Sports Redux: Put It On The List

In a game that seemed ready to go their opponents' way, defense and Rajon Rondo saved the day for the Boston Celtics in an 86-77 win over the Orlando Magic on Christmas Day. Paul Pierce was suddenly sidelined for two weeks or less after a surgical procedure on his knee Wednesday and didn't make the trip while Kevin Garnett rejoined the squad on the road after one game on the bench with a bruised thigh.

The potential roster-based turmoil evaporated on the strength of a 20-8 second-quarter surge gave Boston a 38-27 lead they never relinquished. Orlando shot just 33.3% (26-78) for the game and Dwight Howard tallied just five points as the green checked the home team's offense. Vince Carter led the Magic with 27 points and Howard grabbed 20 rebounds.

Rondo powered Boston with 17 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. Ray Allen's 18 points led Boston and included a crucial basket late in the game.

Bostonist will trust KG's self-diagnosis and ignore the image of him on the floor.

Sunday's game is simple to analyze for Pats fans. If the Patriots beat the Jacksonville Jaguars, they clinch a playoff spot after an inconsistent season, to say the least. Bostonist has one holiday gift wish for Randy Moss to grant: Match Wes Welker's intensity for one game. Please.

Boston College
The Boston College football team faces USC in the How Many Bowls Are There? Emerald Bowl tonight. On reputation, this should be a rout. USC should expose BC for what it is: a respectable third-tier program that doesn't travel with a band. A BC win, even over an underacheiving Trojan club, is a huge bonus. Either way, neither school expected this game.

Sports Nobody Reads About

• Boxing - The biggest fight in recent memory may or may not happen in 2010 because Manny Pacquiao and Floyd "Money" Mayweather can't agree on the drug testing procedures. This could be a PR stunt to get people talking, which it did. If it is a legit dispute that prevents this fight from happening, Bostonist clearly knows why boxing is in the place it is.

• Auto Racing - Michael Schumacher is the most successful, and richest, sportsman you've never heard of. He retired from Formula One in 2006 after winning seven world championships and is returning in 2010 to take left and right turns in a Mercedes.