-50 as Garnett scored consecutive buckets and Rondo got Perkins involved with a nice pass for an easy layup.
The Clippers cut the lead to 65-59, then again to 71-69 behind Kaman’s 5 straight points to end the third quarter.
Boston was 1 for 12 from behind the arc, the lone make from Ray Allen in the first quarter.
