He collected his first 20-10 double-double since April 2009, scoring 25 points and 11 rebounds, including 7 points in the fourth quarter, as the Celtics outlasted the game New Jersey Nets, 89-83, last night at TD Garden.
The atmosphere was sullen for a long stretch after West broke his right wrist when he landed awkwardly during a driving layup with 2:48 left in the second quarter. West was on the floor for several moments and Paul Pierce finally had to commit a foul to stop the action. West walked off the court holding the wrist, and X-rays later revealed the break.
He could miss three months, and coach Doc Rivers said he is preparing for the long term without his backup point guard. The Celtics already are playing without Rajon Rondo, who has missed the past three games with a sore left hamstring.
“It’s going to be a long time, let’s put it that way,’’ Rivers said of West. “I thought we had that one stretch that like took the life out of our team . . . I think we missed five point-blank layups following Delonte’s injury. I mean you could see the life go out of everybody.’’
O’Neal remained poised, though, scoring at will at times against the overmatched Brook Lopez. He drained two free throws to tie the score at 65 with 9:42 left and then, after a Glen Davis block of a Derrick Favors layup, Ray Allen pushed the ball and lofted a perfect alley-oop to O’Neal, who slammed it down for a 2-point lead.
The Celtics never trailed again. On that pass, Allen might as well have been Anfernee Hardaway or Derek Fisher, because it certainly was vintage Shaq.
“I know I can do [the old stuff], that’s why Danny [Ainge] signed me up and I’m still here,’’ he said. “That’s why I’ve accomplished so much. At the time I’m not really getting a lot of plays called for me, but guys are dropping it off and I am finishing.’’
The Celtics hoped O’Neal would produce 10 points and perhaps six rebounds per outing. After last night, he is averaging 11.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and shooting 67.1 percent from the field.
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