Boston, MA – Kevin Garnett scored a team-high 19 points on 9- of-11 shooting and the Boston Celtics knocked off the Philadelphia 76ers, 92-79, in the back end of a home-and-home series on Saturday at TD Garden.
One night after posting a triple-double in an overtime loss at Philadelphia, Rajon Rondo came up three points and a rebound short of another one as he put up seven points, nine rebounds and 11 assists for the Celtics, who have won two of their last three games.
Jeff Green hit 7-of-12 from the floor en route to 16 points, while Paul Pierce and Brandon Bass contributed 13 and 10 points, respectively, in the triumph.
"We shot the ball," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "If you shoot 53 percent and you hold a team to 39 percent, you're going to win the game."
Thaddeus Young scored a game-high 22 points and Evan Turner added 13 points for Philadelphia, which has dropped three of its last four. Jrue Holiday finished with 11 points and eight assists in the setback.
Boston got out to a quick 8-2 lead early in the first quarter, but a trey by Jason Richardson pulled Philadelphia within 10-9 with 6:30 to go in the opening session.
The home side then embarked on a 12-3 burst, capped by a Jared Sullinger jumper with 1:52 on the clock, to open a 22-12 advantage. Boston held a 24-16 lead after one quarter.
The Celtics grabbed control of the game with a dominant second session as the home side shot 9-for-15 from the floor, while holding the Sixers to just 3- of-21 shooting.
The Celtics held a comfortable 48-28 advantage at the break.
Boston stayed in control for the duration of the third frame as a deep trey by Courtney Lee with 4:36 on the clock gave the hosts a 65-44 lead.
Philadelphia fought back with a 13-0 burst, cutting the deficit to eight with 1:19 left in the frame, but the Celtics led 70-57 heading into the final 12 minutes.
Philadelphia never got close in the fourth quarter as the Celtics maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
"You know when you're a little tired and you don't make shots it's morally deflating," Sixers coach Doug Collins said. "Kevin Garnett was spectacular, he was great."
Game Notes
Philadelphia had won four of the last five meetings between the teams ... Boston shot 53.3 percent from the floor and held Philadelphia to just 39.2 percent ... Sixers guard Nick Young missed his fourth consecutive game with a big toe hyperextension.
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