Celtics, 92-77 (final)

Riveting basketball it was not.

The Celtics took care of business Wednesday night against another team they were supposed to beat, dominating the Indiana Pacers 92-77 here at the TD Banknorth Garden.

It would have taken a nearly-perfect game, but the way the Pacers played tonight all but assured a Boston victory. Indiana shot 36 percent from the field and 61 percent from the line. They committed 21 turnovers and countered that with just 13 assists.

The Celtics, meanwhile, played well enough to win. They assisted on 27 of their 35 field goals, outrebounded the Pacers by 10, and made sure Indiana was never in the game. Big minutes for the Big Three had a lot to do with that.

With Doc Rivers saying before the game that he would rest his starters after the Celtics clinched home court advantage throughout the playoffs, Kevin Garnett played 31 minutes, Ray Allen 36 minutes, and Paul Pierce 32 minutes tonight for Boston.

The Celtics have a 6 1/2 game lead in the Eastern Conference with seven games to play. Indiana, meanwhile, is trying to sneak into the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference. After their loss, they sit four games behind the Hawks for that final playoff spot.

Though he shot poorly (9-for-19), Garnett led the Celtics with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Leon Powe chipped in with 14 points and 9 rebounds for Boston. Pierce and Allen were also in double figures.

Troy Murphy had 11 points and 10 rebounds for Indiana.

The Celtics don’t play again until Saturday, when they travel to Charlotte to take on the Bobcats.