My Top 5 Rajon Rondo Memories - No. 2: "One of the most outstanding playoff performances in NBA history"

May 30, 2012: Celtics lose in overtime to Heat 115-111 in Eastern Conference Finals Game 2

Rajon Rondo's final stat line on this night: A career-high 44 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists and three steals.  I'm not even exaggerating when I say that on this particular evening Rondo looked like one of the best jumpshooters in the NBA.

For the game he made 16 of 24 (66.7 percent) attempts from the field and 10 of 12 (83.3 percent) at the free-throw line, but that doesn't even come close to telling the whole story.  Rondo also shot 10-for-12 from beyond 15 feet, including 2-for-2 on three-pointers.  His previous career high for field goals made from 15 feet or further was only six.



Rondo played all 53 minutes and he scored all 12 of Boston's points in overtime.

In the history of the league, no player had ever before posted at least 44 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists in a playoff game.



As soon as it was over I remember trying to put what I'd just seen from Rondo in perspective.  And then I got a text from my dad that said "That performance tonight by Rondo may have been the most amazing sports effort I have ever seen. Wow."  The fact that it somehow didn't result in a Celtics victory was just sad.

Despite the agonizing defeat, Boston rallied to win the next three games of the series before succumbing to the Heat in seven.


No. 3: "The diving hustle-play unlike any other"

No. 4: "The night his elbow bent the wrong way"

No. 5: "The greatest triple-double in 44 years"


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