By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

Paul Pierce and LeBron James both fouled out, and Dwyane Wade missed a shot at the buzzer as the Celtics held off the Heat in overtime, 93-91, to tie the Eastern Conference Finals at two games apiece.

James fouled out with 1:51 left overtime. He fouled out for the fourth time in his career and the first time since April of 2008, when he was with Cleveland. Pierce fouled out with 4:22 remaining in the game, the second time he's fouled out this series. This time, however, the Celtics were able to pull through.

Just as they did Friday night, the Celtics got off to a hot start. The 34 points the Celtics scored in the first quarter of Game 4 were their most points scored in a first quarter this season. Rajon Rondo had 8 points and 4 assists in the first quarter, while Brandon Bass had 7 points and 5 rebounds, three of them offensive, as the Celtics built their lead.

The Celtics made seven 3-pointers in the first half, many of them set up by the acrobatics of Rondo, who had 10 assists at the break. One one play, Rondo literally ran into Mike Miller in the paint but was able to contort his body enough to find Keyon Dooling in the corner for an open shot. During a sideline interview before walking off the court at halftime, Rondo was asked how the Celtics were able to exploit the Miami defense.

"Them complaining and crying to referees in transition," said Rondo. Shot fired.

Pierce led the Celtics with 18 points at the half.

After putting up 61 points in the first half, the Celtics managed just 12 points in the third quarter on 5 of 16 shooting. Pierce and Rondo each picked up their fourth fouls in the period, and Boston finished the quarter without them, clinging to a five-point lead to start the fourth.

The fourth quarter wasn't much prettier. The Celtics were 0 for 5 to begin the period, their field goal drought spanning more than six minutes between the third and fourth quarters. Boston managed just 16 points in the fourth, but they clamped down defensively, holding Miami to 6 of 15 shooting and forcing overtime.

Both James and Pierce fouled out in the extra frame, but Wade's miss at the buzzer capped a dramatic game and tied the series, which heads back to Miami for Game 5 Wednesday night. James led the Heat with 29 points. Rondo had 15 points and 15 assists for the Celtics.

Final: Celtics 93, Heat 91

21.4 seconds OT, Celtics 93-91: Rondo makes one of two free throws. Heat have to look for Wade here.

23.5 seconds OT, Celtics 92-91: Loose ball foul on Haslem, Celtics ball.

1:51 OT, Celtics 92-91: James fouls out. Wow. Never thought we'd see that in a playoff game.

4:20 OT, Tied at 89: Pierce fouls out.

End regulation, Tied at 89: James gives it up to Haslem, who puts up a contested shot that falls short. We're headed to the second overtime of the series.

21.1 seconds 4th quarter, Tied at 89: Lots going on. KG gets good post position and scores. James hits a 3-pointer. Garnett called for an offensive foul on the other end, giving Miami the ball.

1:01 4th quarter, Celtics 87-86: Mario Chalmers drives and cuts the lead to one.

1:17 4th quarter, Celtics 87-84: Heat getting plenty of looks and can't convert. Another offensive rebound keeps it here.

3:38 4th quarter, Tied at 83: Pierce picks up a charge, his fifth personal. Big call.

5:32 4th quarter, Celtics 81-79: James picks up his 5th personal foul guarding KG in the post. He's not to happy about it.

6:23 4th quarter, Celtics 81-78: Talk about a big shot from Ray Allen. Those three points felt like 30. Garnett has renewed energy as well. Bass is the wild card entry in Boston's lineup right now, and he'll likely stay in there until he fouls out.

8:54 4th quarter, Tied at 74: Miami is all the way back. The Celtics can't get out of their own way on offense. They've scored just 13 points since halftime. They're 0 for 5 in the quarter and don't have a field goal in the last 5:51.

9:49 4th quarter, Celtics 73-69: Great block by Pietrus, but then him and everyone else decides not to run up the floor with the Celtics on offense. The C's don't score when they go slow.

END 3d quarter, Celtics 73-68: Here's that run we knew was coming. The Celtics are lost on offense without Rondo on the floor. They weren't particularly effective with him on it for the first part of the third quarter: just 12 points in the third quarter for the Celtics. Wade was 4 of 5 in the period.

3:35 3d quarter, Celtics 69-60: Big big call on Rondo, an offensive foul for his fourth. He's got to come out of the game. Meanwhile, the Celtics have scored just eight points in the quarter.

6:03 3d quarter, Celtics 65-54: Pierce and Rondo both have three fouls now. The game is getting chippy.

9:33 3d quarter, Celtics 61-49: Rondo gets called for an offensive foul, his second. KG had a serious block on LeBron earlier, which is probably something we didn't think we'd see this series.

Halftime, Celtics 61-47: The Celtics didn't close well, but they'll take this lead heading into the break. Rondo has 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 10 assists. Pierce leads the Celtics with 18 points, while James has 19 for Miami. Dwyane Wade has 8 points but is 2 for 11 from the field.

1:09 2d quarter, Celtics 61-44: Rondo gets called for a charge on Battier, then kicks Battier while both players are on the ground. That's a technical.

2:38 2d quarter, Celtics 57-40: Pierce does one of his patented fake, lean, and throws, and gets it to go. It's all working.

3:12 2d quarter, Celtics 55-38: Another great pass from Rondo to a cutting Pierce. The margin for error on these plays is close to zero, and Rondo is executing them to perfection. He's got 9 assists.

4:48 2d quarter, Celtics 49-34: Offensive foul on LeBron. Offensive foul on LeBron.

6:53 2d quarter, Celtics 47-32: Both Rondo and KG off the floor now. Let's see what happens here.

9:11 2d quarter, Celtics 35-28: Another 3-pointer by Dooling. The Celtics are 6 of 8 from back there.

10:23 2d quarter, Celtics 42-26: Rondo with a ridiculous kick to the corner for a Keyon Dooling 3-pointer. Not sure how Rondo saw Dooling with Mike Miller draped all over him. That's 7 assists for Rondo. Ray Allen is now 2 for 2 on 3-pointers.

END 1st quarter, Celtics 34-23: Another great first quarter for the Celtics, who shoot 59 percent to take an 11-point lead. Brandon Bass had a great quarter with 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists. Three of his rebounds were offensive.

One thing Boston could improve on is their five turnovers.

18.3 seconds 1st quarter, Celtics 34-23: Udonis Haslem tackles Pierce on an offensive rebound, sending the Celtics captain to the line for two.

2:03 1st quarter, Celtics 25-17: Marquis Daniels has two personals already.

4:46 1st quarter, Celtics 21-9: Doc Rivers is up by 12 points and still felt compelled to call a timeout. Greg Stiemsma's coming in.

5:44 1st quarter, Celtics 18-4: Wade and James are a combined 0 for 5. Rondo finds KG for a layup, and this building is going nuts.

7:05 1st quarter. Celtics 14-4: Pierce makes his first 3-point attempt, then Allen makes one himself. Another great start for the Celtics.

10:17 1st quarter, Celtics 6-0: Good attack by Rondo, getting into the lane and putting up a floater, then taking it all the way to the basket for two.

Pregame: There's a sense of anticipation in the building as the Celtics look to even the series. Joel Anthony will start over Ronny Turiaf for Miami. No lineup changes for the Celtics. Doc Rivers said he liked what Marquis Daniels gave the Celtics in Game 3, so expect to see more of him. Let's get it.

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

The Celtics built a big lead early and held on late to beat the Miami Heat, 101-91 in Game 3, and cut their deficit in the Eastern Conference Finals to 2-1.

Rajon Rondo didn't score 44 points like he did in Game 2, but he was in just as much control. While it may not have been a better performance, it was more of a Rondo performance. The Celtics point guard finished with 21 points, 10 assists, and 6 assists. Just as in Game 2, he was efficient, hitting 9 of 16 shots from the floor. Ye He was 7 of 10 in the second half.

The Celtics also got huge games from Kevin Garnett (24 points, 11 rebounds) and Paul Pierce (23 points), while Ray Allen chipped in with 10. Two other factors were Boston's bench, which added 19 points, and their rebounding edge, which was 44-32. Marquis Daniels led the reserves with nine points. At the 6:00 mark in the third quarter, Daniels had more points than Miami's Dwyane Wade. The Celtics bench scored 8 points in first quarter after scoring only 7 in all of Game 2.

The Celtics shot 60 percent in the first quarter, committed just one turnover, and did not allow an offensive rebound, but they led by just two after the first. The Heat shot 61 percent from the field themselves, with James leading the way with 16 points.

The second and third quarters were where the Celtics really turned it on, outscoring Miami by a combined 20 points.

James finished with 34 points, while Wade added 18. Game 4 is Sunday night at 8:30 p.m. at TD Garden.

Final: Celtics 101, Heat 91

56.1 seconds 4th quarter, Celtics 101-89: Garnett with the dagger, a 20-footer from the corner. Sasha Pavlovic in for defense.

1:39 4th quarter, Celtics 99-89: Big play by Rondo, who drives to the hoop and scoops for two. The Heat were laying off him and getting out to Boston's shooters, but they gave him way too much space.

3:09 4th quarter, Celtics 95-87: Chalmers gets the 3-point play. Heat are dangerously close.

4:29 4th quarter, Celtics 95-82: Makeup call for the Celtics? Rondo runs into Battier and gets the blocking call.

5:17 4th quarter, Celtics 93-82: Heat are making this interesting. Garnett called for a technical foul swinging his elbow in the direction of Chalmers. Wade dunks on the next possession, but Pierce finds Garnett for a dunk on the other end. The Heat have responded. The Celtics need to answer.

7:37 4th quarter, Celtics 89-77: Mike Miller hits a 3-pointer to make it more interesting.

10:59 4th quarter, Celtics 89-66: When Mickael Pietrus gets an offensive rebound and Ray Allen takes it to the hole and dunks, you know things are going well.

End 3d quarter, Celtics 85-63: Pierce ends the quarter with a 3-pointer. He's got 21 points. Big momentum shot in a quarter where the Celtics not only held onto the momentum from the first half but extended it. Celtics outscore the Heat, 30-21 in the period.

2:42 3d quarter, Celtics 76-57: Rondo intercepts a James pass like a linebacker jumping up and picking off a pass at the line of scrimmage. Drives and gets fouled by Chalmers on the other end. Both teams have taken 15 free throws.

4:11 3d quarter, Celtics 75-56: The Celtics are still shooting 55 percent from the floor. Rondo and Allen both hit little runners in the lane. This sure doesn't look like a team that so often has trouble scoring.

8:14 3d quarter, Celtics 62-44: Pierce is playing like the guy we saw take over Finals games in 2008 and out-duel LeBron in those same playoffs.

9:54 3d quarter, Celtics 59-44: Garnett's got 16 points.

Halftime, Celtics 55-42: Great half for the Celtics. They shoot 51 percent and score 55 points. Ray Allen has two 3-pointers. Kevin Garnett has 12 points and 5 rebounds. Pierce has 15 points. Rondo has 6 points, a far cry from 44, but has 7 assists. The Celtics will take that.

43.5 seconds, Celtics 50-42: James picks up his third personal foul. Quite a turn from Game 2.

3:40 2d quarter, Celtics 46-34: Pierce hits a 3-pointer to put the Celtics up 12. How many times have we seen that from him? The building is rocking.

5:16 2d quarter, Celtics 41-34:The bench is doing exactly what Doc Rivers wanted: stepping up the defense. They were plus-12 with Daniels on the floor.

7:44 2d quarter, Celtics 39-30: Great run here by the Celtics. Daniels finishes off an offensive rebound with a putback plus one.

8:58 2d quarter, Celtics 32-28: Daniels is giving them big minutes. He just found Garnett with a beautiful lob pass.

On the next possession, Haslem gave Garnett a hard foul. KG stayed down on the floor for a second, then rolled over and did some pushups for the crowd.

End 1st quarter, Celtics 30-28: Marquis Daniels and Keyon Dooling are giving the Celtics valuable minutes as Boston leads after the first quarter. The Celtics are shooting 60 percent, which would be spectacular if the Heat weren't shooting 61 percent.

2:05 1st quarter, Heat 28-25: LeBron is on fire. He's got 16 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists.

4:26 1st quarter, Celtics 20-19: The offense has been good, but Rondo just air-balled a 3-pointer. Might not see 44 points out of him tonight.

5:48 1st quarter, Celtics 17-16: Rondo looks like he got hit on one end, but no call. That leads to a fast break for Miami, and Garnett intentionally wraps up James.

8:11 1st quarter, Celtics 10-7: Brandon Bass picks up his second foul. Celtics are 4 of 7 out of the gate.

11:28 1st quarter, Celtics 2-0: Huge cheer as a foul is called on LeBron James.

Pregame: Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he needs more from his bench, particularly on defense.

"I'd love our bench to give us a couple more minutes," said Rivers. "We are what we are. We're not going to change. It's not going to change. Our defense from our second unit has to be great. The offense is whatever happens ... We don't have a guy that's coming off our bench who's going to give us 30 a night. I kind of knew that going into it. What we have to do is stop the other team from doing that."

The Celtics are down 2-0, so this is essentially a must-win game. Should be a great crowd here at TD Garden. Let's get it.

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

Rajon Rondo played the entire game and scored 44 points, but the Celtics fell to the Miami Heat, 115-111, in overtime of Game 2 to fall behind, 2-0, in the Eastern Conference finals.

Rondo played 48 minutes in regulation and five minutes of OT, adding 10 rebounds and 8 assists to go along with his 44 points. Three Celtics fouled out of the game, including Paul Pierce, who finished with 21 points in 43 minutes.

The Celtics came out much better in the first quarter of Game 2 than they did in Game 1, hitting 56 percent of their shots on the way to a 24-18 lead. Rondo was the catalyst with 8 points and 4 assists. The Heat made just 6 of their first 22 shots to get down early.

Doc Rivers said before the game the Celtics would try to control the paint and give Miami contested 3-pointers, but that strategy hurt the Celtics in the first half when the Heat hit six of them. Miami was down just 7 at halftime despite the Celtics shooting 54 percent to Miami's 37 percent and having a 13-10 edge at the free throw line. Rondo had 22 points in the first half, the highest total of his playoff career. His previous high for a half was 19 points against Cleveland in 2010.

But letting a team hang around typically has consequences, and the Celtics were faced with them in the second half. Miami went on a 12-0 run in the third quarter and took an 81-75 lead after three.

The Celtics absorbed that blow and started punching back, taking the lead again late in the fourth quarter. A 9-0 run by Miami in the fourth was not enough seal it for the Heat. Without Pierce in the game, LeBron James missed a jumper at the buzzer that would have won the game in regulation.

The Celtics were 33-1 this year when leading by 14 points or more. Their lone loss came in Game 4 at Philadelphia May 18. Just as after that loss, the Celtics are now left to consider whether they can bounce back. Game 3 is Friday night in Boston.

Final: Heat 115, Celtics 111. Rondo finishes with 44 points. Three Celtics foul out.

11.6 seconds OT, Heat 113-108: KG steps in front of Ray Allen and launches a three from the corner. Not sure what happened there. Rondo hits a three to give him 41.

59.7 seconds OT, Hear 110-105: Huge drive and finish by Wade for a 3-point play. KG wanted a foul called on Wade for kicking his leg out. He didn't get it. Garnett threw the ball away on the possession before trying to make one pass too many.

1:27 OT, Heat 107-105: Rondo thought he got fouled on that layup attempt, but his failure to get back leads to a wide open dunk for Haslem. Rondo's played the entire game and has 38 points.

3:33 OT, Tied at 101: Dooling fouls out on that Wade dunk. Brandon Bass in for Dooling.

End regulation, Tied at 99: LeBron misses at the buzzer over Rondo. Overtime.

34.3 seconds, Tied at 99: Ray Allen ties the game with a 3-pointer. Unbelievable.

47.7 seconds 4th quarter, Heat 98-96: Pierce fouls out on a drive by Wade. Not good.

1:36 4th quarter, Heat 96-94: Celtics struggling to run their offense and Doc Rivers calls a timeout. Big possession here.

2:14 4th quarter, Tied at 94: Battier hits a 3-pointer. Huge, huge shot.

4:02 4th quarter, Celtics 92-87: Pierce drives and kicks out to Rondo for a jumper. Don't see that too often.

6:58 4th quarter, Celtics 88-85: Celtics have absorbed the blow and are punching back. Great steal by Rondo, who goes coast to coast for the layup. The Celtics are on a 9-0 run since Garnett's technical.

8:34 4th quarter, Heat 85-81: Mickael Pietrus gets called for a clear-path foul for wrapping up LeBron James on the break. Looked like James was in the paint, but he didn't exactly look good giving the foul, either.

10:03 4th quarter, Heat 85-79: KG gets called for a technical for giving a shove to James Jones.

End 3d quarter, Heat 81-75: Miami outscores the Celtics, 35-22, in the third, including a 12-0 run in there late. James and Wade combined for 23 points in the quarter.

1:35 3d quarter, Heat 78-71: James with a block on one end, and Wade finishes on the other with that Euro-step move around Keyon Dooling. Dooling has five fouls.

2:17 3d quarter, Heat 73-71: Wade and James are drawing attention and kicking it to the open man. Twice that's been Udonis Haslem, who's been at the rim for easy attempts.

3:32 3d quarter, Celtics 71-70: Heat are almost all the way back. Doc Rivers wants a timeout. Heat are 10 for 14 this quarter.

6:05 3d quarter, Celtics 67-62: Ray Allen hits a three? Free throws for Pierce? What's going on here?

8:08 3d quarter, Heat 61-56: The Celtics are playing a little zone. Miami seems to be getting better looks here to start the second half.

10:40 3d quarter, Celtics 57-46: Good start by the Celtics getting two layups out of halftime.

Halftime, Celtics 53-46: The Celtics are playing great, but they're by no means in control of this game. Mario Chalmers (14 points, 4 assists) is trying to match Rondo, and he's doing a pretty good job. A gamble by Rondo to go to the offensive glass allowed Chalmers to float back wide open and hit a 3-pointer a couple of plays ago.

44.4 seconds, Celtics 52-44: Pierce just earned his first two free throws of the series.

1:58 2d quarter, Celtics 49-38: Rondo (20 points) hasn't sat down yet. He may not.

3:14 2d quarter, Celtics 47-35: The Celtics really miss Greg Stiemsma right now. We're getting the bad Ryan Hollins tonight.

5:55 2d quarter, Celtics 41-29: Rondo's got 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting.

6:47 2d quarter, Celtics 39-28: Mario Chalmers hits a shot and then yaps to Keyon Dooling all the way up the court, earning himself a technical. Doc Rivers chooses Ray Allen to shoot the technical, and he sticks it.

10:27 2d quarter, Celtics 30-18: Rondo is playing great. He's 6 for 8 on free throws after failing to get to the line once in Game 1. He's got 12 points and 4 assists.

END 1st quarter, Celtics 24-18: This is much, much better for the Celtics. They're getting better shots and making them (56 percent). On the other end, they're holding Miami to 27-percent shooting.

1:42 1st quarter, Celtics 20-15: Better start for Rondo (4 assists) and Pierce (8 points). Brandon Bass has six rebounds. Mario Chalmers fouls Rondo, Miami's first foul.

3:08 1st quarter, Celtics 16-11: That's four fouls on Greg Stiemsma in three minutes.

4:44 1st quarter, Celtics 10-9: Five team fouls on the Celtics to zero for the Heat.

5:52 1st quarter, Celtics 8-7: Better spacing for the Celtics on offense as Pierce gets to the rim for a dunk. The Celtics' 4-2 lead a few minutes ago was their first of the series.

7:09 1st quarter, Heat 7-6: Miami has gotten some wide open drives to the basket. James missed a dunk on one of them. Celtics need to improve their interior defense.

10:34 1st quarter, Tied at 2: LeBron James breaks free for a dunk. Paul Pierce wasn't happy about that, but he gets right back down the floor to nail a jumper.

MIAMI -- Pregame: The Celtics lost the rebounding battle, 48-33, in Game 1, but Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he doesn't want his team going for broke on the offensive glass.

"We don't mind offensive rebounds, we just want you to be under the basket to try to do it," said Rivers. "We don't want guys coming from outside the paint crashing in and having no chance of getting back."

Rivers said the problem in Game 1 was that the Celtics failed to get offensive rebounds but still had trouble defending in transition. Rivers also said he expects to play more zone tonight vs. the Heat. He said he practices zone defense with his team during every shootaround but rarely implements it in games.

Same starters, same inactives (Bradley, Johnson) for the Celtics. Let's get it.

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

MIAMI -- The Celtics returned to the court after taking Tuesday off and addressed the issues that led to the 93-79 Game 1 loss to the Miami Heat. The person most notably working to improve was shooting guard Ray Allen, who arrived at AmericanAirlines Arena about an hour before his teammates to work in his long-range and free throw shooting.

Allen (pictured right, before shootaround) said "hell no" when asked if he will sit out a game and is back to his normal workout regimen after trying to reduce his workload because of his troublesome right ankle. Allen was trying to regain the rhythm that has made him one of the game's great shooters.

Allen is averaging 9.6 points on 26.8 percent 3-point shooting in 12 postseason games. He shot 45.3 percent from the 3-point line during the regular season.

"At some point I have to put my body through some type of rigorous shooting, so I know what I am dealing with," he said. "With me, it's lift. I teach people all the time when you don't jump on your jump shot it changes your arc. And so some many are calling me telling me 'you've got to get the ball in the air more' and I'm like 'Thank you for the advice, I have only been doing this for 20 years.' So I know how it's affecting me so I am just working on getting that back and making sure that I keep the ball in the air."

Celtics coach Doc Rivers told Allen to go back to his normal pre-game methods and he was grateful to get the clearance.

"I'm able to breathe," he said. "I feel at home sitting on the floor. I'm able to think. I'm not rushed, just take my time and I can work through it. To me it's like being home. I cherish those moments as much as I can."

Said coach Doc Rivers: "You want to give Ray a chance every game because he's going to do everything it requires. And he's going to give himself a chance too, you know that. He's a tough, determined individual. Ray wants to play well and he's not going to let injury or anything else be the reason why he doesn't."

Meanwhile, the Celtics said they have to clog up the paint and not allow Miami to shoot so many uncontested layups.

"We're not saying we want to foul them 19 times, we don't want them to get to the basket," Rivers said. "When we say we have to take away layups, we're not saying we have to take out them, we're saying we want to slide our feet and keep them out of the paint."

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

MIAMI -- There's just one off day between games in this series, but already we're rehashing story lines in the Eastern Conference Finals. Chris Bosh is still hurt. Ray Allen is still hurt and having trouble shooting. And the Celtics need to play tougher, or maybe just better.

Doc Rivers told ESPN's Jackie MacMullan yesterday that he had considered sitting Allen during an upcoming game, but Rivers was more muted in talking to a group of reporters.

"No not yet," said Rivers. "We're good. With Ray we're going to keep throwing him out there, see what we can get, and if we feel like we can't get it we'll go with someone else. But I think right now you've got to give Ray a fighting chance, every time."

Asked this morning if he'd sit out a game this series, Allen replied, "Hell no."

The Celtics really do need to play better, and that's the focus for Game 2 tonight. Miami made 19 layups in Game 1, and Rivers said he began his team's film session Tuesday by showing all 19 of them on a loop. The Heat shot 50 percent from the field in Game 1 despite hitting only 5 of 25 3-pointers.

Here are the details for tonight's game:

Tip-off: 8:30 p.m.
Series: Heat lead, 1-0
Broadcast info: ESPN, WEEI/850 AM/93.7 FM (Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell)

Probable starters:

Celtics:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Brandon Bass
C: Kevin Garnett

Heat:
PG: Mario Chalmers
SG: Dwyane Wade
SF: LeBron James
PF: Shane Battier
C: Ronny Turiaf

Story lines:

Physicality: This is going to be talked about endlessly on the broadcast, so be ready for it. The Celtics need to be more physical. They need to get more physical. What will it actually mean? Not much. The best way the Celtics can "get more physical" is to make shots. Amazing how much tougher they will seem if their shots are going in.

Get to the line: This is the big one for the Celtics. Pierce and Rondo combined for 38 shots Monday night without earning a trip to the free throw line. Said Rondo, "That's crazy". It's also a way to lose basketball games.

No excuses: The Celtics are playing this series without Avery Bradley, but Chris Bosh might miss the entire series, too. As much as the Celtics miss Bradley, and believe me they do, he's not as good of a player as Bosh. The Celtics need to play better, and it starts by making shots and preventing easy scores on the other end. They don't have a player who is better than James or Wade, so they need to do it as a team.

@GlobeGaryDzen

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

MIAMI -- The Celtics got out-worked, then worked up in a 93-79 loss to the Heat Monday night, Miami winning the first game in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals.

Rebounds continued to be a problem for the Celtics, who lost that battle, 48-33, in Game 1. The Heat forced the Celtics to work for every possession, limiting Boston to 40 percent shooting. There was a glimpse of hope -- the Celtics wrapped two dismal offensive quarters around a brilliant second quarter -- but the burst was short-lived. In a microcosm of their inconsistent season, the Celtics scored 11 points in the first quarter, 35 in the second, and 15 points in the third. By that time, the Celtics were down 11 points and were desperately trying to claw back.

LeBron James outscored the Celtics all by himself in the first quarter, 13-11. The 11 points the Celtics scored in the first quarter was a team low this postseason, and it wasn't even close. Their previous low was 17 vs. Atlanta on May 4. Rondo was 0 for 3 with 2 assists and 4 turnovers in the first.

After such a dismal first quarter, it may have seemed unrealistic for the Celtics to turn it around in the second. But that's exactly what they did, making 13 of 22 shots and scoring 35 points to tie the score at halftime. That was despite picking up three technical fouls in the quarter and despite Ray Allen missing four free throws in the first half. Allen was out of the locker room before everyone else at the break getting up some free throws.

About the technicals: the Celtics had five of them. Ray Allen, Rondo, and Doc Rivers each had one, while Kevin Garnett earned two for delay of game. The delays made the play disjointed, but as the game went on, it was hard to blame them for the final outcome.

Garnett led the Celtics with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Pierce, who somehow did not get a technical after being ejected by basically the same officiating crew in Game 1 of the last year's Celtics-Heat series, was 5 of 18 from the field. It also didn't help that the Celtics were 11 of 21 at the line. One bright spot, if you want to take it that way: only eight turnovers.

James had 32 points and Wade 22 for the winners. Game 2 is Wednesday night in Miami.

Final: Heat 93, Celtics 79

3:08 4th quarter, Heat 87-73: LeBron and KG just had a thing. Some staring, laughing, and a little mean-mugging.

8:23 4th quarter, Heat 80-67: Want a not-encouraging stat? Celtics only have 6 turnovers, and they're down 13.

10:13 4th quarter, Heat 76-61: Well this is going downhill fast. The Celtics are in danger of getting blown out here.

End 3d quarter, Heat 72-61: Bad quarter for the Celtics. The Heat are back in control. The points for Miami were 26-15 in the third, the Celtics shooting 23 percent from the field. Rondo had more technicals (one) than assists (zero) in the third.

2:55 3d quarter, Heat 66-58: Pietrus tries to body LeBron. James misses the fallaway but gets the call. Pietrus did the same thing in the first half and also got called for it.

5:06 3d quarter, Heat 62-56: Another technical foul, this one on Rondo.

6:53 3d quarter, Heat 57-52: LeBron gets wide open under the hoop with no one else across halfcourt. If we were playing 4 on 4, he'd have to take it out at the top of the key. Celtics are just 2 of 12 to start the third quarter.

Wade drives and gets two. Miami opening it up again.

10:07 3d quarter, Heat 50-48: Miami continues to front Garnett, who continues to get the ball down low. He has 15 points.

Halftime, Tied at 46: Great job by the Celtics to hang in this thing despite the awful first quarter. The score is now tied at 46 after officials review that Joel Anthony's putback at the 2:20 mark in the second quarter was after shot clock

Speaking of that second quarter, the Celtics made 13 of 22 shots in it. That's a lot better than their 5 of 20 in the first. Pierce has 10 points. Garnett's played just 14 minutes in the game. Things are looking .... up?

3:13 2d quarter, Heat 43-38: Now Doc Rivers gets called for a technical foul. The Celtics and this officiating crew have issues.

It's never a good idea to foul Allen on a 3-pointer, but he missed 2 of 3 free throws. He's missed four free throws for the game.

7:13 2d quarter, Heat 35-26: Kevin Garnett gets called for a technical after his second delay of game call. He's flabbergasted, as is Doc Rivers.

8:16 2d quarter, Heat 30-24: Nice little run by the Celtics to keep this from getting out of hand. Keyon Dooling hits a 3-pointer to cut it to six. The Celtics are using a lineup of Dooling, Rondo, Allen, Pietrus, and Garnett. It's working.

10:03 2d quarter, Heat 28-17: Mike Miller hits his second 3-pointer of the game to give the Heat their largest lead. The play comes after Ray Allen was called for a technical for arguing a call.

End 1st quarter, Heat 21-11: Make that LeBron James 13, Boston Celtics 11. Boston has made just 5 of 19 shots. Rajon Rondo's line: 0 for 3, 2 assists, 4 turnovers.

51.3 1st quarter, Heat 19-11: James has 11, the Celtics have 11.

2:58 1st quarter, Heat 17-9: The Celtics are in danger territory right now with Garnett on the bench. Stiemsma's been fine so far on offense. Things are opening up for Miami on the other end though with Garnett off the floor.

5:38 1st quarter, Heat 10-5: Weird game so far. Ray Allen has two offensive rebounds but is 0 for 2 from the floor and has missed a free throw. Rajon Rondo has one assist and two turnovers. The Heat, meanwhile, are 4 of 10 with three turnovers. The Celtics force ugly on you. They've got to clean it up on the other end though.

8:15 1st quarter, Heat 5-3: The Celtics are 1 for 8, but so far it hasn't killed them.

10:15 1st quarter, Heat 4-0: LeBron James drove baseline and dunked on Miami's first possession. Dwyane Wade has an alley-oop from James.

MIAMI -- Pregame: Everyone is good to go for the Celtics. Chris Bosh still out for the Heat. Celtics are playing on one day's rest, but Doc Rivers said he told his players to approach it "like a regular season game, but it's the playoffs." This is the feeling-out game. Let's get it.

@GlobeGaryDzen

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

The Celtics won ugly in the seventh game of an ugly series, earning a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals and a date with the Miami Heat with an 85-75 win over the Philadelphia 76ers Saturday night.

Paul Pierce fouled out and the Celtics missed their first 14 3-pointers on their way to shooting 42 percent for the game, but they did enough to beat the Sixers in the deciding game of the series. Without Pierce late in the fourth quarter, the Celtics got some unorthodox offense in a pair of long jump shots by Rajon Rondo, the second of which was a 3-pointer. Rondo had 11 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds in the fourth quarter after struggling in a loss in Philadelphia in Game 6. He finished with a triple-double of 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, joining Larry Bird as the only Celtics player to record a triple-double in a Game 7.

Ray Allen, another player who's struggled all series, was just 3 of 11 from the floor, but he broke the Celtics' 3-point drought with 9:51 left in the fourth quarter. He hit one more 3-pointer in the game and finished with 11 points.

When it was all over, fans at TD Garden chanted "Beat the Heat" in reference to the team's next series, which begins Monday night in Miami.

The Celtics led at halftime despite shooting 38 percent from the field and missing all nine of their 3-point attempts. They led because they forced Philadelphia into an even more dismal 28.2-percent shooting half. On both sides, the defense had a lot to do with the misses. Kevin Garnett in particular was a standout, at one point covering Elton Brand so well on an inbounds pass that Brandon Bass was able to jump into the passing lane and take a steal coast to coast for a dunk. Bass was the only play in double-figures in the first half with 10 points.

The third quarter has generally been where the winning team in this series establishes itself, and the Celtics were on their way to a good one until it came off the rails late. The Celtics committed four turnovers in the third and lost the quarter, 19-14. Only a buzzer-beating jump shot by Garnett provided any kind of positive momentum heading into the fourth.

Pierce picked up four fouls in the fourth quarter, but the play of Rondo and Garnett (18 points, 13 rebonds) gave the Celtics the victory. The Celtics have one day off before facing the Heat Monday night.

Final: Celtics 85, Sixers 75

57 seconds, Celtics 81-73: Garnett makes one of two at the line after a 3-pointer by Holiday. Not over yet.

1:45 4th quarter, Celtics 80-70: Rondo hits a real 3-pointer this time, then gets himself to the line and hits both. Wow.

2:47 4th quarter, Celtics 75-68: Paul Pierce the happiest guy in the building after that last Rondo shot. It was called a 3-pointer but changed to a two.

4:16 4th quarter, Celtics 71-68: Paul Pierce just fouled out of the game. Goodness.

5:16 4th quarter, Celtics 69-63 Allen hits another 3-pointer. They're leaving him open to double Pierce. Meanwhile, Pierce just picked up his fifth foul on a drive by Iguodala.

7:26 4th quarter, Celtics 64-57: Pierce just gave two fouls on purpose, but he's got four now. He's got to be careful.

9:27 4th quarter, Celtics 60-55: Evan Turner went UNDER the screen on Ray Allen, who buries the first 3-pointer of the game for Boston in 15 tries.

End 3d quarter, Celtics 55-52: What an awful stretch to end the quarter for the Celtics, but they end it well with a jumper from Garnett. The Celtics had four turnovers in the period as Philadelphia won the quarter, 19-14.

Maybe this is how it's going to be. Maybe the Celtics are going to be just not ugly enough to get this win. Or maybe the Sixers finally get over the hump in the final 12 minutes.
3:10 3d quarter, Celtics 53-45: Allen (1 for 9) can't hit a shot, so he's out and Mickael Pietrus is in. Garnett is also out, which means the offense has to come from Pierce. He's providing so far, with six points in the quarter.

5:07 3d 3d quarter, Celtics 49-45: The Sixers are making a run. They refuse to go away. Pierce with a nice block on Evan Turner there, though, to prevent further damage. If Philadelphia is supposed to wilt away like an inexperienced team, no one gave them the memo.

8:36 3d quarter, Cetics 47-38: If Paul Pierce is going to score with one second remaining on the shot clock on a broken play, the Celtics are going to be in good shape.

Halftime, Celtics 41-33: The Sixers aren't going to win this game shooting 28 percent. That's why the Celtics lead by eight despite shooting 38 percent themselves.

Garnett is a defensive monster right now. Just before that steal and dunk by Brandon Bass, Garnett had his man locked down, preventing the inbounds pass. With that option covered, Bass was able to gamble and jump into the passing lane. It's the same principle that says that Avery Bradley's killer defense on his man allowed Rondo to freelance and get steals. Garnett (9 points, 7 rebounds) is a different player tonight than he was in Game 6.

2:36 2d quarter, Celtics 34-30: KG goes up for a dunk and loses the ball, coming up front-rim on the attempt. Maybe he was trying to lay it in. Either way it's a metaphor for aging, coming up short, etc. that the Celtics don't want to visit right now.

5:17 2d quarter, Celtics 30-26: When Rajon Rondo plays in random, good things happen. Rondo gets the and-one and gets the crowd going. When Ryan Hollins puts the ball on the floor, bad things happen. Great offensive rebound, but he lost the ball when he tried to dribble it.

8:01 2d quarter, Celtics 27-22 Rondo and Allen combine for the steal, and Allen takes it coast to coast for the layup. Nifty play for the old man with the bad ankle. A big thanks to Amalie Benjamin for handling the blog while I got a replacement laptop. If you notice the quality of the writing going downhill from here on out, you know why.

9:55 2d quarter, Celtics 25, Sixers 22, 9:55 Rondo gets some rest at the start of the second quarter, with KG back on the floor. KG's going to have to play serious minutes tonight. Pietrus, by the way, is doing some nice work on the glass with three rebounds so far, including an offensive rebound-and-putback off a Ray Allen miss.

End of the first quarter, Celtics 20, Sixers 20 One of the big differences in this game from Game 6? The Sixers are making their free throws. After missing about half of their free throws through the first three quarters in Game 6, the Sixers are 7-for-7 from the line tonight. The Celtics are 6-for-7 from the line.

With KG on the bench, the Sixers were able to come back and take the lead from the Celtics, though they finish the quarter tied. Philadelphia definitely has the advantage any time KG is off the floor, so it will be up to the Celtics not to let the Sixers go on runs when that happens.

2:07 1st quarter, Celtics 17, Sixers 12 A dunk by Pietrus just woke up the crowd in here and gave the Celtics a five-point lead.

2:40 1st quarter, Celtics 15, Sixers 12 The Celtics just took a time out after a Philly bucket. The Sixers are shooting just 24 percent from the floor (4/17), but the Celtics haven't been able to open up any sort of lead, with Philadelphia hanging around. The Celtics started out hot, and are down to 36 percent from the field (5/14).

4:38 1st quarter, Celtics 13, Sixers, 6 Pietrus comes in for Ray Allen. Stiemsma is in the game, too, for Garnett. Stiemsma has already picked up two very quick fouls in a short time on the court.

Evan Turner was touting his ability to rebound at shootaround this morning. He's leading the Sixers this postseason with 7.5 rebounds per game. So far tonight he has five already.

7:47 1st quarter, Celtics 10, Sixers, 4Talking to other writers before the game, there was a sense that no one really had a feel for what was going to happen, but that most leaned toward the Celtics winning. It does feel a lot like Game 5, with the Celtics coming off a disappointing loss, coming back to Boston from Philly, with two games off in between games.

And the Celtics have certainly come out with energy against a Philadelphia team that has almost no Game 7 experience. (Heck, not that much playoff experience at all.)

9:25 1st quarter, Celtics 6, Sixers 2 Doug Collins knew that it was going to be loud in the building, and he knew that he wanted his team to start fast and start strong. That hasn't exactly happened for the Sixers. It's been the Celtics getting off to the quick start, scoring the first six points in this game.

Pregame: A serious vibe from Doc Rivers before the game. The coach said he wants Rajon Rondo to play with high energy. He isn't sure what to expect from Ray Allen. This could be the last time we see the New Big Three together in a Celtics uniform. The Sixers, meanwhile, have nothing to lose. Let's get it.

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

It's hard to face up to the fact that this could be the last time we see Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, and Paul Pierce together in a Celtics uniform. That's the backstory to Game 7, and it's not fun to think about. The Celtics won't concern themselves with that; they've got a game to play. But the consequences of this game are bigger than any other they've played this postseason. And then you pile on the details about Avery Bradley's injury, Rondo's defense, establishing Garnett, and just what the Celtics are going to get out of Allen.

There's a lot to think about.

Here are the details for tonight's game:

Tip-off: 8 p.m.
Series: Tied, 3-3
Broadcast info: ABC (Ch. 5), WEEI/850 AM/93.7 FM (Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell)

Probable starters:

Celtics:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Brandon Bass
C: Kevin Garnett

Sixers:
PG: Jrue Holiday
SG: Evan Turner
SF: Andre Iguodala
PF: Elton Brand
C: Spencer Hawes

Story lines:

The Big Game Attitude: There's a line of wisdom out there that the Celtics have been there, done that, and that they know how to turn it on in big moments. They're 8-2 in home close-out games in the playoffs since the Big Three came together in 2008. We're expecting Rondo and Garnett to have monster games. But they both have to make it happen.

After Bradley?: Ray Allen's ankle injury is more troubling than ever. Do the Celtics get anything from him in Game 7? Do they turn somewhere else? Mickael Pietrus? Sasha Pavlovic? Is E'Twaun Moore ready for any meaningful playoff minutes?

Own the paint: The Sixers outscored the Celtics, 42-16, in the paint in Game 6. That's after the Celtics were averaging 40 points in the paint in their previous three games vs. Philadelphia. This absolutely must change, and it starts and ends with Rondo.

@GlobeGaryDzen

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

PHILADELPHIA -- The Celtics shot wide on a chance to clinch a berth in the Eastern Conference finals Wednesday night, losing Game 6, 82-75, to the Sixers at Wells Fargo Center. There will be a Game 7 in Boston Saturday night.

The Celtics turned in the second-worst shooting performance of the New Big Three era in Game 6, hitting just 26 of 78 shots for a percentage of 33.3 percent. Their previous low percentage in five seasons was 31.3 percent in Game 4 of the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals against the Detroit Pistons.

While the shooting woes were rare, failure to complete the series in a timely fashion has become a familiar problem with this team. The Celtics fell to 2-11 in potential series-closing games on the road since the arrivals of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in 2008.

Garnett turned in another 20-point performance despite the poor shooting (9 of 20), but Allen looked lost, the bone spurs in his ankle leaving him a shell of his healthier self. Only Paul Pierce's ability to get to the free throw line and knock down the shots -- he made all 13 -- prevented this game from being more out of hand.

Credit Philadelphia's defense for making it difficult on the Celtics, and the Sixers for hanging in the game despite offensive trouble of their own. Philadelphia committed nine turnovers in the first half and made just one of nine 3-pointers for the game.

The first 3-pointer of the game by either side -- a dagger from the corner by Mickael Pietrus -- rang in halftime and gave the Celtics a 36-33 lead. The Celtics shot just 31 percent in the first half but were saved by other areas on the stat sheet. Boston made 9 of 9 free throws in the first half, it got 8 second-chance points, and it held Philadelphia to 40 percent shooting.

Rajon Rondo usually runs the show for Boston, but he failed to record an assist in the first quarter as the Celtics trailed, 22-19, after one. He finished with 9 points, 6 assists, 9 rebounds, and 4 turnovers.

The timing of Game 7 in Boston is still up in the air and is dependent on the outcome of tomorrow night's Heat-Pacers game.

Final: Sixers 82, Celtics 75

38.7 seconds 4th quarter, Sixers 78-72: Ray Allen misses an open 3-pointer and that's all she wrote.

1:51 4th quarter, Sixers 78-69: Elton Brand hits the jumper. Kevin Garnett has found his range in the fourth quarter, but it's too late.

3:49 4th quarter, Sixers 74-65: The Celtics aren't going to shoot their way back into this game. It's a make/miss league, and they simply don't have enough makes.

7:02 4th quarter, Sixers 70-59: First double-digit lead for Philadelphia. The Celtics are running out of time. Lou Williams (7 points) is getting to the rim now when he wants to.

8:43 4th quarter, Sixers 67-59: It's do-or-die time now for the Celtics. They haven't found their offense all game, so it doesn't seem likely they'll find it now. They need to, though.

10:08 4th quarter, Sixers 63-58: The Celtics have a 41-29 edge on the boards. They're getting to loose balls. Now if only they could make a shot.

End 3d quarter, Sixers 60-56: What a dismal display for the Celtics in the third. Just six field goals in that quarter for the Celtics, who are shooting 32 percent. Pierce's free throws are the only thing keeping Boston in this game. Give Philadelphia credit. The Sixer are playing great defense.

3:35 3d quarter, Sixers 52-48: Brandon Bass is 2 for 12 after scoring 27 points in Game 5.

6:10 3d quarter, Tied at 46: Sixers make a run punctuated by an Iguodala dunk, but Pierce answers with a 3-point play. Ray Allen is out of the game with four fouls. He got abused by Evan Turner in the post on the play before.

10:54 3d quarter, Celtics 41-35: Pierce fouled shooting a 3-pointer. He makes all three; the Celtics are 14 of 14 at the line.

Halftime, Celtics 36-33: Mickael Pietrus hits the first 3-pointer of the half by either team to give the Celtics the lead at the break.

This game is uglier than normal, and that's saying a lot. Garnett and Bass have combined to shoot 5 of 19. The Sixers have nine turnovers.

4:16 2d quarter, Celtics 31-28: Third foul on Ray Allen. Lavoy Allen has three fouls for the Sixers.

6:13 2d quarter, Celtics 29-28: Great little run by the Celtics here. Garnett is running hard, and he's gotten deep position a couple of times. Pierce just got to his spot for a jumper. And Rondo seems to finally be controlling the tempo to his liking.The Celtics are shooting 37 percent, but nine free throws go a long way.

7:57 2d quarter, Sixers 28-23: This is where the Celtics can get into trouble. Turnovers or blocked shots lead to Iguodala getting out on the break. Dooling and Pietrus both complained about a non-call rather than run back on defense.

9:23 2d quarter, Sixers 24-23: Celtics getting decent minutes from Keyon Dooling. Ryan Hollins is the center of the moment.

End 1st quarter, Sixers 22-19: Uneven start.

The good: Paul Pierce (five free throws) is getting to the line. The bad: No assists in the first quarter for Rajon Rondo. He's also being beaten on defense by Jrue Holiday. Also bad: Greg Stiemsma looks like he's in over his head.

Another good thing: The Celtics are only down 3 points.

3:20 1st quarter, Sixers 15-12: Elton Brand just got a deflection and
took it right at Paul Pierce and KG for the score. Timeout, Celtics.

Speaking of Garnett, he's been invisible. He's 0 for 2.

5:16 1st quarter, Sixers 11-10: Go to the rim. Brandon Bass just missed a couple of jump shots that he should make, but the Celtics should also keep attacking. The Celtics have made just 4 of 14 shots.

8:18 1st quarter, Sixers 8-4: Ray Allen just picked up his second foul. That's a problem. Mickael Pietrus is in.

10:51 1st quarter, Sixers 2-0: Doc Rivers said before the game he was worried about turnovers. One leads to an alley-oop to Andre Iguodala. Iggy misses the chance to do it again on Philly's next possession.

12:00 1st quarter, 0-0: Loud boos for Kevin Garnett. They're playing the Iverson montage now. AI waiting in the tunnel to be introduced.

Pregame: Allen Iverson is expected to be in the building. The Sixers showed a montage of AI on the Jumbotron before the game. KG might get a couple of people yelling in his direction.

Ayla Brown just walked into the press room. I don't care if Helen of Troy walks in, this is Game 6. Let's get it.

@GlobeGaryDzen

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

PHILADELPHIA -- Will we see another counter-punch?

The Sixers looked beaten down toward the end of Monday night's101-85 Celtics win in Game 5. But we've seen them look down before, and they bounced back nicely to win Game 4 after getting blown out in Game 3. Both teams have uttered the phrase "it's the playoffs" over and over again this series when explaining that these things tend to go back and forth, and so far they've been right. The Celtics haven't exactly been great closers (see: Hawks, Atlanta a couple of weeks ago).

Haven't made a prediction in this space yet this series, and we're certainly not about to start.

Here are the details for tonight's game:

Tip-off: 8 p.m.
Series: Celtics lead, 3-2
Broadcast info: ESPN, WEEI/850 AM/93.7 FM (Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell)

Probable starters:

Celtics:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Brandon Bass
C: Kevin Garnett

Sixers:
PG: Jrue Holiday
SG: Evan Turner
SF: Andre Iguodala
PF: Elton Brand
C: Spencer Hawes

Story lines:

Bradley's shoulder: Avery Bradley was finally forced to sit with his left shoulder injury, and Doc Rivers said Monday it could be an issue going forward. Ray Allen and Keyon Dooling were uninspiring in place of Bradley in Game 5. Philadelphia didn't take advantage of that Monday, but maybe with some time to plan they can tonight. Bradley, as usual, is questionable.

Who steps up?: Brandon Bass isn't going to score 18 points in a quarter again. He just isn't. And so someone else needs to step up for the Celtics. We keep waiting for it to be Allen, but that hasn't happened. Mickael Pietrus? Ryan Hollins? A big game from Pierce?

KG's bluster: It took a while, but we finally got the first bulletin-board material of the series when Kevin Garnett called Sixers fans "fair weather" fans. That's not going to play well in Philly, where the fans seem to combine the most, ahem, boisterous aspects of New York and Boston fans. Will the Sixers themselves be fired up by the comments? Probably not. But it's something to talk about.

@GlobeGaryDzen

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

Brandon Bass scored 18 points in the third quarter and 27 points for the game as the Celtics turned on the intensity after halftime and ran away from the Philadelphia 76ers, 101-85, in Game 5 at TD Garden.

The Celtics trailed by four at halftime, but Bass's unlikely outburst was the catalyst for a third quarter that saw the Celtics shoot 61 percent and hold Philadelphia to 33 percent shooting. Bass was 6 for 7 in the third; Rajon Rondo assisted on 7 of Boston's 11 field goals in the period. The Celtics played the game without Avery Bradley, who sat out with a left shoulder injury.

Bradley's defense was missed in the first half as the Celtics allowed Philadelphia to shoot 55 percent from the floor. The Sixers had eight offensive rebounds and scored 10 second-chance points in the first half.

But the Celtics turned it on in the third quarter, putting their foot down after halftime like they so often do. In the blink of an eye, the Celtics went on a 10-0 run to take a 63-57 lead with 4:56 remaining. They led by nine points after three and never looked back.

In addition to Bass's big game, the Celtics got 20 points from Kevin Garnett. Rondo added 13 points and 14 assists.

Game 6 is Wednesday night in Philadelphia, where the Celtics have a chance to close out the series and await the winner of Miami-Indiana.

2:49 4th quarter, Celtics 96-76: Gino Time.

5:31 4th quarter, Celtics 89-72: Good response by the Celtics to open it up. Rondo is up to 13 assists. Will Smith and Jada have left the building.

8:14 4th quarter, Celtics 81-66: Celtics are forcing their offense the last two minutes or so. They can close the game out here if they play a little smarter.

9:53 4th quarter, Celtics 79-66: Bass back into the game for Stiemsma after a brief rest. Give the man the ball.

Lavoy Allen picked up his fourth foul for Philadelphia. That could be big.

End 3d quarter, Celtics 75-66: Holy cow. Brandon Bass scored 18 points in the third quarter and Paul Pierce punctuated the period with a step-back jumper to put the Celtics up by nine. Total scoring in the third: Celtics 28, Sixers 16.

2:30 3d quarter, Celtics 67-64: How are the Celtics going to close this quarter without Garnett? Try Brandon Bass, who's got 14 points in the quarter after scoring five in the first half. He's doing chin-ups on the rim.

4:48 3d quarter, Celtics 63-57: It's loud in here. Philly turnovers are leading to easy buckets for the Celtics. Rondo has a nice thing working with Brandon Bass down low. Even Ray Allen has gotten into transition.

One weird stat: Rondo scored six of the C's first nine points driving to the hoop. Missed two free throws with 1:18 left in first. Hasn't scored since.

6:56 3d quarter, Sixers 57-50: Philadelphia is leaving the door open here. Kevin Garnett just got called for an offensive foul using his off arm to shield Elton Brand on a dunk attempt. Apparently KG isn't as big of a star as Griffin. Crowd did not like that call too much.

9:53 3d quarter, Sixers 55-49: Spencer Hawes just picked up his fourth personal. That's tough to do for a guy who doesn't enter the paint.

Halftime, Sixers 50-47: This Philadelphia team is on pace for 100 points? There's your problem right there. Sixers are shooting 55 percent.

It's Turn Back the Clock Night here as Elton Brand has 12 points and Garnett has 14 points to lead all scorers.

3:20 2d quarter, Sixers 45-40: Crowd groans as the Celtics give up another offensive chance on this possession. Are people just discovering they can't rebound? Rebounding total is 18-12, Sixers. The Sixers have 8 offensive rebounds. The Celtics have 8 defensive rebounds.

6:25 2d quarter, Sixers 40-35: Rondo throws an alley-oop attempted for Mickael Pietrus that Pietrus can't get to. Air France, maybe not. Lou Williams has no conscience. Took a long jumper with a hand in his face and canned it.

8:52 2d quarter, Sixers 31-30: Ryan Hollins with two rebounds and a put-back on a Garnett miss. That got the crowd fired up. Pierce follows with a 3-pointer.

Will Smith and Chris Rock are both in the house.

End 1st quarter, Sixers 27-23: Philadelphia shoots 57 percent to Boston's 56 percent and leads after one. The Celtics were using a funky lineup of Rondo, Allen, Pietrus, Stiemsma, and Bass for a little while. This is the post-Avery Bradley era. Jrue Holiday has seven points for the Sixers.

2:09 1st quarter, Sixers 23-19: Greg Stiemsma is in the game as the Celtics go big instead of small. He's got six points and is 3 of 3, but he's getting beaten on defense and on the boards. That's the highs and lows of playing him.

5:46 1st quarter, Sixers 12-11: Rajon Rondo leads all scorers with six points. The Celtics are making lazy passes. They've got two turnovers to two assists, but it could be worse.

9:53 1st quarter, Celtics 5-2: Ray Allen hits his first 3-point attempt for the game. Good sign.

Pregame: Avery Bradley is out. Ray Allen starts for the Celtics. Celtics lose their "defensive captain", according to Doc Rivers. Series complexion has changed. Let's get it.

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers used a 9-0 run in the final 83 seconds of Game 4 to complete a stunning comeback over the Celtics, 92-83, Friday night at Wells Fargo Center.

The Celtics jumped out to a 14-0 lead in Game 4, silencing a Philadelphia crowd that was hoping their team would come out with a better focus in their attempt to even the series. Instead, the Sixers struggled to put the ball in the ocean. They shot 23 percent from the field in the first half, negating the benefit of 21 free throw attempts and failing to take advantage of a six-minute stretch in which the Celtics didn't score a single point. Sixers guard Evan Turner was 2 of 14 before halftime.

But the Celtics went almost seven minutes without a field goal to start the third quarter, a drought that allowed the Sixers to get right back into it. The Celtics went 5 for 18 from the floor in the third and sent the Sixers to the line nine times. Philadelphia attempted 36 free throws Friday night after shooting 63 in the first three games of the series combined.

A four-point lead at the end of the third quarter quickly evaporated as the Sixers took their first lead of the game. Usually the better closing team, the Celtics were out-closed by the Sixers down the stretch as Andre Iguodala caught fire from the perimeter. Lou Williams chipped in his first big game off the bench with 15 points.

The Celtics and Sixers finally get a break in the schedule as the series shifts back to Boston for Game 5 at TD Garden Monday night, but it won't be a happy weekend for the Celtics, who are now forced to consider once again the possibility of their own demise.

Final: Sixers 92, Celtics 83

36.9 seconds, Sixers 88-83: Iguodala with a huge 3-pointer to put the Sixers up two possessions. Incredible poise by Philadelphia in the final minutes.

3:34 4th quarter, Celtics 79-76: Big 3-pointer by Ray Allen. A couple of bad shots by Philly. KG hits two free-throws.

5:48 4th quarter, Tied at 74: Rondo throws a pass off Bradley. Five turnovers for the Celtics this quarter, 17 for the game.

7:37 4th quarter, tied at 70: Thaddeus Young ties it at the line. Neither team giving in.

10:01 4th quarter, Tied at 63: Philly is all the way back.

END 3d quarter, Celtics 63-59: The Sixers have come alive, and there's life in this building. This game has become so ugly that Philadelphia is in it despite how ugly they've played. Garnett is just 2 of 10 with five turnovers. Rondo picked up his fourth foul at the end of the quarter. The Celtics need him back out there, and they need him to be great.

Andre Iguodala's 2-pointer was changed to a 3-pointer, giving Philly another point.

3:41 3d quarter, Celtics 58-49: The Celtics finally make a few field goals after going the first six-plus minutes of the third quarter without it. Pierce with a huge three, and Brandon Bass steps up and makes a big jumper as well. Love the confidence he took that shot with.

6:06 3d quarter, Celtics 51-33: A Garnett free throw ends a 10-0 run for the Sixers. This is getting ugly.

8:12 3d quarter, Celtics 50-39: Sixers hit their first two shots from the floor since halftime. Celtics have yet to make a field goal in the third quarter. Kevin Garnett has five turnovers.

9:43 3d quarter, Celtics 50-33: Kevin Garnett called for a technical, then Elton Brand gets T'd up for giving a foul to KG. Strange little sequence.

10:50 3d quarter, Celtics 50-31: Avery Bradley just popped his left shoulder out again. He stays in the game to shoot his free throws, otherwise he can't come back in. He looked to be in pain when it happened, but he's working through it.

Halftime, Celtics 46-31: The Celtics didn't score for a stretch of six minutes but still increased their lead in the second quarter. Boston's bench has a total of two points, a layup by Ray Allen.

Paul Pierce has 12 points and Brandon Bass 13 for the visitors. Rondo is up to 9 points and 9 assists. The Celtics have won 44 games in a row when leading by 14 points or more.

2:14 2d quarter, Celtics 39-28: Rajon Rondo is in total control. Back-to-back hoops have the Celtics up by double-digits. Rondo has 7 points and 9 assists already.

4:37 2d quarter, Celtics 32-23: One big problem for the Celtics: they've attempted 15 free throws to five for Philadelphia. The Sixers are shooting 23 percent but are in the game because they're getting to the line.

6:37 2d quarter, Celtics 29-20: The Celtics went almost six minutes without scoring a point. The Sixers made their run because none of the Celtics reserves could score in their stint. All points are from starters.

Good resilience by the Sixers not to let the start take them out of the game. Now the Celtics are counter-punching. We have a ball game here.

9:29 2d quarter, Celtics 24-14: The Celtics are struggling with Rondo off the floor. Usually a turnover leads to a score, but without Rondo, the Celtics can't take advantage.

END 1st quarter, Celtics 24-12: The Sixers are shooting 19 percent. Brandon Bass has 10 points.

3:33 1st quarter, Celtics 20-5: The Sixers can't do anything right. The Celtics have Garnett out of the game and they're not losing their lead. Doc Rivers has sped up his rotations somewhat.

8:24 1st quarter, Celtics 14-0: It's an all out blitz. What a start.

10:09 1st quarter, Celtics 9-0: Pierce, Garnett, and Bass have scored. Pierce is 2 of 2. Sixers have taken two bad shots.

Pregame: Doc Rivers cautioned against making too much of his team's 2-1 lead in the series, saying it wouldn't be viewed as such a big deal had both teams held serve at home. Senator Scott Brown is in the house in support of his daughter Ayla, who does Philadelphia's anthems.

The giant parking lot around the Wells Fargo Center and Citizen's Bank Park is full as two Boston teams are in town. Let's get it.

@GlobeGaryDzen

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

PHILADELPHIA -- Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, and Paul Pierce combined for 74 points as the Celtics got out in front of the Sixers in the second quarter and ran away from them in the third, posting a 107-91 win in Game 3 at Wells Fargo Center. The Celtics now lead the best-of-seven series, 2-1.

The Celtics were down five after the first quarter but rode Garnett in the second. Garnett scored made 6 of 8 shots for 13 points in the second. Rondo had four assists in the period as the Celtics doubled-up Philadelphia, 32-16 in the quarter. The Celtics reached 60 points at halftime, a mark they did not reach until 8:36 remaining in 4th quarter in Game 2

Up by 11 points at halftime, the Celtics put on an offensive blitz in the third, putting up 29 more points to Philadelphia's 17 to lead by 23 points after three. The statement was made. The fourth quarter was nothing more than a formality.

The Celtics benefited from an aggressive philosophy, particularly from Rondo, who found lanes to drive, score, and set up his teammates. Rondo finished with 14 assists and one turnover. The Celtics also got a break for Ray Allen, playing the shooting guard just 12 minutes in the blowout.

Both teams now have one day to prepare for Game 4 here Friday night.

2:51 4th quarter, Celtics 105-86: Pierce has 24 points and 12 rebounds. Want another bonus? Ray Allen only played 12 minutes in this game.

6:10 4th quarter, Celtics 101-76: Kevin Garnett is still ballin, insane reverse alley-oop. The starters are coming out now. They've done their job.

End 3d quarter, Celtics 89-66: Boos raining down on the home team. The Celtics outscore the Sixers, 29-17, in the third quarter. That's exactly the response an experienced team makes against a young team when there's something on the line.

4:58, Celtics 80-56: Rondo drives to the hole and lays it in. He's got 23 points. The Celtics have hit seven straight shots from the field.

7:55 3d quarter, Celtics 71-51: The Celtics have been the best third-quarter team in the NBA all season, and this is why. Rondo is taking it to the basket with no resistance. The Sixers just aren't playing the same level of defense we've seen. Boston by 20.

Halftime: Celtics, 60-49: Rondo and Garnett have 17 points apiece as the Celtics have put on an offensive display. The Celtics have 60 points at halftime in Game 2; they didn't score their 60th point until 8:36 remaining in 4th quarter.

Garnett was a force in the second quarter, scoring 13 points. When Garnett isn’t scoring, the Celtics are taking the ball to the basket. Good signs all around.

5:26 2d quarter, Celtics 44-39: Celtics are getting contributions across the lineup. Brandon Bass has chipped in six points, Mickael Pietrus hit a 3-pointer, and Ray Allen is heading to the line.

8:51 2d quarter, Sixers 37-34: KG is getting great post position. That's 10 points now for him. Doug Collins must be talking in the huddle about not letting Garnett catch it so low.

Eagles QB Michael Vick in the house, loud ovation.

End 1st quarter, Sixers 33-28: Lou Williams hits a 3-pointer as time expires to put Philly up five. The Sixers come out hot, shooting 62 percent. The Celtics are at 46 percent.

Ayla Brown, sitting in front of press row, gave three fist pumps on that Williams 3-pointer.

1:32 1st quarter, Sixers 26-24: Pierce blows by Iguodala, takes it to the rack, and dunks on Lavoy Allen. Gets the and-one. Slaps the backboard in a release of emotion. Can't say anyone saw that coming.

4:03 1st quarter, Sixers 19-14: Andre Iguodala hits a 3-pointer. Paul Pierce is 0 for 6 from the floor. I even think Iguodala is taking it easy on Pierce taking so many jumpers. He should be working him on defense.

6:43 1st quarter, Celtics 12-10: Paul Pierce free throws are a good thing.

9:15 1st quarter, Sixers 5-2: Andre Iguodala clearly steps out of bounds but manages to go coast-to-coast on a steal to convert. KG gets a bucket down low early. No shoulder sleeve for Avery Bradley.

Pregame: Ready to go here at the Wells Fargo Center. We'll be watching Paul Pierce and Avery Bradley closely, as well as monitoring Kevin Garnett's touches.

Ayla Brown, Celtics anthem good luck charm from previous playoff runs, sings it for the other team. Apparently she's had a contract to do the Sixers anthems all season. Had no idea.

Let's get it.

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

The Celtics came back after an extended period of terrible shooting but could not finish the deal in an 82-81 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2.

Down three points with 10 seconds to play, Kevin Garnett was called for an illegal screen trying to free Paul Pierce up for a potential game-tying shot. The turnover gave the ball back to Philadelphia, who closed the game by making their free throws.

This was not the Garnett of Game 1 of this series or of Game 6 vs. Atlanta. Garnett had 15 points and 12 rebounds Monday night, but he was a participant in the Celtics' shooting woes as a whole. The Celtics shot 42 percent for the game. They shot 25 percent in the third quarter. In one stretch from the end of the first quarter to the end of the third quarter, the Celtics were 9 of 37 from the floor.

Garnett finished as Boston's leading scorer, while Jrue Holiday had 18 points for the Sixers.

The Celtics made their first four shots from the field to take a 9-0 lead after the jump. But points would not come as easily during the rest of the first half. After making his first two shots, Brandon Bass missed nine of his final 10 shots of the first half. The Celtics shot 25 percent in second quarter but still led, 38-36, at the break.

The Celtics don't have much time to hang their heads. Game 3 is Wednesday night in Philadelphia.

Final: Sixers 82, Celtics 81

10 seconds 4th quarter, Sixers 78-75: KG gets called for a moving screen trying to free up Pierce. Wow.

14.4 seconds 4th quarter, Sixers 76-75: Allen misses a tough fadeaway. The Celtics had a foul to give and waited to give it.

40.4 seconds 4th quarter, Sixers 76-75: Clutch 3-pointers by Bradley, Allen, and Holiday. Evan Turner puts the Sixers back up by one. Celtics ball.

3:15 4th quarter, Tied at 69: Garnett brings the house down with an alley-oop. He's spewing words unfit for human ears.

4:10 4th quarter, Tied at 65: Garnett waits for two defenders to run by and then takes advantage of the mismatch down low. Great runs by Rondo and Bradley, great patience by KG.

7:23 4th quarter, Sixers 63-61: Pierce comes back in for Pietrus. Doc Rivers going away from the hot hand to stick with his proven horses. We'll see if it works. Pierce has looked very limited.

9:06 4th quarter, Sixers 61-59: Lots just happened. Avery Bradley is back in the game with that injured left shoulder. Kevin Garnett hit just his third shot of the game and implored his teammates to get on his back, and they seem to be listening. Mickael Pietrus hit a 3-pointer on a broken play, then came down and hit another. The Celtics are in this game despite how poorly they've played.

End 3d quarter, Sixers 57-49: The Celtics typically own the third quarter, but they were owned there by Philadelphia. The Celtics managed just 11 points in the third on 4-of-17 shooting. Since the first quarter, the Celtics are 9 of 37 from the floor.

Kevin Garnett still has just four points.

2:37 3d quarter, Sixers 51-47: The Sixers are turning up the ball pressure and wreaking havoc on the Celtics. The Celtics are 4 of 14 to start the second and have seven turnovers since halftime.

6:27 3d quarter, Celtics 43-40: There's a reason they started this game at 7 p.m. Both teams will be lucky to get to 80 points tonight.

11:34 3d quarter, Celtics 40-36: Avery Bradley sits to start the second half. It's the same shoulder injury he's been dealing with. The Celtics are hoping he can come back in the fourth quarter.

Rondo drives in for the layup but lands hard on his tailbone. Gets up and shakes it off.

Halftime, Celtics 38-36: Paul Pierce seems to make about one big shot a game now. His latest puts the Celtics up at the break. He has five points.

Brandon Bass leads the Celtics with eight points, but he is just 3 for 11, continuing his poor shooting this series. Kevin Garnett has four points. The Celtics need one of their main players to step up in the second half.

On the plus side, the Celtics are holding Philadelphia to 37-percent shooting.

2:56 2d quarter, Celtics 35-33: Ryan Hollins just took his second charge of the game, this one on Andre Iguodala. He'll earn a lot more playing time if he keeps that up.

4:31 2d quarter. Celtics 33-29: Avery Bradley is headed back to the locker room. Looks like he tweaked that left shoulder.

6:08 2d quarter, Celtics 33-29: Rondo fires up the crowd with an alley-oop to Ryan Hollins. You could see the play developing from Rondo's perspective, but it still took a special play by Hollins to convert.

8:37 2d quarter, Tied at 27: Mickael Pietrus has no filter of late. He's taking bad shots and missing them. They're great when they go in, but they're not falling right now. He needs to be more selective.

End 1st quarter, Celtics 25-21: Why is the play at the end of every first quarter a 3-pointer by Rondo? For a guy so good at passing (6 assists in the first), Rondo seems hell bent at taking a bad three to end the first every game.

The Celtics survived that stretch without Garnett and still have the lead. That's a good thing.

2:50 1st quarter, Celtics 19-15: Garnett came out after six minutes, replaced by Greg Stiemsma. Maybe Doc wants KG to be fresh enough to play the entire second half.

5:08 1st quarter, Celtics 15-13: A quick hook for Evan Turner after that poor start. Instant offense Lou Wiliams into the game for Philly. Jrue Holiday has stepped up with eight points as the Celtics have cooled to 7 of 14.

9:44 1st quarter, Celtics 9-0: Well that's certainly a better start. The Celtics are 4 of 4 from the field, including two shots from Brandon Bass, who's been struggling.

Pregame: Doug Collins wants to let Kevin Garnett shoot jumpers rather than let KG get going in the paint. Doc Rivers likes Rajon Rondo "on random."
Celtics look for a 2-0 lead.

Let's get it.

@GlobeGaryDzen

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

Kevin Garnett turned in another dominant performance, putting up 29 points and 11 rebounds as the Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers, 92-91, in the first game of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

It was Garnett's second straight instant classic, a flurry of sheer will and shot-making that rivals anything else in Garnett's brilliant career. Rajon Rondo put up a triple-double of 13 points, 12 rebounds, and 17 assists in the win. Up one with 3.4 seconds left, the Celtics ran a play to get Rondo free in the backcourt and run out the clock.

The Celtics struggled in the first half but cranked up their defense in the second, using a three-guard lineup to stymie the Sixers. The trio of Rondo, Bradley, and Ray Allen was just the thing, but it took an exceptional performance by Garnett to make it work. Not to be forgotten, Paul Pierce hit a huge elbow jumper to give the Celtics the breathing room they needed late in the fourth.

It didn't come so easily before halftime. The Sixers scored the first seven points of the game and built a 10-point lead after the first quarter. The Celtics shot 30 percent from the field in the first. More specifically, everyone but Garnett shot 2 of 14.

The Celtics found themselves down double-digits in the second quarter before mounting a charge before halftime. The Sixers missed 11 of their last 15 shots as the Celtics closed to within 47-42 at the break.

The Celtics rested key players and still managed to outscore Philadelphia by one in the third quarter. With Garnett and company back in the game, the Celtics were able to finish strong. Game 2 is Monday night in Boston.

Final, Celtics 92, Sixers 91: Holy moly. Great play call by Doc Rivers, inbounds to Rondo in the backcourt. Rondo runs out the clock.

3.4 seconds 4th quarter, Celtics 92-91: Rondo gives the foul on Holiday to prevent a potential game-tying 3-pointer. Holiday makes both.

1:18 4th quarter, Celtics 90-84: Pierce punctuates it with the jumper. You lie in wait long enough and eventually you get a chance like that. You can't overstate what big-time players Pierce and Garnett are in big moments.

2:52 4th quarter, Celtics 85-84: Avery Bradley makes up for a Celtics turnover by blocking a potential layup. Leads to an and-one on the other end for Garnett. What a play by Bradley.

3:37 4th quarter, Celtics 83-82: Rondo puts the Celtics ahead and gives himself a triple-double at the same time. He's got 11 points, 11 rebounds, and 15 assists.

6:26 4th quarter, Sixers 80-77: Both teams stepping up the defense. Celtics using a three-guard offense of Rondo, Bradley, and Allen along with Pierce and Garnett.

8:33 4th quarter, Sixers 79-73: First team to 80 will not win this game. Both teams have shooting percentages in the 40's now, though. Here's where experience usually comes in. The Sixers blew a lead against Chicago Thursday before hanging on.

END 3d quarter, Sixers 71-67: KG's up to 26 minutes. Ray Allen looks like he's tweaked his ankle twice in this game, though he's stayed in the game both times. He had a great driving layup near the end of the quarter. He's got 10 points.

Paging Paul Pierce (10 points). It's your time. Heavy does of Pierce and KG here and the Celtics will come through.

2:47 3d quarter, Sixers 64-59: Stiemsma is giving the Celtics good minutes with Garnett off the floor, but obviously it's not equal. C's need to hang tough here and not get down by too much.

6:19 3d quarter, Sixers 57-53: Good answer by Philadelphia after that last Boston run. It sounds crazy, but the Celtics have no answer for Evan Turner, who has 16 points and 10 rebounds.

9:15 3d quarter, Celtics 48-47: Avery Bradley sprints end to end to give the Celtics their first lead of the game. That gets the home crowd going. KG is playing out of his mind right now.

Halftime, Sixers 47-42: The Celtics are right back in this thing thanks to a 10-2 run to end the half. Philadelphia missed 11 of their last 15 shots to end the half while the Celtics shoot 50 percent in 2nd quarter. Garnett is carrying the Celtics for the second straight game. He has 14 points.

3:39 2d quarter, Sixers 45-32: Evan Turner has 10 points -- eight this quarter -- to extend Philadelphia's lead.

6:18 2d quarter, Sixers 37-32: Brandon Bass gets a layup in the post. Celtics are getting better shots. Ray Allen has eight huge points off the bench. He's been a real spark this postseason.

8:59 2d quarter, Sixers 35-25: Like the energy by Keyon Dooling and Mickael Pietrus off the bench, though the Celtics aren't getting ahead. Like the effort by Ryan Hollins, too, though a dribble drive to the hoop is probably a bad idea.

End 1st quarter, Sixers 28-18: Bad start for the Celtics. They've made just 6 of 20 field goals. The jump shots are there, they just aren't falling. Celtics not named Kevin Garnett shot 2-14 in the first quarter. Andre Iguodala leads all scorers with 10 points.

2:53 1st quarter, Sixers 19-12: Greg Stiemsma getting some minutes here early. No assists for Rajon Rondo thus far.

5:18 1st quarter, Sixers 15-6: This is what the Celtics were afraid of. Sixers come out hot, hitting 7 of 13 shots. Celtics are settling for jumpers and are 3 of 13. Sixers have gotten out on the break twice on long rebounds. You know Doc Rivers is bringing that up in the huddle.

9:55 1st quarter, Sixers 7-0: Brandon Bass has missed three jump shots. He's been pretty much wide open. If that's by design from Philly, maybe they know something we don't.

Pre-game: Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are a go. Doc Rivers wants to keep this a halfcourt game. Doug Collins has been impressed by his team's composure late in games in the playoffs. Let's get it.

@GlobeGaryDzen

The Celtics are moving on to the next round of the playoffs.

Kevin Garnett had 28 points and 14 rebounds as the Celtics defeated the Atlanta Hawks, 83-80, in Game 6 of a first-round playoff series at TD Garden Thursday night.

Even in a series that changed by the minute, Game 6 was a quirky, strange little game. Al Horford played 46 minutes for Atlanta. The Hawks were paced for much of the game by Marvin Williams. Ray Allen missed two big free throws, and Ryan Hollins got a clutch offensive rebound when the Celtics needed it most. The only sure thing Thursday night was Garnett's dominance.

The Celtics used a 16-0 run in the middle of the second quarter to take a 47-41 lead at the break. The teams traded runs in the second half before the Celtics survived and advanced with free throws at the finish.

With Philadelphia defeating the Chicago Bulls earlier tonight, the Celtics are assured of homecourt advantage in a series against the Sixers starting Saturday.

Final: Celtics 83, Hawks 80: Pierce hits both free throws and seals the deal.

1.3 seconds, Celtics 81-80: Joe Johnson takes it to the hoop. Smart play, but Pierce comes up with the block. Hawks get the ball back. Marquis Daniels fouls Horford in the post. Horford misses the first of two free throws.

9.3 seconds, Celtics 81-79: Huge shot by KG. Josh Smith takes a jumper for the Hawks and misses. Ray Allen gets fouled. Makes just one.

1:24 4th quarter, Hawks 79-78: Al Horford, who has played 44 minutes in this game, makes a huge bucket there. Rajon Rondo turns it over on an up-and-down. Bad time for that.

3:52 4th quarter, Celtics 76-75: Such a strange game. Garnett sits for a few minutes and the Hawks take full advantage. It's hard to tell which team deserves to win. Gut feeling is the Celtics have one more good run in them.

6:34 4th quarter, Celtics 74-65: The Celtics kept the lead with Rondo out of the game. That's huge.

9:29 4th quarter, Celtics 72-65: Josh Smith chirping to the official and gets called for a technical. Hawks need to stop running their mouths and giving away free points.

End 3d quarter, Celtics 67-63: What a weird game. Rajon Rondo hits a jumper to end the quarter. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce both missed technical free throws. The Celtics are shooting better, have more rebounds, and have fewer turnovers than the Hawks, and we're almost even.

1:01 3d quarter, Celtics 65-60: Joe Johnson hits a 3-pointer, but Erick Dampier gets called for a technical. Erick Dampier getting a technical? What exactly is he out there for then?

3:10 3d quarter, Celtics 62-55: Ryan Hollins once again playing important second-half minutes. The Sixers just won, meaning the winner of this series gets Philly.

7:02 3d quarter, Celtics 53-51: Marvin Williams has 14 points.

8:11 3d quarter, Celtics 51-45: Horford picks up the charge running into Pierce. Three fouls on Horford.

10:32 3d quarter, Celtics 49-43: Jeff Teague called for a technical foul after some funny business with Rajon Rondo in the post.

Halftime, Celtics 47-41: They could have closed better, but the Celtics have to be happy with their turnaround at the end of the second quarter. They're up to 48 percent shooting. They've forced 10 Atlanta turnovers.

2:50 2d quarter, Celtics 43-33: Celtics playing in a different gear. Rondo just blew by four defenders and got to the hoop for a layup. These Celtics won't lose this game. The Celtics we saw a few minutes ago? Different story.

5:59 2d quarter, Celtics 34-31: Rondo is getting the Celtics going. His fourth assist found Kevin Garnett, who had Al Horford sealed under the hoop. The Celtics are leading despite playing poorly earlier. All that matters is how they play from here on out.

6:58 2d quarter, Hawks 31-30: Paul Pierce with a strong move to the rack, gets grabbed by Hinrich and finishes off the play.

8:55 2d quarter, Hawks 28-23: With both Rondo and Pierce sitting the Celtics have no focus on offense. It's a train wreck out there. Marvin Williams has 11 points.

10:33 2d quarter, Hawks 25-20: Just an awful flow for the Celtics on offense. Bad shots, passes, decisions.

End 1st quarter, Hawks 23-20: Kirk Hinrich beats the buzzer and the Celtics trail by three. C's are shooting 35 percent compared to 50 percent for Atlanta.

2:09 1st quarter, Hawks 19-18: Stiemsma with the big block on the baseline, leading to a timeout. Nothing in this game has gone to plan. Such is the playoffs.

3:24 1st quarter, Hawks 19-15: Seams dead in here. Marvin Williams now has eight points. Paul Pierce has yet to come out. Greg Stiemsma is the first big man off the bench for Boston.

7:26 1st quarter, Celtics 7-6 Brandon Bass is 2 for 2 on jump shots. Paul Pierce still looks gimpy. Avery Bradley is wearing a sleeve on his left shoulder (think the t-shirt you wore under your jersey in middle school).

10:37 1st quarter, Hawks 5-0: Marvin Williams has all give points for the Hawks. Ominous.

Pre-game: Everyone's playing. Last home game this series for the Celtics. Let's get it.

@GlobeGaryDzen

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

Pierce initially injured the MCL during last Sunday's shootaround before Game 4, but managed to score 24 points in 17 minutes. He was visibly bothered by the knee during Game 5 and scored 16 points in 36 minutes on 7-for-17 shooting. He said after the game that his knee was not a factor in his performance.

Meanwhile, the Celtics also said Avery Bradley has a strained rotator cuff in his left shoulder but he will also play tonight.

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

So let me get this straight: Ben Roethlisberger is a tough guy, and Paul Pierce, Josh Smith, and Ray Allen are fakers. Because a quarterback who drops back a few steps and has to jog every five plays is a warrior for playing with an ankle sprain, but basketball players who twist their knees or have bone spurs in their ankle and then have to sprint, jump, and make lateral cuts for 40 minutes are wimps.

Just so we're clear.

Rant over. Injuries could play a big role in tonight's Game 6 at TD Garden. The most concerning injury is Pierce's left knee, although Smith's knee probably isn't 100 percent, but Smith relies so much on his athleticism. Neither team can afford to lose this game -- the Hawks literally cannot -- and so guys are going to have to play hurt. The Celtics would be much better off playing through pain tonight and getting some extra rest than losing and having to go down to Atlanta for a Game 7. Not to mention that the Celtics moving on in this series is still not guaranteed.

Here are the details for tonight's game:

Tip-off: 8 p.m.
Series: Celtics lead, 3-2
Broadcast info: TNT/CSNNE, WEEI/850 AM/93.7 FM (Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell)

Probable starters:

Celtics:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Avery Bradley
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Brandon Bass
C: Kevin Garnett

Hawks:
PG: Jeff Teague
SG: Joe Johnson
SF: Marvin Williams
PF: Josh Smith
C: Al Horford

Story lines:

Horford: The Hawks center came up huge in his second game in months Tuesday night, putting up 19 points and 11 rebounds in 41 minutes. Forty one minutes! Horford changes everything for the Hawks, who can now go big or small and still be effective.

Minutes: Speaking of minutes, Kevin Garnett played 38 of them Tuesday while Avery Bradley played just 18. Bradley took just two shots in Game 5, something that needs to be rectified. Another player who needs to make more of his minutes is Rajon Rondo, who had 12 assists and 5 turnovers in 44 minutes Tuesday.

Bench play: Mickael Pietrus has 8 points in five games. Greg Stiemsma has played himself out of the rotation. Ryan Hollins is what he is, a player who has struggled to stay on NBA rosters. It's nice to have Allen coming off the bench, but the Celtics need others to step up. Keyon Dooling has provided a nice spark in a limited role.

@GlobeGaryDzen

Final, Hawks 87-86: Well the Celtics had their chances. Rajon Rondo stole the inbounds pass, raced down the court too fast and then Josh Smith knocked his pass to Kevin Garnett away as time expired. A tough loss because the Celtics didn't even get a shot off.

Fourth quarter, 10.9, Hawks 87-86: Paul Pierce cans a 3-pointer but then when the Celtics get a stop, airballs a 17-footer that would have given the Celtics the lead. Hawks ball. The Celtics have to foul again to send Atlanta to the free throw line.

Fourth quarter, 59.6, Hawks 87-83: Al Horford has been the difference and he completes a dunk off a swing pass from Jeff Teague and then gets a midrange jumper to bounce in the hoop. He has 19 points and 11 rebounds. Meanwhile, Kevin Garnett misses a 12-footer and Paul Pierce misses a layup. Celtics ball.

Fourth quarter, 2:39, Tied at 83: Just like that the Celtics come back with a 7-0 run, the final bucket Ray Allen's second 3-pointer of the game. And Paul Pierce returned to the party with a leaning jumper. Hawks ball.

Fourth quarter, 4:18, Hawks 83-76: Atlanta responds from the Celtics 19-3 run with a 14-3 run of its own as the Hawks are being aggressive and Josh Smith has warmed up after starting the game 0-for-8 shooting. He is now 6 for 16. The Hawks have turned Rajon Rondo into a shooter again and he's missed 11 of 17 shots.

Fourth quarter, 6:23, Hawks 77-74: Atlanta is on an 8-1 run after the Celtics took a 73-69 lead on Ray Allen's 3-pointer. Josh Smith hit consecutive buckets, Al Horford canned a baseline jumper and then Marvin Williams dunked off a Smith-led fastbreak. The Celtics have suddenly gone cold after a 19-3 run to take the lead. They will need Paul Pierce, who is back in the game after a long rest, to make some plays.

Fourth quarter, 8:53, Celtics 70-68: The Celtics are on a 16-2 run, sparked by Rajon Rondo, who has 13 points and eight assists. Ryan Hollins has played key minutes off the bench with two dunks. Paul Pierce has been laboring with that left knee injury and is on the bench in his warmups.

End of third quarter, Hawks 66-64: The Celtics looked done until a stirring 10-0 run to end the period, started by a dunk from Ryan Hollins, Rajon Rondo then responded with 6 straight points and Mickael Pietrus ended the quarter with a layup off a Rondo steal to make it interesting again. Hawks were 9 for 16 from the field in the quarter.

Third quarter, 2:54, Hawks 65-54: This one is beginning to slip away as the Hawks are feeding off the crowd and the Celtics have no answer for Al Horford, who has made a big difference in the paint. The Celtics are 11-for-29 shooting since the first quarter and while Brandon Bass has a team-leading 14 points, the Celtics are a minus-18 when he's on the floor.

Third quarter, 5:28, Hawks 56-52: After playing a near flawless first half defensively, suddenly the Celtics can't get stops and it's become an offensive game. The teams have spent the past four minutes trading baskets after Atlanta started the quarter on a 8-2 run. Al Horford has 6 points in the third quarter and is becoming a factor in the series.

Halftime, Tied at 40: The Hawks went on a 3-point barrage, hitting four in a 2-minute span to briefly take the lead before Rajon Rondo tied it at halftime with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. The Celtics have been putrid offensively but were solid on defense until the final 2 minutes of the half. Brandon Bass leads the Celtics with 10 points. Rondo only has two assists. Joe Johnson leads Atlanta with 11 points on 11 shots.

Second quarter, 2:25, Celtics 33-28: The Celtics are 4-for-14 shooting in the second quarter with five turnovers and are still clinging to the lead. Rajon Rondo has just 2 points, 2 assists and 2 rebounds, hardly putting his imprint on the game as he did the past two.

Second quarter, 5:17, Celtics 29-24: The Hawks are visibly trying to get Joe Johnson going and he's hit two straight buckets while the Celtics haven't scored a field goal in nearly 4 minutes. Ray Allen has 7 points but he has also missed two free throws. Paul Pierce still leads all scorers with 9 points.

Second quarter, 8:06, Celtics 28-20: The Celtics are not real fluid offensively right now but they are playing strong defense as the Hawks have missed 20 of 28 shots. The biggest culprit is Josh Smith, who is 0 for 8. Paul Pierce leads the Celtics with 9 points and Ray Allen has added spark off the bench with 6 and has two free throws coming.

End of first quarter, Celtics 21-15: Kevin Garnett has begun to warm up, scoring the final 5 points of the first quarter, including a long 2-pointer at the buzzer as the Celtics are trying to stave off the Hawks' early energy. The Hawks made just six of 21 shots in the quarter and Josh Smith is busy complaining to officials. He does appear focused.

First quarter, 2:48, Celtics 15-11: The Celtics have slowed down and the Hawks have picked up the pace, although they look frazzled offensively. The Celtics have hit two of their past nine shots while Paul Pierce leads the way with 9 points. Jeff Teague has 5 points for Atlanta, which is 4-for-16 shooting.

First quarter, 8:09, Celtics 11-3: The Celtics are trying to take the crowd out of the game and are off to a strong start as the Celtics fans are deep here at Philips Arena. The Hawks are 1-for-5 shooting with three turnovers and coach Larry Drew called a quick timeout to calm things down. Paul Pierce has already hit a 3-pointer and followed with a dunk.

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

Paul Pierce scored 24 points in 17 minutes as the Celtics raced out to a commanding lead and never looked back in a 101-79 win over the Atlanta Hawks Sunday night. With the win, the Celtics take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

If Game 3 was about the Celtics surviving, Game 4 was about establishing control.

The Celtics made 11 3-pointers in Game 4, more than they made during the first three games of this series combined. Pierce came into the game shooting 35 percent for the series, but he made 10 of 13 shots on his way to a dominant, efficient performance only slowed by what appeared to be a minor knee injury before halftime.

The Celtics exploded in the first half, shooting 64 percent from the field and putting up 64 points to lead by 23. After hitting just three field goals in Game 3, Pierce scored 18 points on 8 of 11 shooting before the break. The Hawks couldn't slow down Pierce, but the injury with eight minutes left in the second quarter forced Pierce to the locker room for evaluation.

Pierce returned in the second half to score six points in four minutes before finally shutting it down for the night. Right there with Pierce in the efficiency category was Rajon Rondo, who had 20 points, 16 assists, and just one turnover. Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen also finished in double-figures.

The Hawks saw the returns of Josh Smith and Al Horford make little impact in the final score. Game 5 is Tuesday night in Atlanta.

1:25 4th quarter, Celtics 101-78: Gino time.

5:57 4th quarter, Celtics 98-71: Daniels, Dooling, Moore, Pavlovic, and Hollins.

9:42 4th quarter, Celtics 94-67: Rondo and Allen are still in the game, but it looks like Pierce and Garnett are done for the night.

End 3d quarter, Celtics 90-63: A strong finish from Rajon Rondo gives the fans something to cheer about as we head into the fourth quarter. Rondo made a big 3-pointer, then faked out everyone in the gym on his way to an uncontested layup. A bad foul by Greg Stiemsma on Marvin Williams gave the Hawks three points and probably has Stiemsma on the bench for the rest of the game.

3:19 3d quarter, Celtics 82-53: The game has ground to a halt as the Celtics are taking bad shots.

6:28 3d quarter, Celtics 80-45: Pierce scores six points in four minutes, then leaves the game with what is presumably the same injury he had in the first half. He's riding the exercise bike near the Celtics bench.

8:13 3d quarter, Celtics 79-43: Jeff Teague intentionally fouls Avery Bradley. That's the second hard foul Teague has given tonight, the first being on Brandon Bass in the first quarter.

10:05 3d quarter, Celtics 71-41: Paul Pierce starts the second half and hits his first attempt after the break, a 3-pointer. Rajon Rondo started the half with a three.

Halftime: Celtics 64, Hawks 41: Paul Pierce has 18 points, though he did not come back from the locker room after appearing to bang knees. Rajon Rondo has 13 assists, which is four more than the Hawks have as a team. Ray Allen has nine points.

2:53 2d quarter, Celtics 57-35: Josh Smith taking jumpers, Ray Allen taking jumpers. Advantage, Celtics.

7:57 2d quarter, Celtics 51-29: Pierce is now 8 of 11 for 18 points. The Hawks have as many turnovers as field goals (11).

Pierce appeared to bang his left knee after that last shot. He went back into the locker room with Celtics medical staff.

6:59 2d quarter, Celtics 46-27: Paul Pierce is on fire. He's got 15 points. Missed on a heat-check 3-pointer, but Brandon Bass collects the rebound and dunks. It's all working right now for the Celtics.

9:27 2d quarter, Celtics 37-24: Keyon Dooling's got two big jumpers, the last one a 3-pointer. Garnett and Bradley the Celtics starters on the floor.

End 1st quarter, Celtics 32-19: Garnett just abuses Horford in the post, and the Hawks center is forced to push Garnett from below as KG finishes the hoop plus the foul. Sure as heck looked injury-related there for Horford. KG is usually fired up, but he was fired up after that one.

Celtics shooting 67 percent to Atlanta's 41 percent in the first.

3:01 1st quarter, Celtics 25-15: Well how about that from Paul Pierce? He's got 10 points, the last two coming on an impossible little floater/fade from the foul line. Pierce was shooting 35 percent for the series. He's 5 of 7 today.

5:20 1st quarter, Celtics 19-11: Al Horford into the lineup for Atlanta. Will be checked by Greg Stiemsma.

7:56 1st quarter, Celtics 13-6: Ridiculous bounce pass from Rajon Rondo to Garnett for the dunk. Avery Bradley's also nailed two jumpers. Celtics are running their stuff and executing.

9:37 1st quarter, Celtics 6-4: Celtics have posted up twice. Paul Pierce has two field goals after making three in all of Game 3.

On the other side, Josh Smith was doubled and found Joe Johnson free in the corner. Smith then took it down the lane and dunked on Kevin Garnett. Totally different game in the early going.

Pre-game: Ray Allen and Avery Bradley are both in for the Celtics. Josh Smith is in for Atlanta. Sunday evening vibe here at the Garden, but the Celtics need to treat this game as they have the previous two.

Let's get it.

@GlobeGaryDzen

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

Guard Avery Bradley will start for the Celtics in Game 4 tonight, according to Celtics coach Doc Rivers. Bradley injured his left shoulder late in Friday's Game 3 against Atlanta and did not return.

Rivers said Bradley's shoulder had to be put back into place, something that's happened three to four times this season.

Bradley warmed up twice before tonight's game under the direction of team doctor Brian McKeon before being cleared to play.

"It's a concern," said Rivers. "It's a concern tonight and moving forward as well. We're just going to throw him out there ... I guess each time it comes out you lose strength. But he's ready to go."

Rivers said he wasn't sure whether or not Bradley would need surgery after the season.

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

Rajon Rondo had a triple-double in his return from a suspension, and Ray Allen chipped in 13 points after missing the last 11 games with an ankle injury as the Celtics defeated the Atlanta Hawks in overtime, 90-84, in Game 3 of the teams' first-round playoff series.

The game wasn't pretty; even Rondo's triple-double of 17 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists felt like it was slapped together at the last minute. But Rondo and the Celtics made some big plays down the stretch to gain enough separation for the win.

The Celtics stumbled into the lead in the first half despite shooting 39 percent from the field and committing nine turnovers. Atlanta outscored the Celtics, 28-6, in the paint before halftime, but the Celtics were able to enter the locker room with the lead.

Tracy McGrady had a big first half for the Hawks with 10 points and 6 rebounds, but he appeared to turn an ankle with about a minute to go and had to be helped off the court.

McGrady eventually returned, and so did some semblance of a Celtics offense. But up 80-72 late in the game, the Celtics once again went cold. The Celtics scored at the 4:02 mark of the fourth quarter but didn't score again in regulation as the Hawks used an 8-0 run to tie the score at 80. Paul Pierce missed a contested jumper on the last possession of the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime.

The Celtics redeemed themselves in the extra fame, ratcheting up the defense and converting in the final minutes, unlike in regulation. Kevin Garnett used one of his 13 rebounds to slam home a miss by Rondo with 28 seconds left, putting the Celtics up by four. Boston sealed the game with free throws.

The Celtics now lead the best-of-seven series, 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday night at TD Garden.

Final: Celtics 90, Hawks 84 (OT)

21.4 seconds OT, Celtics 89-84: Ray Allen makes 1 of 2 from the line. One more chance for the Hawks.

33.7 seconds OT, Celtics 86-84: Not much scoring since the last update. Celtics with the ball and the lead. Need to close it this time.

2:44 OT, Celtics 86-82: Pierce with the pull-up to give the Celtics a four-point lead. Odd sequence before that as Pierce got called for steps on one layup, and Rondo had a steal and an open floor for another but appeared to slip on the floor and miss.

End regulation, Tied at 80: Inbounds play was to Pierce. Good defense by Joe Johnson, and Pierce back-rims the 20-footer. We're going to overtime.

37 seconds 4th quarter, Tied at 80: The Hawks are on an 8-0 run. Joe Johnson tied the game with a 3-pointer. He has 27.

2:30 4th quarter, Celtics 80-75: Rondo has his triple-double. Willie Green hits a three and this game isn't over yet. Celtics need to execute here.

5:30 4th quarter, Celtics 76-69: Avery Bradley is out with a left shoulder injury, per the team. He will not return.

8:49 4th quarter, Celtics 70-64: Paul Pierce makes his second field goal of the game count in a big way. It's a 3-pointer from the corner that puts the Celtics up six. In this game that feels like 60.

End 3d quarter, Celtics 60-58: Avery Bradley went to the locker room with Celtics team doctor Brian McKeon. He has not yet returned, and there's no word on what could be wrong with him. The Celtics cling to the lead in an ugly basketball game.

3:05 3d quarter, Celtics 52-51: Paul Pierce continues to get to the line; he's got 14 points and just one field goal.

7:03 3d quarter, Celtics 48-42: Great sequence there by the Celtics leads to a run-out, but Avery Bradley can't finish the dunk because he gets fouled. Still, love the energy of Bradley and Rondo running the floor together. KG also ran the floor on the previous possession and got an oop. The Celtics' first unit is playing well despite a poor shooting night from Pierce.

9:15 3d quarter, Celtics 42-38: Paul Pierce is 1 of 7 for the game.

12:00 3d quarter, Celtics 40-38: Tracy McGrady has a sprained ankle. He will return to the game.

Halftime, Celtics 40-38: The Celtics aren't making this easy, but they've got the lead. That's despite Atlanta owning a 28-6 edge in points in the paint.

Joe Johnson leads all scorers with 12 points. Paul Pierce is just 1 of 5 from the floor but has redeemed himself by hitting all eight of his free throws.

Tracy McGrady limped off the court after landing on Rajon Rondo's foot with under a minute to go in the quarter.

1:31 2d quarter, Hawks 38-36: There's just no flow to this game. The Celtics have turned it over nine times. Tracy McGrady has 10 points and 6 rebounds for the Hawks. That's just astonishing.

5:39 2d quarter, Celtics 28-27: The Celtics take the lead on an over-the-top pass from Rondo to Garnett. That's the kind of offense Doc Rivers loves. Another positive sign: Ray Allen came out of the game but checked back in for Brandon Bass when the Hawks went small.

7:40 2d quarter, Hawks 23-22: Ray Allen checks out with six points. Good first shift for him.

8:48 2d quarter, Hawks 23-17: This is certainly not how the Celtics wanted to come out at home. In addition to shooting poorly, they've committed seven turnovers.

End 1st quarter, Hawks 19-17: Neither coach is going to be happy with the offense in the first quarter. The Celtics shot 29 percent from the field, the Hawks 32 percent. That's usually enough to lose a game. Right now the margin is only two. I imagine we'll see some better scoring going forward.

The Celtics seem content to watch Rondo, or to wait for Rondo to make something happen. They aren't running their stuff as well as they should.

4:02 1st quarter, Hawks 18-15: Ray Allen checks into the game, promptly makes his first shot. Good sign.

5:50 1st quarter, Celtics 13-10: The teams have combined to make just 9 of 25 shots from the floor.

7:49 1st quarter, Celtics 10-9:Jason Collins with four quick points for the Hawks, but he goes to the bench with his second foul. Erick Dampier into the game. The Celtics need to find a way to exploit Atlanta's big man situation.

10:45 1st quarter, Celtics 2-0: Celtics stood around on their first two offensive possessions, but Paul Pierce breaks the tie by going to the rim and drawing the foul.

Pre-game: Ray Allen is active. Josh Smith is not. Marvin Williams starts for the Hawks. Avery Bradley starts and will probably get the big minutes for the Celtics. The playoffs return to the Garden.

Let's get it.

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

Ray Allen will play tonight for the Celtics, according to coach Doc Rivers. Allen went through a full warm up prior to Game 3 against the Atlanta Hawks, and his ankle is well enough to give it a go.

"I think he came to the conclusion that the pain's not going away," said Rivers. "He has to find a way to play with it and be effective with it."

Those familiar with Allen know that he's a creature of habit. On game days, Allen warms up starting around 4:15 p.m. for a 7:30 p.m. game. Allen did not follow that routine before games in which he was definitely out, but he followed it tonight. He has not played in a game this series and has missed the team's last 11 games overall.

"There's no restrictions," said Rivers. "Obviously he hasn't played. He hasn't gone up and down since he's been injured. We did only halfcourt yesterday. So tonight will be his first time playing full court in about three weeks."

Allen practiced with the Celtics yesterday in Waltham.

"He looked OK," said Rivers. "He looked a little rusty, which he should be. But he was aggressive, and that was good to see."

Allen looked good on the parquet before tonight's game, taking jump shots, 3-pointers, and free throws before finishing his workout with a trademark dunk down the middle.

@GlobeGaryDzen

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

Josh Smith is officially out for the Atlanta Hawks tonight, according to coach Larry Drew. Marvin Williams will take Smith's place in the starting lineup.

Smith suffered a strained tendon in his left knee in the fourth quarter of Game 2 of the series on Tuesday.

End game, Celtics 87, Hawks 80 -- The Celtics have taken Game 2 from the Hawks at Philips Arena, a huge accomplishment given that they were without Rajon Rondo in this game. It takes homecourt advantage from the Hawks, and gives the momentum to a team that looked likely to go back to Boston down 2-0.

This game was all Paul Pierce, who finished the game with 36 points and 14 rebounds. Avery Bradley also acquitted himself well in the absence of Rondo, with 14 points and just one turnover.

We'll also have to see how bad this Josh Smith injury is.

Fourth quarter, 2:19, Celtics 81, Hawks 77 -- Josh Smith went into the locker room with an apparent injury. It was a sprained left knee. He's in the locker room, and is doubtful to return to the game.

Fourth quarter, 3:29, Celtics 79, Hawks 72-- Pierce finally gets the lead up past 2 with a dunk, then hits a 3-pointer to give him 32 points in Game 2. It was just about the perfect time for his first three of the series. Boston has been gutting out this game defensively in the fourth quarter, knowing how big it would be to steal a game in Atlanta without Rondo.

Fourth quarter, 5:08, Celtics 74, Hawks 72 -- The latest lead came on a two-handed dunk by Marquis Daniels. The Celtics could have added to that, but Pierce turned the ball over, a huge miscue at this stage of the game. It was Pierce's seventh turnover of the game.

Fourth quarter, 7:43, Celtics 68, Hawks 68 -- Apparently that help for Pierce? Coming from Bradley. He hit a jumper to tie the game at 66-66. A game that was spiraling out of control for the Celtics is going to come down to the final minutes of the game.

Fourth quarter, 9:38, Hawks 66, Celtics 64 -- Avery Bradley can't hit the second on a pair of free throws, but the Celtics have kept the Hawks scoreless in the fourth quarter so far.

End of third quarter, Hawks 66, Celtics 61 -- The Celtics looked stronger there at the end of the third quarter, going on a 7-1 run to finish it out. Pierce has 23 points and 10 rebounds so far in this game, but he needs more help than he's getting from the rest of the Celtics. Garnett and Bradley each have 9 points.

Third quarter, 2:52, Hawks 65, Celtics 54 -- Dooling hits another three to bring the lead down to 8, but Boston gives it right back. The Celtics need to make some noise here in the final minutes of the third quarter.

Third quarter, 5:20, Hawks 57, Celtics 49 -- It finally happened! It took until there was 6:36 left in the third quarter of Game 2, but the Celtics finally made a 3-pointer in this series. Credit Keyon Dooling for ending the drought.

Third quarter, 7:32, Hawks 55, Celtics 46 -- After a huddle in which Doc had some animated words for his team, the Celtics continue to lose ground to the Hawks. Doesn't look like Doc's words had the immediate effect he'd wanted.

Third quarter, 9:44, Hawks 49, Celtics 43 -- The Hawks started out the third quarter on a 5-0 run, helped by some Pierce turnovers. Neither team looks particular sharp in their return to the court after the break.

Halftime, Hawks 44, Celtics 41 -- While the Celtics have to be disappointed that they didn't capitalize on two possessions at the end of the first half to cut the lead further, this is a FAR better showing than in Game 1, even without Rajon Rondo. Still no 3-pointers in the series for the Celtics, but Pierce had 16 points in the first half. (Of course, only three of those came in the second quarter.) For the Hawks, Jeff Teague has been having himself a nice night, leading Atlanta with 12 points in the half.

Second quarter, 4:22, Hawks 38, Celtics 34 -- It's now a 9-0 run for the Hawks, including the fourth of the team's 3-pointers tonight. The Celtics still have yet to hit a single three in the series. The Hawks are back to pushing the pace, and it has been tough for the Celtics to match them when they do that, as evidenced in the first quarter of Game 1.

Second quarter, 4:50, Hawks 36, Celtics 34 -- Jeff Teague, who already had a ridiculous block on a three attempt by Dooling earlier in the game, drains a three of his own to tie the score. The Hawks take the lead on a dunk by Josh Smith.

Second quarter, 8:58, Celtics 28, Hawks 27 -- The Celtics have been keeping pace with the Hawks in the second quarter, even with names on the court that one might not have expected. Ryan Hollins has a couple of rebounds, and Marquis Daniels and Sasha Pavlovic have been getting minutes, giving Pierce a rest on the bench.

End of first quarter, Celtics 24-Hawks 24 -- The Celtics have yet to make a 3-pointer in the first two games of this series. They were 0-for-11 in Game 1, and are 0-for-5 so far tonight.

But while that might be the bad news, the good news is the Celtics are playing a heck of a lot better than they did in Game 1. And Pierce is already having a huge game, with 13 points and four rebounds.

First quarter, 4:06, Hawks 17, Celtics 16 Just as we're seeing a different Paul Pierce so far tonight, we're also seeing a different Joe Johnson. Johnson had a horrible shooting performance in Game 1, and said repeatedly that he didn't feel like he needed to do anything differently -- other than make shots. So far he's making shots in Game 2. He's 3-for-5 for seven points, including a three. He went 0-for-9 from three-point range on Sunday.

First quarter, 5:15, Celtics 15, Hawks 14 -- Mickael Pietrus has three quick fouls in this game, which could be huge for the Celtics. Pavlovic is in the game now, but that was definitely something that the Celtics did not need, already down their most important guard.

First quarter, 10:28, Celtics 7, Hawks 4 -- This one already feels different, with Paul Pierce knocking down his first three shots for the Celtics (and a field goal), and looking pretty determined. Much of the offense should run through him tonight, so his performance will be huge.

Pregame -- The Hawks are being announced here at Philips Arena and there are quite a few empty seats. Josh Smith complained about those empty seats after Game 1, and it doesn't seem like anyone in Atlanta listened. Perhaps everyone is just at the concession stands?

It will be important to see how the Celtics come out of the gate in this one. They were overwhelmed by the Hawks almost immediately in Game 1, going down by a large margin early, in many ways losing the game in the first quarter. The Celtics looked rusty and didn't have any rhythm at the start of that game. We'll see how they come out in this one shortly.

End game, Hawks 83, Celtics 74 -- That's it for tonight from Atlanta, as the streamers rain down.

Fourth quarter, :41, Hawks 78, Celtics 74 -- The Celtics had closed the Hawks lead to 4 points, but then things came apart a bit. The Celtics clearly thought that was a jump ball, which led to Rondo bumping a ref. Rondo was ejected quickly.

That was not only a horrible display by Rondo with 41 seconds to go, it was also poorly timed and might have lasting consequences. Rondo could be suspended for that, which would be a killer for the Celtics.

Fourth quarter, 3:05, Hawks 76, Celtics 68 Leaving Jeff Teague open for three was apparently a bad idea. Deficit went from 5 to 8 points.

Fourth quarter, 5:19, Hawks 71, Celtics 65 -- Somehow, someway, the Celtics have cut the lead to 6 points on two KG free throws. That seems impossible, but it's what the scoreboard reads.

Fourth quarter, 7:09, Hawks 71, Celtics 59 -- Now that was a bad moment. Three Celtics were under the basket for a rebound, and somehow Tracy McGrady was able to come up with the rebound and the dunk.

Fourth quarter, 9:14, Hawks 67, Celtics 59 -- Well, there it is, folks. Finally. The Celtics had plenty of chances to cut the lead to less than 10 points, and they were finally able to convert. The lead is now 8 points with nine minutes to play and the Celtics fans in the building have started to get a wee bit louder.

End of the third quarter, Hawks 65, Celtics 53 -- Every time the Celtics could cut the score to a reasonable amount, they seem to miss a shot. It happened again at the end of the third quarter, when the Celtics could have finished the quarter down by 10. But, once again, Boston missed shots. The team can't see to cut it beyond 10 or 12 points.

Third quarter, 2:27, Hawks 64, Celtics 49 -- The Celtics just can't make a shot. It's 4 for 12 from Pierce, 3 for 12 from KG, and 4 for 12 from Bradley. That's not going to get it done.

Third quarter, 5:16, Hawks 60, Celtics 45 -- Kirk Hinrich keeps making those dagger threes (while the Celtics have yet to make a three at all), and Boston can't get the lead under 10 points.

Third quarter, 10:08, Hawks 52, Celtics 39 -- Rajon Rondo-to-KG for the dunk starts the quarter out well for the Celtics. Bass follows with his first shot attempt (and make) of the game. Of course, the Kirk Hinrich three takes a bit of the excitement away from the Celtics fans in the crowd.

Halftime, Hawks 49, Celtics 35 -- Some notable stats from the first half. Brandon Bass didn't attempt a shot. Bradley and KG went a combined 4 for 19 from the field. Josh Smith had 15 points and 11 rebounds. Rajon Rondo had just four assists, though leads the team with 12 points. The Celtics didn't make a three. The Hawils outrebounded the Celtics, 26-18. The Celtics have yet to lead even once. The Hawks' biggest lead was 19 points.

Halftime, Hawks 49, Celtics 35 -- It's a 14-point deficit for the Celtics at halftime, though it seems like it should be a lot larger than that. Boston missed a couple of shots at the end, by Avery Bradley and KG, which could have cut that lead further. But, to win this game, a different Celtics team needs to come out of the locker room. The Celtics shot just 37 percent in the half, to Atlanta's 49 percent.

Second quarter, 1:20, Hawks 46, Celtics 35 -- That's 8 straight points for the Celtics, who have cut the lead to 11.

Second quarter, 3:12, Hawks 46, Celtics 27 -- There's a timeout, and Philips Arena is jumping. Josh Smith leads the Hawks with 13 points and eight rebounds, and Joe Johnson has 9 points. The Celtics are being outrebounded 22-15.

Second quarter, 4:28, Hawks 44, Celtics 25 -- The lead is up to 19, with the Celtics shooting 36 percent from the floor. That's not going to get it done against a Hawks team that looks rested and ready to go. KG is 1 for 8 from the field.

Second quarter, 6:30, Hawks 40, Celtics 25 -- And the lead is back up to 15 points.

Second quarter, 9:24, Hawks 33, Celtics 24 -- The Celtics cut the deficit to 10 points on a drive to the basket by Keyon Dooling. Boston has looked a touch better in the first few minutes of the second quarter. Of course, the team looked pretty bad in the first quarter.

Second quarter, 10:20, Hawks 33, Celtics 20 -- Paul Pierce is back in the game, and doesn't seem to be having trouble with the knee that he hit in the last quarter.

End of the first quarter, Hawks 31, Celtics 18 -- It's been a horrendous quarter for the Celtics, who simply haven't executed on the offensive end. They have, meanwhile, allowed the Hawks to shoot 12 for 22. They've been outshot and outrebounded, as the lead got as high as 17 points (29-12). Kevin Garnett was one of the worst offenders for the Celtics, shooting 1-for-7 in the quarter. That's not going to get it done for Boston.

First quarter, 3:15 Hawks 25, Celtics 12 -- It's a 13-point lead for Atlanta, and the Celtics just do not look like they're in rhythm at all. Paul Pierce just came off the court limping slightly after appearing to hit his knee. He's now sitting on the bench.

First quarter, 6:50, Hawks 20, Celtics 6 -- The Hawks have started out 8 of 11 from the floor, including three 3-pointers. That kind of shooting won't last, but the Celtics also have to mount some sort of offense -- and soon.

First quarter, 7:05, Hawks 18, Celtics 6 -- The Hawks are out to a quick lead, and the Celtics haven't helped themselves by missing shots. Kirk Hinrich has two 3-pointers to lead the Hawks with 6 points, and the crowd is really getting into it, despite a number of empty seats.

Pregame -- Much of the talk before tonight's game has been about who won't be on the court. Ray Allen is out for Game 1 for the Celtics, and Zaza Pachulia and Al Horford won't play for the Hawks. That leaves the Hawks without their top two centers, and it leaves the Celtics without their best shooter. It also makes the continued impressive play of Avery Bradley all the more important for Boston.

We just got through the national anthem, and the starters are being announced right now. Lots of boos for the Celtics.

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

Here is the schedule for the Celtics-Hawks series beginning Sunday at 7 p.m. at Atlanta's Philips Arena:

Game 1 - Sun April 29 at ATL 7:00PM on TNT
Game 2 - Tue May 1 at ATL 7:30PM on NBA TV
Game 3 - Fri May 4 at BOS 7:30PM on ESPN2
Game 4 - Sun May 6 at BOS 7:00PM on TNT
Game 5 * Tue May 8 at ATL time and TV TBD (if necessary)
Game 6 * Thu May 10 at BOS time and TV TBD (if necessary)
Game 7 * Sat May 12 at ATL time at TV TBD (if necessary)

Final:Celtics 87-74 The Celtics cruised after the first quarter as all 13 players got minutes. Rajon Rondo had 15 assists in 25 minutes while Avery Bradley lead the balanced scoring effort with 14 points. The Celtics are likely headed to Atlanta for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round on Sunday.

End of third quarter, Celtics 78-61: The benches have been cleared and the Celtics are cruising to a season-ending win. Avery Bradley has 14 points, Paul Pierce added 12 in just six minutes while Rajon Rondo has 15 assists to extend his streak of 10 or more to 24 games. Ryan Hollins has 9 points and five rebounds off the bench.

Halftime, Celtics 60-42: Paul Pierce returns and scored 7 more points after being called "doubtful" to return wotj a sprained left big toe. That's a good sign for the Celtics. Rajon Rondo extended his streak to 24 games with at least 10 assists with 12 in the first half. Brandon Jennings has 10 for Milwaukee.

Second quarter, 4:56, Celtics 45-33: The Celtics are beginning to pull away but the Hawks are beating the Mavericks soundly so it may not matter. Kevin Garnett is visibly rusty, having missed his first five shots, but he is using the game to get his rhythm back. Paul Pierce is out with a sprained left big toe.

Second quarter, 9:02, Celtics 34-20: The Celtics on a 13-2 run to begin the quarter as shots are beginning to fall and Doc Rivers has already used 11 players. Mickael Pietrus and Ryan Hollins each has 7 points while Avery Bradley has 6.

End of first quarter, Celtics 21-18: Celtics lost steam when Paul Pierce left with a sprained big toe as the Bucks scored the final 4 points of the quarter. Mickael Pietrus has 7 points while Rajon Rondo has six assists. Ekpe Udoh has 6 points for Milwaukee.

First quarter, 2:28, Celtics 21-16: Rajon Rondo already has six assists but the Celtics will have to go the rest of the game without Paul Pierce, who left with a sprained left big toe. It doesn't appear serious. He initially jammed the toe on April 14 against the New Jersey Nets.

First quarter, 9:00, Celtics 8-4: Paul Pierce already has 5 points in his matchup but just headed back to the locker room, followed by team doctor Brian McKeon. The injury didn't look serious, he walked back to the locker room on his own.

LeBron James (left) sits on the bench with Chris Bosh during the first half.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Final: Celtics 78, Heat 66: The Celtics defeated the Miami Heat, 78-66, tonight at TD Garden, winning a game in which both sides chose to rest key players.

In the absence of starters Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo, Sasha Pavlovic scored 16 points for the Celtics. Boston can still clinch homecourt advantage in the playoffs with a win Thursday and a Hawks loss vs. Dallas.

Miami rested LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh in the loss.

4:44 4th quarter, Celtics 65-56 Sasha Pavlovic with a big 3-pointer from the corner to give the Celtics a little breathing room. Pavlovic has 11 points on 5 of 8 shooting.

8:29 4th quarter, Celtics 56-52 Sean Williams with the rebound and the putback. On the other end, Williams swats a Juwan Howard offering into the stands.

END 3d quarter, Tied at 50 A basketball game is breaking out.

1:35 3d quarter, Tied at 46 First tie of the game for the Celtics. We may see overtime. Will we see either team top 75 points?

3:54 3d quarter, Heat 46-42 An 8-2 run by the Celtics has them in this game. Will the Celtics top their season-low of 71 points?

7:59 3d quarter, Heat 44-34 Paul Pierce starts the second half. Keyon Dooling has also returned.

Halftime, Heat 34-28: Not much to redeem this first half. Paul Pierce could be done for the night after scoring four points in 11 minutes. His effort will not earn him the NBA scoring title.

4:22 2d quarter, Heat 26-23: Keyon Dooling leaves the game holding a towel to his face. Dooling screams a few curse words after he walks into the tunnel and toward the locker room.

6:38 2d quarter, Heat 23-18: James Jones killed the Celtics with 3-point shooting in Game 1 of the teams' playoff series last year. He just made a three here. Not quite as big of a deal.

11:11 2d quarter, Heat 17-13: Former BC center Sean Williams checks in and gets to the line. Wiliams is built like an NBA big man. Who knows, maybe he can give the Celtics some frontcourt depth.

END 1st quarter, Heat 17-10: You knew it wouldn't be pretty, but this is dismal. If it makes you feel any better, Josh Beckett started pitching to Justin Morneau with about four minutes to go in the first quarter of this game and just now put him on base with a walk.

So I guess this is less worse?

3:02 1st quarter, Heat 13-6: Paul Pierce has five turnovers already. The Celtics' season-low for points in a quarter is 12. Doubtful they make it.

5:48 1st quarter, Heat 11-2: Paul Pierce with the spin-o-rama jumper for two points. The drought is over.

6:41 1st quarter, Heat 9-0: This is what happens when Rajon Rondo doesn't play. Avery Bradley isn't exactly showing he can be a point guard at the moment. Celtics are 0-for-7 with four turnovers.

8:17 1st quarter, Miami 5-0: Not sure how the Celtics are going to score with this unit if Paul Pierce is off on his jumpers. How's it going to happen?

Pregame: This one isn't likely to be replayed on Hardwood Classics anytime soon. Most of the stars are out for both teams, though Paul Pierce is playing. No one let any Heat players go near Brandon Bass. Wondering if we'll see some flashes from JaJuan Johnson ...

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Paul Pierce, Avery Bradley, Sasha Pavlovic, Brandon Bass, and Ryan Hollins will start for the Celtics tonight against Miami. That means that Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Greg Stiemsma are sitting.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Allen and Rondo would have been out tonight regardless of the team resting players. Rondo warmed up before the game with an ice pack on his lower back, while Allen is still nursing an ankle injury. Rivers also said that Garnett came to him and told him he wouldn't mind sitting because of a hip flexor injury.

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Ronny Turiaf are all out for the Heat.

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

Basketball games during the last week of the NBA season aren't rational. They don't follow the form of the games we've come to expect throughout the year. We may see LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo tonight. We may not. Regardless, the Celtics already proved they could play with the Heat with two wins over Miami last month. Tonight is not the night to make statements. It's a night to avoid injuries and get some run for players who might not normally crack the rotation.

Here are the details for tonight's game:

Tip-off: 8 p.m.
Records: Celtics (37-27), Heat (46-18)
Broadcast info: TNT, WRKO/680 AM (Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell)

Probable starters:

Celtics:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Avery Bradley
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Brandon Bass
C: Kevin Garnett

Heat:
PG: Mario Chalmers
SG: Norris Cole
SF: LeBron James
PF: Udonis Haslem
C: Dexter Pittman

Story lines:

Allen's ankle: We're not likely to see Ray Allen tonight or Thursday, and while that might not be an issue normally, it could effect the Celtics going into the playoffs. Avery Bradley seems entrenched in the starting rotation, and Allen's role off the bench could use some final tweaking. It'll be interesting to see what the Celtics do with the shooting guard rotation in the playoffs, particularly against the Hawks' Joe Johnson.

Homecourt advantage: Speaking of the playoffs, the Celtics will be the East's fourth seed, but they're still battling Atlanta for home court advantage. The team that finishes with the better record will earn home court. The Hawks are one game up on the Celtics at 38-26.

Matchup unlikely: It looked for a while that the Celtics and Heat were on track to meet in the second round of the playoffs. But the Pacers secured the No. 3 seed in the conference, and the Celtics and Heat are now unlikely to meet until the conference finals, if both teams get that far. Miami can still claim the No. 1 seed if they win their final two games and the Bulls lose their last two, but that seems unlikely.

Final: Hawks 97-92: Too much Joe Johnson and Josh Smith down the stretch but Atlanta coach Larry Drew was forced to reinsert the duo after the Celtics cut the lead to 4 in the final five minutes. Avery Bradley finished with a career-high 28 points.

Fourth quarter, 32.3, Hawks 94-88: It looks like the Hawks are going to hold on as Josh Smith tipped in his own miss following the Celtics missing two shots that could have cut the margin to 2. Joe Johnson has 30 points for Atlanta and Josh Smith with 19.

Fourth quarter, 2:07, Hawks 87-86: It's become exciting here at Philips Arena as the Celtics keep cutting the deficit to a point only to allow a big Atlanta bucket. Marquis Daniels has a season-high 12 points.

Fourth quarter, 5:44, Hawks 82-78: The Celtics have had numerous chances to go ahead and they just missed three shots on the previous possession only to watch Willie Green respond with a 3-pointer for a 4-point lead. The Celtics are playing harder and actually better than the Hawks, which have iced Joe Johnson and Josh Smith for the night apparently.

Fourth quarter, 8:27, Hawks 77-76: The Celtics are fighting and were a Marquis Daniels' 3-pointer from taking the lead but it rimmed out. Avery Bradley has a career-high 28 points while Keyon Dooling has 13. Those are the lone Celtics in double figures. Joe Johnson has 25 for Atlanta.

End of third quarter, Hawks 74-71: Celtics go on a 10-0 run near the end of the quarter to get within 1 point and now we have a real game entering the fourth quarter. It's the Avery Bradley show as he has scored a career-high 28 points on 12-for-20 shooting while eight other Celtics have scored, including rookie E'Twaun Moore with a key 3-pointer near the end of the quarter.

Third quarter, 2:41, Hawks 72-63: Avery Bradley has a career-high 26 points as he is carrying the Celtics in the third quarter. Keyon Dooling still has 10 points while Marquis Daniels has 7. Joe Johnson has 25 points while Josh Smith has 15. The Celtics are getting out-rebounded 31-18.

Third quarter, 8:34, Hawks 62-54: The Celtics sliced the deficit to 4 with the first 5 points of the half but Doc Rivers angrily called a timeout after two consecutive Atlanta baskets. Avery Bradley has 22 for the Celtics while Joe Johnson has 25 for Atlanta.

Halftime, Hawks 58-49: It's been a run-n-gun game so far, with neither team interested in playing defense. The difference is the Hawks are playing with an all-star in Joe Johnson, who leads all scorers with 23 points on 9-for-12 shooting and five assists. Josh Smith has 10 for Atlanta. Avery Bradley has 17 points on 8-for-13 shooting, 6 points short of tying his career high. Keyon Dooling has been solid with 10 points in a starting role.

Second quarter, 3:03, Hawks 52-42: The Celtics are hanging in there but they still can't stop the Hawks, who are shooting 66.7 percent and Joe Johnson already has 19 points. The Celtics are just trying to stay close and perhaps make a second-half run. Avery Bradley has 15 points.

Second quarter, 8:15, Hawks 38-31: If anything the Celtics are being competitive and beginning to play defense. They can't stop the Hawks big men but they are making a solid effort to stop the Hawks outside shooters. Avery Bradley has 12 points for Boston.

End of first quarter, Hawks 34-27: Defense is optional in this rag-tag game but the Celtics are hanging in thanks to 12 first-quarter points from Avery bradley and 59.1 percent shooting. The Hawks look as disheveled defensively as the Celtics but they are playing their regulars. Joe Johnson has 12 points and Josh Smith has 8.

First quarter, 1:38, Hawks 32-23: The Celtics aren't playing any defense and the Hawks have converted 13 of their first 19 shots and Jason Collins has 7 points. Joe Johnson leads Atlanta with 12 as the Hawks are just fastbreaking and getting easy layups. Avery Bradley has 10 for the Celtics and Keyon Dooling has 5.

First quarter, 7:22, Hawks 16-7: Celtics are playing against the Atlanta first team and they are looking ragged, allowing the Hawks to run off the last 6 points. Keyon Dooling has a 3-pointer in his starting role at shooting guard. Josh Smith has 6 points and Joe Johnson 5.

Final: Celtics 102-98: Paul Pierce is the hero here, hitting two free throws with 2.9 seconds left to ice the game and at least a tie for the Atlantic Division title. Pierce finished with 29 points and 14 assists and has scored 72 points in the past two games.

Fourth quarter, 7.6, Celtics 100-96: After a Glen Davis steal and dunk, Paul Pierce counters with a jumper.

Fourth quarter, 46.6, Celtics 98-94: Kevin Garnett hits one of two free throws to extend the lead to 6 but J.J. Redick hits a slicing layup to make it 98-94. After a Garnett miss, Redick then loses the ball in the key and Garnett gobbles it up and calls a timeout. Celtics ball.

Fourth quarter, 1:41, Celtics 97-92: After the Magic cut the lead to 93-92 on two Ryan Anderson free throws, the Celtics respond with a Paul Pierce jumper and then a putback of a Pierce airball by Brandon Bass, who has 21 points against his former team. Pierce has 25 points, 14 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals. Glen Davis has 25 for the Magic.

Fourth quarter, 3:03, Celtics 92-90: The Celtics have just 1 point in the past 4:14 and the Magic have been slowly chipping away at the lead. A Jameer Nelson streaking layup has made this interesting.

Fourth quarter, 5:25, Celtics 91-84: Orlando is not going away easily. Former Celtic Von Wafer has scored 4 points of a 6-0 run and the Celtics need a couple of more baskets. It is been a solid performance but the Celtics have been sloppy with the ball at times.

Fourth quarter, 7:05, Celtics 91-78: E'Twaun Moore has just drained a 3-pointer after Keyon Dooling canned a 3-ball and the Celtics' bench is beginning to produce in what could be an important game. Avery Bradley and Paul Pierce each have 22 points. Greg Stiemsma has four blocked shots.

End of third quarter, Celtics 79-70: A 10-0 run in the past 2:30 has given the Celtics some cushion in what has been a solid offensive night without Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, and Mickael Pietrus. Paul Pierce has a career-best 14 assists in addition to 22 points while Avery Bradley also has 22. Glen Davis has 20 in 23 minutes for Orlando.

Third quarter, 2:46, Magic 70-69: Orlando is killing the Celtics on the offensive boards, the Magic have 12 offensive rebounds, including five from Ryan Anderson, who has scored two putbacks in the past three minutes.

Third quarter, 7:37, Celtics 64-59: The Celtics are off to a solid start in the third quarter and Paul Pierce is one assist short of tying his career high of 13. He also has 15 points while Avery Bradley has 20 on 9-for-11 shooting. Glen Davis may not score 50 but he has made his point with 20 points on 10-for-13 shooting.

Halftime, Celtics 55-51: Celtics led by as many as 11 but Jameer Nelson got hot and hit three 3-pointers during a second-quarter run. Paul Pierce is playing the role of distributor with 11 assists, two short of his career high. Avery Bradley leads the Celtics with 17 points. Glen Davis has 16 for Orlando.

Second quarter, 5:05, Celtics 41-33: The Celtics are making due with a makeshift lineup and Marquis Daniels has 4 points off the bench. But the starters have been the big contributors so far. Avery Bradley has 11 points and Kevin Garnett 10. Glen Davis leads all scorers with 14 points.

Second quarter, 9:28, Celtics 37-26: There are some interesting lineups on the floor for both teams and Marquis Daniels just followed his miss for his first hoop of the game. Defense is optional tonight as both teams are shooting over 50 percent.

End of first quarter, Celtics 33-22: Celtics end the quarter on a 5-0 run and shot a stunning 74 percent (14 for 19) in the quarter with Avery Bradley leading the way with 11 points and Paul Pierce adding 7 points and eight assists. Glen Davis has 10 for for Orlando.

First quarter, 2:49, Celtics 23-20: Glen Davis is trying to make his desire to score 50 points true as he has 10 already and appears to be determined to make his point. Avery Bradley has 8 points for the Celtics, who are shooting 71 percent. Jameer Nelson and J.J. Redick each have three assists.

First quarter, 5:52, Celtics 17-12: Glen Davis scored Orlando's first 6 points and he is definitely on a mission to prove the Celtics made a mistake by trading him. Paul Pierce has 7 for the Celtics, a night after tallying 43 at New York. Avery Bradley has 6 for the Celtics and has played strong defense against Jameer Nelson.

Final: Knicks 118-110: When Steve Novak and J.R. Smith combine for 50 points and 15 3-pointers, you know it's going to be a long night. And the Celtics paid for their porous defensive first half despite Paul Pierce's 43 points.

Fourth quarter, 3:00, Knicks 112-106: The Knicks are trying to hang but Paul Pierce has been magnificent with 43 points, including 31 in the second half.

Fourth quarter, 8:31, Knicks 103-92: Paul Pierce has the last 8 Celtics points and 37 for the game. He needs a couple of more baskets to make this interesting. The Knicks are shooting 61 percent but have just two 3-pointers in the second half after 14 in the first. Carmelo Anthony is two assists away from a triple double.

End of third quarter, Knicks 96-84: Paul Pierce scored 17 points in the quarter but he needs help if the Celtics are going to rally. The Knicks hit 14 3-pointers in the first half and one in the third quarter. But the Celtics can't stop the pick-and-roll as Tyson Chandler has 18 points on 8-for-9 shooting.

Third quarter, 2:02, Knicks 90-77: The Celtics are slowly climbing back but they need to be near perfect to make a dramatic rally in this one. After 14 3-pointers in the first half, the Knicks have just one in the quarter while Paul Pierce has 14 points in the quarter and is trying to make the comeback himself. Rajon Rondo took a hard fall on his tailbone but was able to return.

Third quarter, 7:49, Knicks 81-64: The Celtics are trying to hang in there and the Knicks have only hit one 3-pointer so far and now have 15 for the game. Rajon Rondo just took a hard spill on his tailbone going for a rebound but was able to get up and walk to the bench on his own. Unsure if he will return.

Halftime, Knicks 72-53: The Knicks put on some kind of shooting display, draining 11 3-pointers in the second quarter to the amazement of the fans at MSG that went crazy after every shot. J.R. Smith and Steve Novak combined for 34 points on 11-for-15 3-point shooting as the Knicks are shooting 63.4 percent. The Celtics shot 54.5 percent but somehow that means little at this point.

Second quarter, 4:30, Knicks 54-37: The Knicks are shooting nearly 65 percent and have already hit nine 3-pointers as they try to bury the Celtics in the first half. J.R. Smith has 15 points off the bench while Carmelo Anthony has 17. Rajon Rondo has 10 points and six assists for the Celtics.

Second quarter, 9:07, Knicks 40-26: New York is on an 18-0 run as the Celtics can't seem to get a good shot and J.R. Smith is busy draining 3-pointers. He has four during this run as the Knicks are shooting 62.5 percent. The Celtics are just trying to avoid being buried but they haven't scored since the 2:24 mark of the first quarter.

First quarter, 1:51, Celtics 26-24: The Celtics are shooting 63 percent but they can't stop Carmelo Anthony or Tyson Chandler and that's bad news. The two have combined for 16 points on 7-for-9 shooting. Avery Bradley has 8 points for the Celtics while Rajon Rondo has 5 points and five assists.

First quarter, 5:14, Celtics 17-13: Carmelo Anthony already has 8 points as the Knicks are killing the Celtics on the pick-and-roll and Anthony is drawing fouls. Not a good sign for the Celtics. All five Celtics have scored.

First quarter, 9:00, Celtics 9-4: Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley have canned 3-pointers and the Celtics are off to a strong start without Ray Allen and Mickael Pietrus. Rondo already has two assists.

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

NEW YORK -- A few hours after telling reporters he was ready to return tonight against the New York Knicks, Ray Allen was a late scratch because his right ankle began causing discomfort during the afternoon. Tonight will be the fifth game Allen has missed with the sore ankle.

“It didn’t flare up, as far as the movement and mobility from this morning, it wasn’t to my liking,” Allen said. “I couldn’t get the pushing off that I wanted so I got to let it kind of relax a little bit more before I get back out there.”

Mickael Pietrus (right knee) was also out and sent back to Boston for further examination. Celtics coach Doc Rivers said playing Pietrus in three games in three nights likely led to his knee discomfort.

Both Allen and Pietrus are uncertain for Wednesday's home game against the Orlando Magic.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

The Celtics can clinch the Atlantic Division title with a win tonight over the Knicks and with a Sixers loss at home to Indiana. A win guarantees the Celtics a top-four seed in the playoffs. With a 4-5-game lead on both the Sixers and Knicks with five games to play, clinching the division appears to be a formality. It also appears to be a formality that with a three-game lead, Indiana will beat out the Celtics for the No. 3 seed. It's always fun to beat the Knicks, though.

Here are the details for tonight's game:

Tip-off: 8 p.m.
Records: Celtics (36-25), Knicks (31-29)
Broadcast info: TNT, WEEI 93.7 FM/850 AM (Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell)

Probable starters:

Celtics:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Avery Bradley
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Brandon Bass
C: Kevin Garnett

Knicks:
PG: Baron Davis
SG: Iman Shumpert
SF: Landry Fields
PF: Carmelo Anthony
C: Tyson Chandler

Storylines:

Allen's back: Ray Allen says he'll play tonight, and Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are likely to play after taking Sunday night off vs. Charlotte. Allen's the one we'll be watching. Will he move effectively? Will his jumper be true? It'll be interesting to see how the Celtics hone the rotation between Allen and Avery Bradley as we approach the playoffs.

Big man rotation: It's amazing what the Celtics have done with essentially three big men. Garnett, Bass, and Greg Stiemsma have played great as the Celtics have gone 13-4 in the last month. Will that depth eventually catch up to them?

Rondo's streak: Rajon Rondo has recorded double-digit assists in 22 consecutive games. Remarkable.

Final: Celtics 94-82: The Celtics win ugly, pulling away with a 16-8 run to end the game after Charlotte sliced the lead to 8 with 6:55 left. Rajon Rondo played 43 minutes and collected 20 points and 16 assists while Brandon Bass and Avery Bradley each tallied 22 points. Gerald Henderson led the Bobcats with 22 points while Derrick Brown added 15.

Fourth quarter, 2:30, Celtics 88-76: A 10-2 run has essentially sealed this game and all the Celtics need to do now is stay healthy and get out of Charlotte. Brandon Bass and Avery Bradley each have 22 points while Rajon Rondo has 20 points and 15 assists in 41 minutes. Sasha Pavlovic has seven rebounds in 16 minutes as the Celtics are winning the rebounding battle.

Fourth quarter, 5:29, Celtics 81-74: Avery Bradley has 22 points and just canned a big 3-pointer to extend the lead back to 7. Rajon Rondo needs four rebounds for a triple double. Brandon Bass has 20 points on 8-for-18 shooting and seven rebounds. Gerald Henderson has 16 points for Charlotte.

End of third quarter, Celtics 73-67: The Bobcats remain within striking distance because the Celtics are missing shots and making silly defensive mistakes. But Brandon Bass has been sparkling with 20 points and six rebounds while Rajon Rondo has played 32 minutes already and has 16 points and 13 assists.

Third quarter, 2:38, Celtics 69-63: The Celtics are playing decently without the Big Three but they keep fouling and sending the Bobcats to the free throw line.

Third quarter, 5:51, Celtics 64-57: The Celtics are a strong run from putting this one on ice but they can't seem to put together consistent offensive possessions. Greg Stiemsma had no fouls in the first half and four in the first 6:09 of the third quarter.

Halftime, Celtics 52-49: The Bobcats score the last 6 points of the half and are making it interesting after the Celtics led by as many as 12. Rajon Rondo played all 24 minutes of the first half and collected 16 points with 11 assists, his 21st consecutive game with at least 10 assists. Brandon Bass has 11 points and Avery Bradley has 9. Gerald Henderson has 12 for Charlotte and DJ White has 10.

Second quarter, 2:45, Celtics 48-41: The Celtics are keeping the Bobcats close with their mistakes and missed shots but they have played well overall without the Big Three. Rajon Rondo is one assist from a double-double with 16 points and nine assists while Brandon Bass has 11 points and five rebounds.

Second quarter, 7:17, Celtics 42-32: The Celtics aren't exactly playing great ball, but they don't need to against the Bobcats. The reserves are faring well but Rajon Rondo and Brandon Bass have combined for 24 points as the Celtics are shooting 58.6 percent. Gerald Henderson and DJ White each have 8 for Charlotte.

End of first quarter, Celtics 34-23: Celtics end the quarter on a 24-8 run as Rajon Rondo is on triple-double watch with 12 points, 7 assists and 2 rebounds. Brandon Bass has 10 points as the Celtics shot 61.9 percent. Greg Stiemsma has three blocked shots in nine minutes.

First quarter, 5:08, Tied at 15: As expected, this game is ragged from the start with both teams just running the ball up the court and taking the first shot available. Greg Stiemsma already has three blocked shots, two on the same possession. DJ White has 6 points for Charlotte.

Final: Celtics 94-82: A solid response after Friday's debacle in Toronto, the Celtics get a tough win by allowing just 34 points in the second half. Kevin Garnett finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds and Avery Bradley collected his first multiple 3-pointer game of the season.

Fourth quarter, 4:32, Celtics 84-67: The question now is when does coach Doc Rivers pull his starters in preparation for Sunday's game at Charlotte. Kevin Garnett, after a 21-point, 12-rebound performance is already on the bench. Paul Pierce has 17 for Boston while Rajon Rondo has 14 assists and no turnovers since the first quarter.

End of third quarter, Celtics 74-61: A 9-0 run to begin the quarter and three consecutive Avery Bradley 3-pointers has created some distance but the Celtics can't relax now. They have been grinding all night offensively but the defense has been stellar. The Nets are 15-for-46 shooting since the first quarter.

Third quarter, 2:57, Celtics 69-57: The Celtics are beginning to consistently knock down shots and Avery Bradley just drained two 3-pointers from the same spot to extend the lead. The Celtics are 9-for-19 shooting in the period, the Nets are 4 of 18.

Third quarter, 8:17, Celtics 55-48: The Celtics are working overtime to get their points. They missed their first five shots of the period but are asserting themselves defensively and causing turnovers. Both teams played last night so fatigue could become a factor. Kevin Garnett has 15 points.

Halftime, Tied at 48: The Celtics were this close to taking a 3-point lead into the break but Gerald Green hit a desperation 31-footer to tie the score. The Celtics' defense is beginning to play well but you wonder if fatigue will set in. Jordan Williams and Green each have 8 points for New Jersey while Kevin Garnett has 13 and Paul Pierce and Brandon Bass 12 each.

Second quarter, 2:45, Celtics 40-38: The Celtics have finally shown up on defense, holding the Nets to 5-for-15 shooting in the quarter and Rajon Rondo has taken better care of the ball. But it seemed like they were down by 15 and they have worked so hard to rally to take a 2-point lead. Kevin Garnett has 11 points and Paul Pierce 10.

Second quarter, 8:20, Nets 32-30: The Celtics are using Avery Bradley at point guard and the turnovers are down and the ball is moving. Kevin Garnett is enjoying his matchup with Johan Petro. He has 11 points while Paul Pierce has 7.

End of first quarter, Nets 28-22: A shabby performance so far for the Celtics, especially on defense. The Nets shot 63.2 percent (12 for 19) in the quarter, including three layups from Jordan Williams. Rajon Rondo is off to one of his mercurial games with four assists, four turnovers, and two missed free throws.

First quarter, 1:42, Nets 26-20: Another bizarre performance so far by the Celtics, who allowed the Nets to go on a 12-1 run while they look passive and lethargic. Rookie Jordan Williams has 6 points, all on layups after dribble penetration. The Celtics need some defensive adjustments as New Jersey is shooting 68.8 percent (11 of 16).

First quarter, 6:13, Celtics 13-12: The Celtics are playing with more energy than last night but the defense has been subpar so far with Kris Humphries and DeShawn Stevenson combining for 9 points.

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

NEWARK -- The Celtics are coming off perhaps their worst performance of the season and tonight will be another challenge since their bus needed 86 minutes to get here from Manhattan and didn't arrive until 6:30. The players have rushed to get warmed up, so let's see if their tardy arrival affects their play.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Ray Allen will miss Sunday's game at Charlotte and is "50-50" for Tuesday's game against the New York Knicks. He said the injury is not considered serious but it's a matter of getting the swelling down in the right ankle.

STARTING LINEUPS

BOSTON CELTICS (34-25)

PG Rajon Rondo
SG Avery Bradley
SF Paul Pierce
PF Brandon Bass
C Kevin Garnett

INACTIVES: Jermaine O'Neal, Ray Allen

NEW JERSEY NETS (22-38)

PG Deron Williams
SG MarShon Brooks
SF DeShawn Stevenson
PF Kris Humphries
C Shelden Williams

INACTIVES: Damion James, Brook Lopez

OFFICIALS: Jason Phillips, Matt Boland, Brian Forte

Final score, Raptors 84-79 : DeMar DeRozan and Linas Kleiza clinched the win with eight successive foul shots in the final 28 seconds.

Fourth quarter, :18.6, Raptors 80-77 : The Celtics called a timeout after DeMar DeRozan's two free throws.

Fourth quarter, :38.8, Raptors 76-75: The Celtics got a turnover off a full-court press, then Paul Pierce's 3-point play cut the deficit to 1.

Fourth quarter, 4:01, Raptors 72-62: The Celtics seem to be finally waking up. But it might be too late. Alan Anderson's 4-point play gave the Raptors a 72-57 edge with 5:56 left.

End of third quarter, Raptors 57-47: Paul Pierce's 3-pointer cut the Celtics' deficit to 7 points with 1:24 remaining. But that was only Pierce's second field goal of the game. Rajon Rondo had nine assists, one away from completing his 20th successive double-figure assist game, but was also scoreless and had zero rebounds.

Third quarter, 2:53, Raptors 51-42: The Celtics seemed lethargic offensively, settling for perimeter jumpers. After Brandon Bass hit a jumper 51 seconds into the half, the Celtics scored only once in the next 6:55 before Avery Bradley's follow cut the deficit to 49-42 with 4:14 remaining in the quarter.

Third quarter, 5:17, Raptors 47-40: Toronto started the half with a 17-4 run over 6:41.

End of first half, Celtics 34-28: The Celtics struggled to find an offensive rhythm but held the Raptors to 9 for 39 (23.1 percent) shooting. The Raptors outscored the Celtics, 13-4, over a 7:19 span before Kevin Garnett dunked following a timeout just before the buzzer.

Second quarter, 2:08, Celtics 34-26: The Celtic starters returned midway through the quarter. Toronto was shooting 22.2 percent (8 for 36) from the field.

Second quarter, 5:54, Celtics 30-22: The Celtics went 11 deep by early in the quarter in an attempt to rest the starters.

Second quarter, 8:04, Celtics 29-17: Rajon Rondo totaled seven assists in the opening quarter.

By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff

TORONTO -- Ray Allen missed his second successive game with a sore right ankle and will "probably" not be with the Celtics for Saturday's visit to New Jersey, according to coach Doc Rivers.

The Celtics have found a winning combination with the Avery Bradley-Rajon Rondo backcourt -- they have a 9-1 record with this starting lineup.

STARTING LINEUPS

BOSTON CELTICS (34-24)

PG Rajon Rondo
SG Avery Bradley
SF Paul Pierce
PF Brandon Bass
C Kevin Garnett

INACTIVES: Ray Allen, Jermaine O'Neal

TORONTO RAPTORS (20-39)

PG Ben Uzoh
SG DeMar DeRozan
SF Alan Anderson
PF Amir Johnson
C Aaron Gray

INACTIVES: Andrea Bargnani, Jerryd Bayless

OFFICIALS: Rodney Mott, Tommy Nunez Jr., Derrick Stafford.

Final in overtime, Celtics 88-86 That's the fourth straight win for the Celtics, who are serving notice that they'll be a force in the playoffs. Beating the Heat and Hawks on back to back nights in different cities was an impressive feat for Boston, which also welcomed back Mickael Pietrus. The Celtics are now headed out on the road. Toronto is up first.

Overtime, Celtics 88-86, 10.1 seconds The officials are really hearing the boos here at the Garden, after they just called an offensive foul on Pierce that gave the ball back to the Hawks with 10 seconds left. They didn't much like a couple of foul calls on Stiemsma either, including the one that ended his night. The call on Pierce was maybe the fourth straight that left the Celtics unhappy.

Overtime, Celtics 88-84, 3:07 Rondo now has 20 assists, as the Celtics go up by 4 on the Hawks. Boston got in late from Miami last night, so I can't imagine overtime is making those tired legs feel any better. Still, the Celtics are ahead right now.

End of regulation, 84-84 We're headed to overtime, as the Hawks couldn't convert on their final possession with five seconds to go in the game.

Fourth quarter, Celtics 77-76, 5:01 Not only did those 2 points for Rondo give the Celtics the lead, but they also gave the PG a triple double. Rondo has 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 16 assists. It's his sixth this year, and 19th in his career (including the playoffs).

Fourth quarter, Hawks 76-73, 5:52 The Hawks are on an 8-1 run, giving them a 5-point lead over the Celtics.

Fourth quarter, Celtics 72-68, 9:34 This is a game that certainly might have Pietrus doing the Dougie afterward, the dance he said he felt well enough to do before the game. Pietrus just hit a 3-pointer to give the Celtics a 4-point lead, and the arena went wild.

Fourth quarter, Celtics 69-68, 11:17 Pietrus gives the Celtics back the lead, earning him a monster cheer from the crowd. He has 5 points and three rebounds in his 16 minutes.

Third quarter, Hawks 68-67, 46.6 seconds So much for that 5-10 minute estimate for Pietrus. He's now at more than 14 minutes in the game. Must be feeling good for Doc Rivers to up his minutes in this game. Rondo just converted two free throws to cut the lead to just 1. Rondo has 8 points, 8 rebounds, and 14 assists. Triple double watch is on.

Third quarter, Hawks 60-55, 5:50 The 14 turnovers sure aren't helping the Celtics, who can't quite seem to get the lead back against the Hawks. Of course, Atlanta isn't opening up the game either. A Bass bucket just cut the deficit to 5, on Rondo's 11th assist of the night.

Halftime, Hawks 48-40 Bass (13 points) and Garnett (12) are leading the Celtics against the Hawks, who have gotten big contributions from Teague (11) and Smith (12). The Celtics are shooting 47.4 percent to 46.7 for the Hawks. That includes a 1-for-10 mark from behind the arc for Atlanta. Rondo has seven assists at the half.

Second quarter, Hawks 43-40, 2:46 This is a tough back-to-back for the Celtics, having played in Miami Tuesday night, and going against a rested Hawks team. The Celtics are keeping up, though, trailing by 3 points with less than three minutes to play in the half.

End of the first quarter, Celtics 26-25 It's shaping up as another good shooting night for Brandon Bass. He's scored 10 points in the first quarter, on 5-of-6 shooting. He also has three rebounds so far. For the Hawks, Teague (9 points) and Josh Smith (10) have been carrying the scoring load.

First quarter, Hawks 23-18, 3:22 Mickael Pietrus just got a standing ovation from the crowd upon entering the game. It's the first game action for the swingman since he suffered a Grade III concussion on March 23 against Philadelphia. Doc Rivers said Pietrus was likely to play between five and 10 minutes in the game.

First quarter, Hawks 13-6, 8:19 In a preview of what could be a first-round playoff matchup, the Hawks have come out scoring. Their lead got as big as 9 points, with the Celtics closing the gap a bit.

By Amalie Benjamin, Globe Staff

Mickael Pietrus will return to the Celtics tonight after a two-week absence due to a concussion. He won't play that many minutes, perhaps five to 10, according to Doc Rivers, but the fact that he's back demonstrates significant improvement from when he suffered the injury.

Rivers said he thought there was a chance that Pietrus would be out for the rest of the season.

"He's been cleared," Rivers said. "He worked out yesterday. This is good for him to ease him in instead of just throwing him in. So that's how we're going to do it. The sooner we can get him on the floor, the better. All the doctors have cleared him. Once I hear that, he's ready to play."

Pietrus was grateful when talking to reporters.

"I'm very happy to get a chance to play," he said. "I'm very blessed to play from where I came from. It wasn't easy for me. It's been a very tough two weeks, but hopefully I'll be able to help my team again."

Pietrus said he always stayed positive and tried to take the time necessary to get back. Knowing that the playoffs are coming soon, he said he wanted to get into a rhythm before they started. He has gotten a chance to go one-on-one, but won't play a full five-on-five until he gets into tonight's game,

Ray Allen is out tonight with an ankle injury. Avery Bradley will get the start against the Hawks.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Get over last night yet?

You don't have to come down from that high anytime soon, but the Celtics do. Last night's win over Miami was the signature win for the Celtics to date, but they've got a quick turnaround tonight at TD Garden against a Hawks team that's been off since Saturday. It's not a recipe for an easy game, but the Celtics have consistently surprised us over the last couple of months. Who am I to say they won't do it again?

Here are the details for tonight's game:

Tip-off: 8 p.m.
Records: Celtics (33-24), Hawks (34-23)
Broadcast info: CSNNE (Mike Gorman and Tom Heinsohn), WEEI 93.7 FM/850 AM (Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell)

Probable starters:

Celtics:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Avery Bradley
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Brandon Bass
C: Kevin Garnett

Hawks:
PG: Kirk Hinrich
SG: Jeff Teague
SF: Joe Johnson
PF: Josh Smith
C: Zaza Pachulia

Storylines:

Standings: Very obviously, this is a battle between two teams fighting for playoff positioning. The Celtics are currently slotted as the No. 4 seed by virtue of their lead in the Atlantic Division, and the division is ultimately where they need to focus to maintain a seeding in the top four. But the Celtics actually trail the Hawks by a game, and the C's wouldn't get homecourt advantage unless they finish with a better record than Atlanta. There's plenty to play for.

Kevin freaking Garnett: KG's stat line last night: 24 points on 11-of-13 shooting, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks in 33 minutes. That's the definition of efficient.

There's more: The Celtics play tonight and have tomorrow off before playing three games in three nights over the weekend. The end of the season will be here in the blink of an eye.

Final: Celtics 115-107: The Celtics play good enough defense to hold on and limit Wade to 4 points in the second half. Pierce led the Celtics with 27 points and Garnett added 24, including 10 in the fourth quarter. James led all scorers with 36 points.

Fourth quarter, 1:01, Celtics 113-105: The Heat cut the lead to 108-103 with 2:22 left but Garnett drained a jumper and Pierce drove for a difficult layup and the Celtics have a nice lead, but it isn't over yet. Heat ball.

Fourth quarter, 2:34, Celtics 108-101: This one is not over. The Celtics haven't scored since the 4:47 mark and Miami has quietly run off 5 straight points and the Heat have the ball after a 24-second shot clock violation by the Celtics. The Celtics are also out of fouls, so the Heat do have life.

Fourth quarter, 5:18, Celtics 104-94: Boston is fighting to keep this lead and it is countering every Miami run with one of its own. The Heat are getting frustrated with the officiating and Wade just received a technical for arguing a foul call on Rondo.

Fourth quarter, 6:16, Celtics 102-92: Garnett has made his presence felt here and canned four straight jumpers as the Celtics attempt to steal a win in South Florida. It will be tough. James has 30 points.

End of third quarter, Celtics 89-81: James is singlehandedly keeping the Heat in the game with 29 points. He scored the last 4 of the period and the Celtics had no answer.

Third quarter, 1;50, Celtics 88-77: Rondo has 9 points in the quarter (16 for the game) and his jumper just extended the lead to 11. Rondo also has 12 assists, his 18th consecutive game with at least 10.

Third quarter, 6:53, Celtics 76-66: After the Celtics scored the first two buckets of the half, the Heat responded with a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 5. Rondo has scored 7 straight points as the Celtics extend their lead to 10. Rondo has 14 points and eight assists.

Halftime, Celtics 65-57: Heat end the half on an 11-4 run as James hits a 3-pointer at the buzzer. The Heat converted 13 of 22 shots in the second quarter and the Celtics have committed seven turnovers, resulting in 12 Miami points. James has 18 points and Wade 16. The rest of the Heat are 9 for 22 shooting. But the Heat hit five 3-pointers in the second quarter, fueling their run.

Second quarter, 2:05, Celtics 61-46: The Celtics storm back after the Heat cut the deficit to 54-46. Pierce drains his second 3-pointer during a 7-0 run.

Second quarter, 4:12, Celtics 54-44: Celtics led, 49-31, but the Heat are forcing turnovers and the Celtics are beginning to miss shots. Miami is 4 of 7 from the 3-point line and Mike Miller hit an uncontested 3-pointer, which is a defensive no-no. Dwyane Wade has 14 for Miami and James 12. Garnett has 12 points and five rebounds for the Celtics.

Second quarter, 9:51, Celtics 42-27: This stunning display continues for the Celtics, who are simply beating up the Heat with their precision offense and strong defense. Also, they have outrebounded Miami, 14-5, another shocking development. Kevin Garnett has 8 points in eight minutes while Sasha Pavlovic has come off the bench to hit a 3-pointer.

End of first quarter, Celtics 33-22: The Celtics end the quarter on a 16-2 run as they shoot 61.1 percent and get points from seven players. Rajon Rondo (five assists) is controlling the pace and he just drained a pull-up 3-pointer for the 11-point lead. Brandon Bass has five rebounds.

First quarter, 4:21, Heat 20-17: The Celtics went on a 10-0 run and led, 17-13, after a Paul Pierce layup. But the Heat have responded with 7 straight points, the last 5 off Celtics turnovers. Doc Rivers stresses not to save bad passes because that leads to Miami fastbreaks. LeBron James has 8 points for the Heat. Pierce has 4.

First quarter, 8:51, Heat 9-5: Celtics off to a slow start but Avery Bradley just made a streaking dunk to give the Celtics some momentum. Bradley has all 5 of Boston's points.

Final, Celtics 86-72: The Celtics were impressive in closing out this game as the Pacers cut the lead to 7 with nine minutes left. Paul Pierce scored 24 points byt Ray Allen added 19 points off the bench in 33 minutes and he took a team-high 18 shots. Kevin Garnett warmed up and scored 13 of his 15 points after halftime.

Fourth quarter, 1:40, Celtics 81-67: The Big Three has stepped up big in this game as Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett have scored all but 2 points in the quarter as the Celtics look to ice a big road win.

Fourth quarter, 5:37, Celtics 72-62: Nobody said this would be easy and the Pacers are pushing hard but the Celtics have found answers so far. The Celtics are shooting just 40.9 percent with 16 turnovers but they are playing very hard, much to Doc Rivers' liking. Paul Pierce has 20 points for the Celtics.

Fourth quarter, 8:06, Celtics 65-56: The Celtics are playing some ugly offensive basketball but they are playing stellar defense. They are getting the short end of some strange foul calls and non calls and Doc Rivers is close to a technical. But Kevin Garnett has decided to get his offensive game together and the Celtics are leaning on him down the stretch. He has scored Boston's last 6 points.

End of third quarter, Celtics 59-51: The Pacers are being sparked by former Toronto Raptor Leandro Barbosa, who scored 5 points during an 11-2 run that cut the deficit to 57-51. The Celtics' offense has stalled with no field goals in the final 5:17 of the period. They were 5-for-17 shooting in the quarter.

Third quarter, 2:14, Celtics 55-46: Indiana is on a really ugly 6-0 run over the last 2 minutes as the Celtics are beginning to complain too much to officials. They haven't scored in more than three minutes and continue to allow the Pacers stay close.

Third quarter, 6:24, Celtics 50-37: Indiana cut the lead to 8 briefly with two Danny Granger free throws but the Celtics have responded by scoring 7 of the next 9 points, including a jumper from Kevin Garnett, who has struggled from the field. The Pacers are shooting 29.5 percent and look completely lethargic after a big win Friday over Oklahoma City but they remain within striking distance.

Halftime, Celtics 43-33: The Pacers went 3-for-19 in the quarter and didn't score for the first 6:51 but the Celtics couldn't fully capitalize because they went 6-for-20. Also, the Pacers began getting to the free throw line. They attempted 10 free throws in the quarter, all in the last 3:42.

Second quarter, 25.0, Celtics 43-33: The Pacers have come alive, sort of. They are getting to the free throw line. They are still 3-for-18 shooting in the quarter but have scored 8 of their 14 points in the quarter from the free throw line.

Second quarter, 6:06, Celtics 34-19: The Celtics' defense has been stellar as the Pacers have yet to score in the second quarter, going 0 of 9 with two turnovers. Ray Allen already has 7 points off the bench.

Second quarter, 7:46, Celtics 28-19: The Pacers have yet to score in the quarter, missing their first eight shots, but the Celtics have only responded with two buckets. The bench has come through significantly with a combined 15 points, including 6 from Greg Stiemsma.

End of first quarter, Celtics 24-19: A solid stretch for the Celtics, who ended the quarter on an 11-4 run thanks to 5 points from Sasha Pavlovic, who canned a 16-footer at the buzzer. Greg Stiemsma has 6 points for the Celtics while Roy Hibbert has 6 for Indiana.

First quarter, 6:05, Celtics 11-8: The Celtics already have three turnovers and could be off to a stronger start if they took care of the ball. They started strong against the Bulls also, the key is maintaining it. Paul Pierce has 5 points.

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

CHICAGO -- The Celtics were outscored 55-37 in the second half Thursday night against the Chicago Bulls and dropped a bitter 93-86 decision as Luol Deng scored 12 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter. Afterwards, Doc Rivers hardly acted like a coach whose team almost pulled out a tough road win.

He spent his postgame session criticizing not only his team's effort but its toughness and desire. The Celtics committed five turnovers in the fourth quarter and looked lethargic in stretches as the Bulls were the more aggressive and physical team.

Here are Rivers' postgame comments:

"I had to use two timeouts to remind us that we were actually in an NBA game," he said. "I thought this was the worst loss for us this year with the way we approached the game. And then in the second half, I thought Chicago, they’re just too tough for us. I thought their toughness made us let go of the rope. We wanted to use all these excuses all night. I thought Chicago was just too tough for us. They get into us, they frustrate us and our guys let go of the rope, bottom line. We’re not going to go a lot of places playing with that type of mental toughness.

"Chicago is tougher than us right now. We have three weeks, if we play like that tonight, we’ll be playing of those (top teams) in the first round. We gotta get better. That was unacceptable."

He continued when asked about the lack of effort.

"That is on me first. I didn’t see something tonight. It’s always on the coach," he said. "That’s an unacceptable effort for us. I don’t say that often. I don’t think I’ve ever said that. That was a crime. It was tough to talk after the game. About what? We gotta be better than that. I don’t want to hear us winning crap, not with that effort."

When asked about preparing for the postseason, he became even more frustrated.

"I’m just so pissed at the way we played. Honestly, the playoffs are the furthest thing from my mind right now because (Thursday's) not us. We haven’t been that way but we were tonight. I called the two timeouts to remind us to make a run.

"We were cool tonight. We were the cool Boston Celtics tonight. That’s what we looked like. You could see it, walking the ball (up court). We couldn’t get the ball inbounds? Nobody wanted to work. It was a joke. We were the “cool Celtics.” And there’s nothing about me that’s cool, I can tell you that. You don’t play basketball cool."

Final: Bulls 93-86: Chicago just too much for the Celtics and coach Doc Rivers lets his team have it after the game, ripping their effort and toughness, calling the Bulls a tougher team. Celtics get outscored 55-37 in the second half and commit 10 turnovers.

Fourth quarter, 1:17, Bulls 91-84: The Celtics let this one slip away thanks to 12 fourth-quarter points from Luol Deng, who leads all scorers with 26 points. Paul Pierce has 22 but only 10 since the first quarter.

Fourth quarter, 3:10, Bulls 87-79: This one's close to over as the Celtics can't stop Luol Deng, who has 10 points in the quarter on 5-for-6 shooting. He was 3-for-13 shooting through three quarters. The Bulls have hit some difficult shots late in the shot clock while they have contained the Celtics, who 11 of 28 from the field in the second half.

Fourth quarter, 5:57, Bulls 81-77: Chicago continues to hit tough shots, frustrating the Celtics stifling defense. The problem is they can't consistently get defensive rebounds, allowing the Bulls more chances to score.

Fourth quarter, 8:06, Bulls 78-73:The Celtics aren't getting any breaks defensively as their strong defense is being matched by Bulls offense late in the shot clock. John Lucas canned a 27-footer to beat the clock and give the Bulls a 74-70 lead. And Luol Deng just made a pressured jumper for a 5-point lead, the Bulls' biggest of the game.

End of third quarter, Bulls 67-66: Chicago makes 11 field goals in the quarter after making 12 in the first half and now lead as the Celtics are being stymied defensively. They were 6-for-17 shooting in the quarter and Kevin Garnett has missed nine of 12 shots. Avery Bradley's starting debut with Ray Allen healthy has been rather unimpressive. He had 7 points and four fouls.

Third quarter, 1:22, Tied at 63: The Bulls are hitting shots and everything the Celtics are attempting is on the perimeter. Chicago is 10-for-22 shooting after hitting just 12 field goals in the first half. And the Bulls have also hit three 3-pointers in the quarter. The Celtics are led by Paul Pierce with 20 points and Brandon Bass with 13. Kevin Garnett is 3-for-12 shooting with 6 points and 11 rebounds.

Third quarter, 7:18, Celtics 56-51: Chicago scored 38 points in 24 first-half minutes and have scored 13 in the first 4:42 of the third quarter. Richard Hamilton has 5 of those points while the Bulls have gone back to pounding the ball in the paint. The Celtics are 3-for-7 shooting in the half.

Halftime, Celtics 49-38: An 8-0 run late in the second quarter extended the Celtics' lead to 13 and they have dominated the game so far against the Bulls without Derrick Rose. Paul Pierce has a game-high 17 points while Brandon Bass has 9 and Rajon Rondo has 8 and 7 assists. Ray Allen has 5 off the bench. Joakim Noah has 11 points and six rebounds while Luol Deng has 8 on 2-for-9 shooting.

Second quarter, 5:27, Celtics 33-31: The Bulls are on a 5-0 run as Joakim Noah continues to have a big impact on the game with 9 points and 5 rebounds. Paul Pierce has 12 points but he hasn't scored in the second quarter. Avery Bradley has 4 points on 2-for-6 shooting in his first start since Ray Allen returned.

Second quarter, 8:43, Celtics 26-22: An ugly game so far with both teams shooting below 40 percent. The Bulls are 7 of 23 from the field but have stayed close by attempting 10 free throws. The Celtics have been to the line just twice but have been carried by Paul Pierce with 12 points in 12 minutes.

End of first quarter, Celtics 22-18: The Celtics forced the Bulls into 31.6 percent shoot but also put Chicago at the free throw line eight times in the quarter. Joakim Noah has 6 points and 5 rebounds. Paul Pierce scored 12 points in the quarter while Ray Allen came off the bench for the first time in nearly 10 years and scored a bucket in four minutes.

First quarter, 4:00, Celtics 13-10: The Celtics should be up by more but they have already missed nine shots, including two by Avery Bradley, who played eight minutes before being replaced by Ray Allen.

First quarter, 6:40, Celtics 11-8: With Avery Bradley in the starting lineup, the Celtics are off to a good defensive start as the Bulls are 4-for-11 shooting. Paul Pierce has 7 points for Boston.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau (above) gets credit for being a good defensive coach, but he probably deserves more credit for the all-around job he's done this season. The Bulls have the best record in the NBA despite missing reigning MVP Derrick Rose for 21 games. Rose (groin) is a game-time decision as the Bulls host the Celtics tonight. He went through a full-contact practice on Wednesday.

"I really don't know," said Rose. "I felt good, but me playing tomorrow, I don't know. I'm able to run a little bit more, but not at my top speed."

Tonight's game is big for the Celtics in several respects. They had a chance to beat a very good San Antonio team last night and couldn't close the deal, and they're battling Philadelphia for the Atlantic Division lead and a top-four seed. The Celtics are currently 1.5 games up on Philadelphia, and they're 2.5 games back of Indiana for the No. 3 seed. If the standings hold, and if the Celtics could win a first-round playoff series, they'd see the Bulls in the second round. That's probably the best-case scenario for a Celtics team that struggled to slow down the Miami Heat in the playoffs last season.

Tip-off: 9:30 p.m.
Records: Celtics (30-23), Bulls (42-13)
Broadcast info: TNT, WEEI 93.7 FM/850 AM (Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell)

Probable starters:

Celtics:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Brandon Bass
C: Kevin Garnett

Bulls:
PG: C.J. Watson/Derrick Rose
SG: Richard Hamilton
SF: Luol Deng
PF: Carlos Boozer
C: Joakim Noah

Storylines:

Incorporating Ray Allen: Allen took just six shots in last night's loss to the Spurs, and it's safe to say the Celtics would like to get Allen more comfortable in the offense. The Bulls have great interior defense, so Allen may need to hit a couple from outside to open things up.

Back-to-back: The Celtics are 7-8 this season on the 2d night of back-to-backs. They average 87.7 points in those games. They might be lucky to get 87 points against the Bulls. Both of their showdowns with Philadelphia this season have come on the second night of back-to-backs, and those games, as well as tonight's game, are not great indicators of how the teams might match up in the playoffs.

Noah vs. KG: These guys make each other miserable. Should be fun for the rest of us.

Final score, Spurs, 87-86: Paul Pierce missed a jumper at the buzzer. Tim Duncan had 10 points and 16 rebounds as the Spurs outrebounded the Celtics, 53-39.

4th quarter, :46.5 , Spurs, 87-83: The Spurs scored six successive points in a 2:40 span, off a Gary Neal second-chance 3-pointer, a Tim Duncan foul shot off a defensive rebound, and a Matt Bonner jumper.

4th quarter, 2:33, Celtics, 83-81: Paul Pierce tied the score, 79-79, with a 3-pointer with 4:20 to go, then found Avery Bradley for a layup and a two-point lead with 3:46 remaining.

4th quarter, 6:38, Spurs, 77-76: The Celtics scored six successive points, Kevin Garnett cutting the deficit to one point with 6:40 remaining. Rajon Rondo earned his 10th assist, marking his 14th successive double-figure assist game.

4th quarter, 9:15, Spurs, 75-68: Danny Green's 3-pointer upped the Spurs' lead to seven points.

3d quarter, 6:16, Spurs, 63-52: The Celtics struggled as Brandon Bass missed a dunk and Rajon Rondo missed a layup.

End of 1st half, Spurs, 59-48: The Celtics rallied with a 10-4 run over the final 4:24, Rajon Rondo recording his sixth assist by finding Avery Bradley for a layup with seven seconds remaining. The Spurs outrebounded the Celtics, 28-17.

2d quarter, 3:02, Spurs, 56-42: The Spurs extended their run to 19-2 following a timeout. The Spurs then called a timeout after a 4-1 Celtic rally.

2d quarter, 5:14, Spurs, 53-38: The Spurs went on a 17-2 run over a 3:22 span. Avery Bradley was the only Celtic to score after the 10:58 mark of the quarter.

2d quarter, Spurs, 44-36: Matt Bonner converted two 3-pointers in 26 seconds for the Spurs. Avery Bradley scored nine points in a 1:31 span for the Celtics, tying the score, 36-36, with 8:59 remaining.

End of 1st quarter, Spurs, 27-20: The Spurs won the rebound battle, 18-12 and outscored the Celtics, 12-2, over the final 4:45 of the quarter.

1st quarter, 3:34, Spurs, 21-18: Tony Parker scored six points in a 63-second span for the Spurs.

1st quarter, 7:07, Celtics, 16-11: Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo had six points for the Celtics.

By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff

Ray Allen returns to the Celtics starting lineup after missing six games with an ankle strain.

"The difference coming in today and even practicing yesterday is just night and day," Allen said before the Celtics met San Antonio Wednesday night. "Just being able to push, get lift."

The Celtics went 5-1 without Allen, winning the last five in succession.

STARTING LINEUPS:

BOSTON CELTICS (30-22)
PG Rajon Rondo
SG Ray Allen
SF Paul Pierce
PF Brandon Bass
C Kevin Garnett

INACTIVE: Jermaine O'Neal, Mickael Pietrus

SAN ANTONIO SPURS (37-14):
PG: Tony Parker
SG: Danny Green
SF: Kawhi Leonard
PF: Tim Duncan
C: DeJuan Blair

INACTIVE: Cory Joseph.
OFFICIALS: Eli Roe, Bill Spooner, Leon Wood.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

San Antonio's Tim Duncan (above) and Boston's Kevin Garnett were both left out of the All-Star game this year in an inevitable changing of the guard at the top of the NBA. But neither Duncan nor Garnett got the message that they were supposed to fade away quietly. Garnett has seen a resurgence since moving to the five position, helping the Celtics to 10 wins in 11 games and five in a row. Duncan, meanwhile, has led the Spurs to a 37-14 record. Winners of eight in a row, the Spurs have a 7.5-game lead on everyone's almost-there pick, the Memphis Grizzlies.

The play of Duncan and Garnett has the Spurs and Celtics, respectively, vying for top positioning in a playoff race no one thought they'd be a serious part of. Tonight's game has implications for both teams, and it could also be the final game in which Duncan and Garnett are matched up.

Tip-off: 7:30 p.m.
Records: Celtics (30-22), Spurs (37-14)
Broadcast info: CSNNE (Mike Gorman and Tom Heinsohn), WEEI 93.7 FM/850 AM (Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell)

Probable starters:

Celtics:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Avery Bradley/Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Brandon Bass
C: Kevin Garnett

Spurs:
PG: Tony Parker
SG: Danny Green
SF: Kawhi Leonard
PF: Tim Duncan
C: DeJuan Blair

Storylines:

Who starts?: Anybody hear anything about this? Apparently Avery Bradley is playing really well, and Ray Allen is set to return from injury. One of them will have to start, and one of them will be forced into exile (or just come off the bench). Both Allen and Bradley need to play big minutes for the Celtics, and Bradley's emergence is unequivocally a good thing. We should get an answer on who starts around 6:50 p.m.

Drafting: Bradley's strong play has in some ways validated Danny Ainge, who has turned late first-round draft picks into a potential starting backcourt of Bradley and Rajon Rondo. Sound familiar? The Spurs used a second-round pick on starting center DeJaun Blair, while All-Star Tony Parker was the 28th overall pick in 2001. San Antonio also has a knack of signing guys no one wants and turning them into solid role players.

Standings: The Celtics are 1.5 games up on Philadephia in the Atlantic Division and are just 1.5 games behind Indiana for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. Every win matters right now.

4th quarter, 6:38, Celtics, 89-60: Rajon Rondo got to 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 14 assists -- his 13th successive double-figure assist game.

End of 3d quarter, Celtics, 80-56: The Celtics closed the quarter with a 25-6 run over the final 7:34, Rajon Rondo driving to score on the their final possession with 1.6 seconds on the clock.

3d quarter, 1:42, Celtics, 74-54: The Celtics went on a 17-2 run over a 4:17 span. The Heat twice called timeouts in an attempt to break the momentum. Avery Bradley turned one post-timeout Heat possession into a steal, leading to two Paul Pierce foul shots.

3d quarter, 5:19, Celtics, 65-52: Kevin Garnett converted a jumper and a layup off a Rajon Rondo pass in a 70-second span.

3d quarter, 7:01, Celtics, 59-50: Avery Bradley converted two layups off Rajon Rondo feeds in a 2:01 span.

End of 1st half, Celtics, 49-44: Brandon Bass followed a Rajon Rondo drive, drawing a foul and hitting two free throws with one second remaining. Rondo had 10 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists.

2d quarter, 6:05, Celtics, 34-33: The Heat outscored the Celtics' starters, 10-0, over a three-minute span, leading to a timeout.

2d quarter, 9:04, Celtics, 34-23: Kevin Garnett and the reserves extended the Celtics, Avery Bradley hitting a shot-clock buzzer 3-pointer and Greg Stiemsma scoring off a Keyon Dooling assist.

End of 1st quarter, Celtics, 29-19: The Celtics maintained their edge as Greg Stiemsma replaced Kevin Garnett for half the quarter. Stiemsma scored two points and also provided inside defending, drawing a charge from Chris Bosh.

1st quarter, 2:43, Celtics,21-12: Rajon Rondo continued to push the Celtics' offense, finding Paul Pierce for a 3-pointer and Brandon Bass for a drive resulting in two foul shots. Rondo passes and points led to all but two of the Celtics' points.

1st quarter, 8:17, Celtics,9-4: Rajon Rondo scored on three successive drives in a 55-second span, totaling seven points and assisting on Kevin Garnett's jumper.

By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff

Ray Allen (ankle) remained out for the sixth successive game, the Celtics going with Avery Bradley and Rajon Rondo at guards.

Mickael Pietrus (concussion) attended the game but has not started baseline testing and is not expected to return soon, according to coach Doc Rivers.

STARTING LINEUPS

BOSTON CELTICS (29-22)

PG Rajon Rondo
SG Avery Bradley
SF Paul Pierce
PF Brandon Bass
C Kevin Garnett

INACTIVE: Jermaine O'Neal, Mickael Pietrus

MIAMI HEAT ()

PG Mario Chalmers
SG Dwyane Wade
SF LeBron James
PF Chris Bosh
C Joel Anthony

INACTIVE: Eddy Curry, Mike Miller

OFFICIALS: Dick Bavetta, Joe Crawford, Scott Wall

By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff

Ray Allen (ankle) participated in the Celtics' pre-game shootaround but was held out for the fifth successive game.

The Celtics started the night tied with Philadelphia for first place in the Atlantic Division.

Allen could return for the Celtics' game against Miami Sunday.

STARTING LINEUPS

BOSTON CELTICS (28-22)

PG Rajon Rondo
SG Avery Bradley
SF Paul Pierce
PF Brandon Bass
C Kevin Garnett

INACTIVE: Jermaine O'Neal, Mickael Pietrus

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (25-27)

PG Luke Ridnour
SG Martell Webster
SF Wes Johnson
PF Derrick Williams
C Kevin Love

INACTIVE:

OFFICIALS: Brent Barnaky, David Jones, Jason Phillips

Final score, Celtics, 94-82: Kevin Garnett (23 points, 10 rebounds) and Paul Pierce (20 points) led the way for the Celtics, who tied Philadelphia for the Atlantic Division lead.

4th quarter, 1:50:, Celtics, 88-78: Kevin Garnett hit two foul shots to up the lead to 10 points.

4th quarter, 5:58, Celtics, 80-71: The Celtics stayed ahead with a lineup composed of three players who have not played a full season with the team, plus Avery Bradley and Kevin Garnett. Keyon Dooling hit a jumper, Garnett found Sasha Pavlovic for a 3-pointer, and Garnett converted from the top of the circle as the Celtics went on a 7-1 run over a 1:56 span.

4th quarter, 8:57, Celtics, 73-68: The Celtics squandered a chance to stretch a 7-point lead as Keyon Dooling and Avery Bradley had dunk attempts blocked by Gordon Hayward.

End of 3d quarter, Celtics, 66-61: The Jazz went on a 17-3 run over a 6:15 span.

3d quarter, 7:29, Celtics, 61-43: The Celtics hit 7 of 8 shots and Rajon Rondo had four assists to start the half.

End of first half, Celtics, 46-35: Brandon Bass and Paul Pierce scored 11 points for the Celtics. Rondo Rondo found Ryan Hollins for alley-oop dunks just before and after a timeout late in the quarter.

2d quarter, 2:32, Celtics, 42-29: The Celtics went on a 22-6 run over a 7:55 span, Ryan Hollins's dunk off a Rajon Rondo lob upping the lead to 13 points.

2d quarter, 7:39, Celtics, 25-23: The Celtics' second unit, plus Avery Bradley and Kevin Garnett, produced a 7-0 run over a 2:38 span. Keyon Dooling's follow of a Bradley transition drive gave the Celtics the lead with 8:09 remaining in the half.

End of 1st quarter, Jazz, 21-18: Utah had an 18-9 rebounding advantage was 3 for 3 on 3-pointers in the quarter.

1st quarter, 4:23, Tied, 14-14, : Both teams settled for jump shots for most of the early-going. The Celtics started out 2 for 9 from the field and the Jazz were 1 for 6 in the opening 4:29.

By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff

The Celtics are going with the Avery Bradley-Rajon Rondo backcourt for the third successive game as Ray Allen (ankle) and Mickael Pietrus (concussion) remain out against Utah.

The Celtics have a chance to regain a tie with Philadelphia for first place in the Atlantic Division.

Allen, who has missed four consecutive games, could return for the Celtics' visit to Minnesota Friday.

STARTING LINEUPS

BOSTON CELTICS (27-22)

PG Rajon Rondo
SG Avery Bradley
SF Paul Pierce
PF Brandon Bass
C Kevin Garnett

INACTIVE: Jermaine O'Neal, Mickael Pietrus

UTAH JAZZ (27-23)

PG Devin Harris
SG C.J. Miles
SF Paul Millsap
PF Gordon Hayward
C Al Jefferson

INACTIVE:

OFFICIALS: Eddie F. Rush, Bernie Adams, James Williams.

Final score, Celtics, 102-95: Paul Pierce (36 points, 10 rebounds) led the way for the Celtics as they tied Philadelphia for the Atlantic Division lead.

4th quarter, 9:06, Celtics, 87-77: Paul Pierce's three-point play upped his point total to 30 and gave the Celtics a 10-point advantage.

End of 3d quarter, Celtics, 82-75: The Celtics stayed with the starters for nearly the entire quarter as coach Doc Rivers apparently lost faith in the second unit.

3d quarter, 6:10, Celtics, 69-58: Avery Bradley and Paul Pierce got the Celtics off to a 13-4 start over the first 3:02 of the half.

End of 1st half, Celtics, 52-50: Paul Pierce totaled 17 points in the half. But the Celtics squandered most of an 18-point advantage as the Bobcat reserves gained momentum early in the second quarter.

2d quarter, 1:30, Celtics, 50-45: Rajon Rondo's return organized the Celtics on offense. Greg Stiemsma hit a 16-footer off a Rondo assist for a 50-42 advantage with 3:02 to go.

2d quarter, 5:36, Celtics, 40-36: The Bobcats gained momentum against the Celtics' second unit, and maintained it as Byron Mullens hit a 3-pointer over Kevin Garnett and beat Garnett for an alley-oop dunk.

2d quarter, 9:27, Celtics, 33-25: The Bobcats started the quarter with a 10-0 rally.

End of 1st quarter, Celtics, 33-15 : The Celtics went on a 14-0 run over a 3:11 span late in the quarter. The Celtics completed their fourth successive 27-plus point first quarter dating to a 100-91 win at Milwaukee Thursday.

1st quarter, 3:37, Celtics, 25-13: Paul Pierce's three-point play upped the lead to 12.

By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff

The Celtics enter this game trailing Atlantic Division leader Philadelphia by a half game, so a victory would vault them into the lead in the race for a No. 4 Eastern Conference seed.

This is the third time this month the Celtics have had a chance to overtake the 76ers for first place -- they lost both previous times, both times in Philadelphia.

STARTING LINEUPS

BOSTON CELTICS (26-22)

PG Rajon Rondo
SG Avery Bradley
SF Paul Pierce
PF Brandon Bass
C Kevin Garnett

INACTIVES: Jermaine O'Neal, Mickael Pietrus

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS (7-39)

PG D.J. Augustin
SG Gerald Henderson
SF Corey Maggette
PF Tyrus Thomas
C Bismack Biyombo

INACTIVE: Eduardo Najera

OFFICIALS: Monty McCutchen, Kevin Scott, Sean Wright.

Successful return home for the Celtics, who used 23 points from Bradley and 21 from Pierce to coast past the Wizards.

4th quarter, 2:47, Celtics 86, Wizards 67: An 11-3 burst has finally put this one away. Pierce up to 21 points, and Rondo has finally scored, making two baskets in the run.

4th quarter, 5:53, Celtics 75, Wizards 64: Celtics doing just enough on the defensive end to not make this a tighter game. Wizards shooting 34 percent.

4th quarter, 8:50, Celtics 71, Wizards 58: Slow start to the quarter, with the Celtics not showing signs of pulling away, but the Wizards showing no ability to make this a game.

End of 3rd, Celtics 69, Wizards 55: Lethargy seems to be setting in a bit for the Celtics. Considering the lowly opponent, maybe not surprising. Rondo has six turnovers and no points, but 10 assists. Bradley (21 points) had the first second-half basket for the Celtics, which established a new career high.

3rd quarter, 5:09, Celtics 63, Wizards 47: After watching the Wizards get within 8 at 55-47, the Celtics have used a 8-0 run to push the lead back to 15. Pierce had a 3-pointer, then a three-point play in a 30-second span.

3rd quarter, 7:30, Celtics 55, Wizards 45: Don't look now, but the Wizards are creeping back into this game after being down 25. Wizards are on an 11-0 run, led by 6 points from John Wall and a three-point play by Jordan Crawford.

Halftime, Celtics 53, Wizards 34: Celtics got sloppy with the ball late in the second quarter, allowing the Wizards to end the half on a 10-4 run to make it not totally embarrassing. Bradley has 19 points, 1 fewer than his career high. Stiemsma has added 10 and a team-high 7 rebounds.

2nd quarter, 2:56, Celtics 49, Wizards 24: The expected bloodbath has commenced. These Wizards can't pass, can't shoot, don't defend. Other than that, aces.

2nd quarter, 6:37, Celtics 37, Wizards 20: Bradley finally missed a shot, misfiring on an 18-foot jumper. But Stiemsma's still perfect, with 8 points on 3-of-3 shooting. Wizards are actually getting hot, making their last four field-goal attempts.

2nd quarter, 9:40, Celtics 33, Wizards 12: Celtics are getting good minutes from Greg Stiemsma, who has 6 points and 6 rebounds in 9 minutes. Wizards are shooting 12 percent (3 for 25).

End of 1st, Celtics 27, Wizards 12: Strong opening 12 minutes for the Celtics, who apparently missed playing at the Garden during their eight-game road trip. Celtics made 12 of 19 shots (63 percent), and have held the Wizards to just 3 for 22 (14 percent).

1st quarter, 2:10, Celtics 23, Wizards 11: How's Bradley's night been? Trailing a 2-on-1 fast break behind Rondo and Brandon Bass, he's in the right place when Bass can't control Rondo's pass. Bradley catches it in mid-air and lays it in. He's still perfect on the night, and his 15 points are already a season-high; he had scored 12 twice before.

1st quarter, 5:52, Celtics 17, Wizards 8: Bradley can't be stopped. He's made all six of his shots, including a 3-pointer, and has 13 of the Celtics' 17 points.

1st quarter, 9:15, Celtics 10, Wizards 2: Spot starter Avery Bradley has already made an impact, scoring three quick baskets for 6 points. Rajon Rondo has assisted on three of the four Celtics' field goals.

Pregame: Excited crowd in the house for this one. Good to see someone is.

Final score, Sixers, 99-86:: The Celtics concluded a two-week road trip with a 4-4 record, collapsing in the second half. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce scored 20 points for the Celtics and Elton Brand scored 20 points for Philadelphia.

End of third quarter, Sixers, 80-66:: The Sixers closed the quarter with a 17-2 run over the final 4:48.

Third quarter, 3:02, Sixers, 70-64:: Marquis Daniels filled in for Pietrus, giving the Celtics a 64-63 lead with 5:02 to play in the quarter. But the Sixers went on a 7-0 run in an 86-second span, Andre Iguodala's 3-pointer upping their lead to six points with 3:22 to go.

Third quarter, 3:02, Sixers, 70-64:: Marquis Daniels filled in for Pietrus, giving the Celtics a 64-63 lead with 5:02 to play in the quarter. But the Sixers went on a 7-0 run in an 86-second span, Andre Iguodala's 3-pointer upping their lead to six points with 3:22 to go.

Third quarter, 6:45, Sixers, 61-60:: Elton Brand gave the Sixers their first lead since the 9:37 mark of the opening quarter, the Celtics calling a timeout two seconds later. The atmosphere at the Wells Fargo Center, which had been somber after Mickael Pietrus was injured, became lively during the timeout as Will Smith enlivened things from a seat near the Sixers' basket.

End of first half, Celtics, 49-43: Both teams' intensity seemed to drop off after Mickael Pietrus was injured with 5:08 remaining. But the Celtics closed the half with an 11-5 run, Kevin Garnett scoring six of his 14 points in the final 4:23.

Meanwhile, the runway to the press room and other rooms was closed off while an ambulance arrived for Pietrus.

Second quarter, 1:40, Celtics, 44-43: After a nine-minute delay, the teams returned to action. Ryan Hollins hit one foul shot in place of Pietrus.

Second quarter, 5:08, Celtics, 39-38: Mickael Pietrus was knocked down while shooting, remaining on his back on the floor under the basket. Trainer Ed Lacerte treated Pietrus while the entire Celtic team and coaches watched.

End of first quarter, Celtics, 32-26: The Celtics got off to a strong offensive start for the second successive night. They scored 35 points in the first quarter of a 100-91 win over Milwaukee Thursday.

First quarter, 2:56, Celtics, 26-20: Jrue Holiday rallied the Sixers with a 3-pointer and bank shot, then Lou Williams hit two foul shots as Philadelphia produce a 7-0 run in a 34-second span over two possessions.

First quarter, 5:58, Celtics, 17-9: Paul Pierce scored 11 points in the opening 5:52 for the Celtics. Officials negated a shot-clocker buzzer field goal by Kevin Garnett at the 10:00 mark

By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff

PHILADELPHIA -- Mickael Pietrus replaced Ray Allen (ankle) in the Celtics' starting lineup. Coach Doc Rivers said he hoped to use Ryan Hollins off the bench. Hollins passed a physical examination in the morning and joined the team before the game.

STARTING LINEUPS

BOSTON CELTICS (25-21)

PG Rajon Rondo
SG Mickael Pietrus
SF Paul Pierce
PF Brandon Bass
C Kevin Garnett

INACTIVES: Ray Allen, Jermaine O'Neal.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (26-19)

PG Jrue Holiday
SG Turner
SF Andre Iguodala
PF Elton Brand
C Spencer Hawes

INACTIVES:

OFFICIALS: Zach Zarba, Marat Kogut, Eric Lewis

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

The Celtics landed at least one big man during this waiver period, and will sign former Cleveland Cavalier Ryan Hollins Thursday night when he clears waivers, according to two NBA sources.

Hollins, 27, played 24 games with the Cavaliers, averaging 3.7 points and 2.3 rebounds before asking for his release. Hollins, at 6 feet 11 inches, has also played with Charlotte, Dallas and Minnesota after being a Charlotte second-round pick in 2006 out of UCLA. Hollins is a defensive-minded center and has had his share of brush-ups with opposing players because of hard fouls.

His best season was in 2009-10 when he averaged 6.1 points and 2.9 rebounds in 73 games. Hollins is expected to be available for Friday's game at Philadelphia.

Ray Allen scored a team-high 19 points to lead the Celtics over the Hawks 79-76. In the video above, the Globe's Gary Washburn and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Michael Cunningham discuss the game.

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Final: Celtics 79-76: Ray Allen sinks two free throws to give the Celtics a 3-point lead and then Jeff Teague airballs a 3-pointer and the Celtics hang on. Teague taunted Allen after a dunk that changed the game's momentum. Joe Johnson finished with 25 for Atlanta, 14 in the fourth quarter. Allen leads the Celtics with 19 points.

Fourth quarter, 28.0, Celtics 76-71: Josh Smith misses a 3-pointer badly and then Joe Johnson gets picked by Rajon Rondo. Mickael Pietrus hits one of two free throws to give Atlanta the ball. Both teams are out of fouls.

Fourth quarter, 1:02, Celtics 75-71: The Celtics' season-long habit of letting up after a big lead has struck again. The Hawks are on an 11-0 run and the Celtics haven't scored in nearly 3 minutes. Joe Johnson has two 3-pointers during the run. Celtics ball.

Fourth quarter, 2:44, Celtics 75-63: A 13-0 run sparked by three straight 3-pointers have put the Celtics ahead comfortably as they try to hold on in the ATL. Ray Allen has 17 points and has been on fire since being dunked on an taunted by Jeff Teague. Since then, the Celtics are on a 36-16 run.

Fourth quarter, 5:56, Celtics 64-58: The Celtics are winning this game with defense as the Hawks have committed four turnovers in the quarter. Meanwhile, the Celtics are also beginning to hit shots as Brandon Bass shook off the rust for a jumper that has this crowd filled with Celtics fans cheering vigorously.

End of third quarter, Hawks 51-50: The Celtics play of the game just occurred when Rajon Rondo duped the Hawks by motioning to Kevin Garnett to go to basket for alley-oop only to flip the ball to Ray Allen for a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Celtics end quarter on an 11-4 run to get close.

Third quarter, 2:42, Hawks 47-45: Celtics are on a 6-0 run but Paul Pierce just missed a layup that would have tied the game. He was 1-for-5 shooting in the first half and is 1 of 5 in the third quarter. Kevin Garnett has 10 points on 5-for-12 shooting with seven rebounds while Rajon Rondo has 8 points, 8 assists and 3 rebounds.

Third quarter, 5:47, Hawks 47-40: Celtics can't get a break nor can they hit a shot. They are 2 of 8 from the field in the quarter and have already committed six fouls, putting the Hawks in the bonus. Kevin Garnett leads the Celtics with 10 points while Paul Pierce is on the bench with his fourth foul. Jeff Teague excited the crowd with a dunk on Ray Allen but picked up a technical for screaming after the play.

Halftime, Hawks 33-31: Yeah it's that bad. The Celtics are shooting 35.1 percent and the Hawks are shooting 34.1. The Hawks have attempted four more field goals while the Celtics have 11 turnovers, including three in 15 listless minutes from Paul Pierce, who has 4 points and three fouls.

Second quarter, 1:38, Hawks 31-27: Atlanta was the first to break 30 in this really putrid offensive showing for both teams and the Celtics are missing countless open shots. Rajon Rondo is 2-for-7 shooting while Paul Pierce is 1 of 5 and Kevin Garnett 4 of 10.

Second quarter, 4:21, Tied at 25: The Celtics are beginning to hit shots and they are still shooting just 35 percent. The Hawks are shooting 31 percent and each team has just been awful in terms of running their offense. It is really ugly here at Philips Arena. Kevin Garnett has taken 10 of Boston's 31 shots and has hit 4 of his past 6.

End of first quarter, Hawks 15-12: The Celtics just can't hit a shot so far, but neither can the Hawks, so we have this really low score. The Celtics shot 25 percent in the first period, including a combined 3 of 14 from Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Rondo has 6 points while Josh Smith has 8 for Atlanta.

First quarter, 5:48, Tied at 8: The Celtics are trying to play with some early passion but have missed seven of 10 shots, including two jumpers that landed front rim from Paul Pierce. Josh Smith has 6 points but all on jumpers. The Celtics want to keep the athletic Smith outside the paint.

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

ATLANTA -- Celtics coach Doc Rivers said last Thursday he did not expect Jermaine O'Neal to return to the team and he was right. O'Neal decided today to have season-ending surgery on his left wrist that will mean the end of his time as a Celtic.

O'Neal is finishing the second-year of a two-year, $12 million deal and considered getting a cortisone shot to help with the discomfort. But the team announced that doctors discovered a degenerative condition that was worsened when he landed on his wrist taking a charge from Dallas' Dominique Jones on Feb. 20.

"Jermaine worked hard to get himself in condition to play this season despite his ongoing wrist issues," Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said in a statement. "He played through pain the entire year and gave us all he could, but unfortunately after the fall against Dallas there simply wasn't anything else he could do. We appreciate his contributions to our team over the last two years."

Rivers expressed gratitude for O'Neal, who waited a month to make the decision.

"He tried to see if he could do it the other way besides surgery and he was smart enough to know that usually doesn't work," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "He could have had surgery a month ago and shut it down but he tried to see what he could do to get back."

Final, Nuggets 98-91: The Celtics fought valiantly but couldn't come up with the key buckets nor stop Kenneth Faried who was the difference down the stretch with six free throws and three key rebounds in the final four months. He finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett each had 22 points.

Fourth quarter, 2:26, Nuggets 92-87: The Celtics cut the deficit to 2 points on two occasions but Ty Lawson just canned a critical 3-pointer and Kevin Garnett followed with a missed 20-footer. Paul Pierce has fouled out, a victim of the voracious rebounding by Kenneth Faried, who has 15 in 21 minutes.

Fourth quarter, 5:41, Nuggets 87-81: As much as they try to foil their chances of winning with turnovers, the Celtics are back within six for the first time in seemingly months. The Celtics are beginning to play defense and taking advantage of Denver's sloppiness with the ball (20 turnovers).

Fourth quarter, 7:18, Nuggets 87-77: Celtics still have a chance but they need some stops. They are starting to get to the free throw line but are turning the ball over way too much to make a serious rally.

End of third quarter, Nuggets 80-68: The Celtics seemed to have found something defensively to limit the Nuggets but their margin for error is extremely slim. The problem is the Celtics are fouling way too much and bailing out the Nuggets on out-of-control drives to the basket. Danilo Gallinari leads the Nuggets with 20 points while Paul Pierce has 18 for the Celtics.

Third quarter, 2:29, Nuggets 79-64: The Celtics just can't get any stops and even when they do, the Nuggets grab the offensive rebound and score again. And they have no answer for Danilo Gallinari, who has 20 points on 5-for-10 shooting. The Nuggets have attempted 20 free throws to the Celtics' 5. Doc Rivers has been working the officials all game.

Third quarter, 7:20, Nuggets 69-56: The Celtics are beginning to hit shots but they can't stop Denver from the dribble penetration and then jumper. Ty Lawson and Arron Afflalo have canned 15 footers that caused Doc Rivers to call a timeout. He's still upset about an offensive foul that was called against Rajon Rondo and just picked up a technical foul.

Halftime, Nuggets 55-42: Boy, the Celtics are being exposed here. They just can't rebound (27-11 Nuggets) and can't stop dribble penetration and the dish off for the open 3-pointer. Danilo Gallinari just hit Denver's fifth 3-pointer of the half for its biggest lead of the game. Denver has attempted 13 free throws to the Celtics' 3.

Second quarter, 2:32, Nuggets 48-36: The Celtics are trying to counter Denver's constant offensive pressure with scores of their own, but they are making silly turnovers and being absolutely embarrassed by Kenneth Faried, who has 11 rebounds, equaling the Celtics total. The Nuggets also have eight offensive rebounds to zero for the Celtics.

Second quarter, 8:55, Nuggets 32-27: The Celtics are shipping away after falling behind by as many as 9. Ty Lawson has five rebounds for Denver while the Celtics have eight as a team. They need to start pounding the boards or the Nuggets will continue to score in the paint.

End of first quarter, Nuggets 29-22: The Nuggets have canned four 3-pointers and are out-rebounding the Celtics 17-7 as they have led most of the period. Danilo Gallinari has 8 points while Al Harrington has 6 off the bench. The Celtics are shooting 42 percent with 8 points from Paul Pierce.

First quarter, 2:57, Nuggets 20-16: The Nuggets are out-rebounding the Celtics 14-6 and scoring on second-chance points and fastbreaks. The Celtics are shooting 39 percent from the field (7 of 18) but it seems they are trying to keep close before figuring out how to defend this team. Denver is No. 1 in the NBA in scoring.

First quarter, 5:22, Nuggets 16-12: The Celtics are giving up way too many points in the paint and second-chance points. Former Morehead State standout Kenneth Faried already has seven rebounds while Danilo Gallinari and Timofey Mozgov have six points. Mozgov has scored on all layups or dunks.

Final: Kings 120-95: The upset bug hit the Celtics as they were steamrolled by the Sacramento Kings, who hit 23 of 36 shots in the second half and cruised to an easy win. Marcus Thornton scored 36 for Sacramento. Ray Allen scored 26.

Fourth quarter, 5:00, Kings 110-86: An embarrassing defensive effort for the Celtics, who have allowed the Kings to make 19 of 30 shots in the second half and cruise to a win. Marcus Thornton has 36 points.

End of third quarter, Kings 93-74: By far the worst quarter of the year for the Celtics. Sacramento scored 41 points on 14-for-20 shooting (70 percent). Marcus Thornton and Isaiah Thomas combined for 23 points as the Celtics look tired and may be just conceding and preparing for tomorrow night at Denver.

Third quarter, 1:43, Kings 87-70: The Kings are 14-for-19 shooting in the quarter and are running away with this game. This is the game the Celtics thought they could get and now it's turning into a blowout. The Celtics have had energy from the opening tip while this is Sacramento's Super Bowl.

Third quarter, 9:46, Kings 63-51: Sacramento has scored the first 11 points of the quarter in 2:14, including 7 of those by Isaiah Thomas as Rajon Rondo continues to look uninterested in playing this game. The Kings are 5-for-5 shooting in the third quarter while the Celtics are 0 of 3.

Halftime, Kings 52-51: The Celtics showed some life in the second quarter but continually gave up easy baskets to the Kings off the fastbreak. Sacramento has more energy than the Celtics and it's curious because Boston is coming off a entire day off Thyrsday. Ray Allen has 13 points on 4-for-8 shooting while Paul Pierce has 15 on 4-for-11 shooting.

Second quarter, 4:35, Kings 43-40: The Celtics are beginning to heat up with Ray Allen draining two 3-pointers over the last three minutes. He has 10 points while Paul Pierce is 3-for-9 shooting but is getting to the free throw line.

Second quarter, 8:31, Kings 34-27: Sacramento is reading passing lanes and taking advantage of the Celtics' laziness with passes. Boston has five turnovers and Rajon Rondo is having one of those no-impact games so far with no points and two assists in 11 minutes. Paul Pierce leads the Celtics with 8 points.

End of first quarter, Kings 26-20: As poorly as the Celtics played, they only trail by six. They made just six baskets in the quarter compared with 12 for the Kings. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo are a combined 2-for-11 shooting. DeMarcus Cousins went right at Greg Stiemsma when Kevin Garnett exited and he has 8 points.

First quarter, 5:06, Kings 14-10: Sacramento on a 6-0 run as the Celtics have missed five consecutive shots, including a missed dunk by Ray Allen. The Kings are without Tyreke Evans (sprained left ankle) so they are spreading the wealth with 4 points apiece from DeMarcus Cousins and Marcus Thornton.

First quarter, 8:08, Celtics 8-6: Lots of Celtics fans here in Sacramento as Kevin Garnett already has two jumpers on counterpart DeMarcus Cousins. Another solid start for KG.

Final, Celtics 105-103: Kevin Garnett drains a 20-footer with 5.1 seconds left and the defense forces a contested 3-pointer from Nate Robinson and Garnett grabs the rebound, sealing another key win.

Fourth quarter, 30.0, Tied at 103: Rajon Rondo goes the wrong direction on Nate Robinson, who bolts right and drives for another easy layup. Game tied. Celtics ball.

Fourth quarter, 1:01, Celtics 103-101: The lead appeared safe at 6 but David Lee hits two free throws and after the Celtics' eighth turnover of the quarter, Nate Robinson drives untouched to the basket for another score. Celtics ball.

Fourth quarter, 2:15, Celtics 99-97: Celtics are trying to hang on despite having almost as many turnovers (7) as field goals (8) in the fourth quarter. Kevin Garnett has been the offensive catalyst with 22 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists while Rajon Rondo has 8 points and 13 assists.

Fourth quarter, 4:40, Celtics 95-94: Boston just committed its sixth turnover of the quarter, practicing handing the Warriors a chance to come back. Ray Allen just stole the ball, dribbled into a corner and then had the ball stripped from him off his leg out of bounds.

Fourth quarter, 7:22, Celtics 91-90: Celtics are trying to hold off the youthful Warriors, especially Klay Thompson, who has a career-high 26 points. The Celtics have five turnovers in the quarter.

End of third quarter, Celtics 81-77: The Celtics are a good team when they want to play defense. After scoring 35 points on 12-for-21 shooting in the second quarter, the Warriors scored 17 on 7-for-22 shooting in the third quarter. The Celtics were 10 of 17 from the field in the quarter and outrebounded Golden State 14-7.

Third quarter, 4:21 Warriors 74-72: The Celtics don't have an answer for Klay Thompson, who has a career-high 23 points but also four fouls. The Celtics have four players in double figures but every time they made a run, Golden State responds with a turnover or a 3-pointer. Both teams shooting 50 percent.

Halftime, Warriors 60-55: The Celtics defense has been nonexistent, allowing the Warriors to shoot 57.5 percent (23 for 41) in the first half with 22 rebounds from a team with one center. Dorell Wright and David Lee have seven rebounds apiece while Thompson has 17 points and Wright 15. Mickael Pietrus and Brandon Bass have 12 points each.

Second quarter, 4:39, Warriors 46-45: Celtics were beginning to take control with a 40-33 lead before the Warriors stormed back with three consecutive 3-pointers. Dorell Wright and Klay Thompson each have 13 points and have three 3-pointers. Nate Robinson has 8. Mickael Pietrus has 12 off the bench for the Celtics.

Second quarter, 9:31, Celtics 31-29: Greg Stiemsma is playing a big role with 6 points and 4 rebounds in seven minutes while Mickael Pietrus, a former Warrior, has canned two 3-pointers off the bench. Klay Thompson had 10 points for Golden State.

End of first quarter, Warriors 25-21: Warriors feeding off crowd and shooting 55 percent with rookie Klay Thompson scoring 8 points. Dorell Wright has 7 and former Celtic Nate Robinson has 6. Four Celtics have 4 players with 4 points while Rajon Rondo has five assists.

Final: Celtics 94-85: The Celtics execute down the stretch and hold on for one of their biggest wins of the season. Paul Pierce finished with 25 points as the Celtics held the Clippers to 37.3 percent shooting.

Fourth quarter, 59.1, Celtics 87-84: You didn't expect this to be easy did you? The Clippers respond with two Chris Paul free throws and Rajon Rondo then misses a point-blank layup. Caron Butler missed a 3-point attempt but it's slammed home by Blake Griffin. Celtics ball.

Fourth quarter, 1:33, Celtics 87-80: A stunning 13-2 run has put the Celtics ahead with a chance at a critical road victory and split of this LA swing. Paul Pierce has scored 8 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and Mickael Pietrus just scored his first bucket on a fastbreak layup. Rajon Rondo has outplayed Chris Paul, scoring 12 points with 10 assists.

Fourth quarter, 2:47, Celtics 83-78: It was about this time yesterday that the Celtics led by 5 points and didn't score for the final 2:41, losing by 3. Let's see what happens tonight after a 9-0 run, fueled by a 3-pointer from Paul Pierce. Clippers ball.

Fourth quarter, 4:22, Clippers 78-74: And just like that the Celtics have wasted a 10-point lead because the offense simply can't score. They have scored 3 points in the past 4:28 while the Clippers have scored 17 in that span. Bobby Simmons's 3-pointer just gave the Clippers their largest lead since early in the third quarter. Do the Celtics have anything left to rally?

Fourth quarter, 5:48, Celtics 73-71: Clippers are on a 10-2 run after the Celtics came up empty on three consecutive possession and Chris Paul scored 6 consecutive points, including a 3-pointer that rolled in to reduce the lead to 2. Paul has 10 points and four assists in 34 minutes. Rajon Rondo has 10 points and eight assists.

Fourth quarter, 8:50, Celtics 70-61: Ray Allen scored the first 6 points of the quarter and the Clippers have been shut down offensively since the first half. Kevin Garnett just threw down an alley-oop and was fouled and has a free throw to attempt. The Clippers are shooting 24 percent (6 for 25) in the second half.

End of third quarter, Celtics 62-61: Celtics actually led 62-54 with 1:48 left in the quarter but they again broke down and allowed the Clippers to score the final 7 points of the period. Mo Williams has been significant for the Clippers with 19 points off the bench in 21 minutes. The Celtics are led by Paul Pierce, who has 15 points on 5-for-13 shooting. The Celtics collected 11 rebounds in that quarter after just four in the second period.

Third quarter, 2:52, Celtics 58-54: The Celtics have dominated the quarter with defense but the bad news is Brandon Bass just picked up his fifth foul as Blake Griffin tried jumping over him on an alley-oop. Griffin has 17 points and Chris Paul has just 2 in 25 minutes. The Celtics have three scorers in double figures led by Paul Pierce with 14.

Third quarter, 10:10, Clippers 48-45: Celtics begin the quarter with a spurt and three good defensive possessions. The key is rebounding. The Celtics were outrebounded 18-4 in the second quarter. They already have three in the first 1:50 of the third quarter.

Halftime, Clippers 48-39: With 5:13 left in the second quarter, the Celtics led this game 33-30. So if you do your math, a 18-6 run to end the half has put the Celtics in a hole. The Celtics are still shooting 50 percent but the Clippers are taking control on the board (23-14) and they have no answer for DeAndre Jordan, who already has nine. Blake Griffin has 15 points but Mo Williams has been a wild card with 14 off the bench. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett each have 8 for the Celtics.

Second quarter, 7:49, Celtics 29-27: The Celtics are giving Paul Pierce and Ray Allen plenty of rest but Kevin Garnett is not the same player as he was yesterday. He has no rebounds in 11 minutes and allowed Reggie Evans to chase down an offensive rebounds without giving much effort. Three Celtics have 6 points while Blake Griffin has 7 for the Clippers.

End of first quarter, Celtics 25-21: A positive quarter for the Celtics, who made 10 of 17 shots and are not wearing out the starters with minutes. Nine players have already played. The Clippers are hitting some tough shots but the Celtics have played strong defense. Blake Griffin has 7 points but no dunks. In fact, no dunks for the Clippers so far.

First quarter, 3:04, Celtics 19-16: The Celtics are playing with energy and execution in the early going. They are shooting 57 percent and Brandon Bass has already pulled down six rebounds and is not backing down from Blake Griffin. Ray Allen has missed his first three shots.

First quarter, 6:00, Celtics 13-11: The Celtics jumped out to an 11-4 lead but the Clippers responded with a 7-0 run. The start is encouraging for the Celtics considering how badly they played in the first period Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers. Paul Pierce has 5 points for Boston.

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

LOS ANGELES -- The Celtics are back at it again, trying to gain an important road win against the retooled Clippers. Doc Rivers said he will limit Kevin Garnett's minutes after he logged 35 in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Other than that, the Celtics are healthy. Jermaine O'Neal and Chris Wilcox are out, as expected.

Also, this is the first matchup between Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul since the Celtics tried to acquire Paul from the New Orleans Hornets for Rondo.

STARTING LINEUPS

BOSTON CELTICS (22-18)

PG Rajon Rondo
SG Ray Allen
SF Paul Pierce
PF Brandon Bass
C Kevin Garnett

INACTIVES: Jermaine O'Neal, Chris Wilcox

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (23-16)

PG Chris Paul
SG Randy Foye
SF Caron Butler
PF Blake Griffin
C DeAndre Jordan

INACTIVES: Chauncey Billups, Travis Leslie

OFFICIALS: Jason Phillips, Mark Ayotte, Derek Richardson

FInal: Lakers 97-94: The Celtics have their final play botched by the Lakers' switching defense and Paul Pierce is forced to shoot a long-range 3-pointer, after a Kevin Garnett rebound, Rajon Rondo's desperation 3-pointer also misses. A bitter loss there they were outscored 8-0 in the final 2:41.

Fourth quarter, 2:45, Celtics 91-89: The Celtics are clinging to a lead as the two teams continue to exchange baskets. Brandon Bass has canned 7 of his past 8 shots and has 15 points while Rajon Rondo has 24 pointss and 10 assists.

Fourth quarter, 6:27, Celtics 81-78: Ray Allen missed an open 3-pointer on the previous possession and Rajon Rondo found him again on the next possession and he didn't miss this time, giving the Celtics the lead. After a slow start, Allen has 14 points. Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum have 16 each for Los Angeles.

Fourth quarter, 8:32, Tied at 74: The Lakers already have three team fouls as the Celtics are trying to push the ball. Rajon Rondo has put his offensive hat on today with 22 points while Kobe Bryant has 16 for the Lakers, who have four starters in double figures. The Celtics are losing the rebounding battle but they are hanging in (36-28).

End of third quarter, Lakers 72-70: The two teams spent the quarter taking shots at each other and it seems like another Lakers-Celtics thriller. Metta World Peace was the best player on the floor for a stretch, scoring 10 points in the quarter while Kobe Bryant scored 5 straight to give the Lakers the lead back late in the quarter. Rajon Rondo leads all scorers with 20 points and also has 7 assists with 2 rebounds.

Third quarter, 4:42, Lakers 60-57: Metta World Peace (formerly Ron Artest) has taken over with 10 points in the quarter and his defense against Paul Pierce has changed the momentum. He hit back-to-back 3-pointers and then just stole a bad Greg Stiemsma pass and converted it into a dunk. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are a combined 4-for-17 shooting for 13 points.

Third quarter, 9:24, Celtics 50-47: The Celtics are on an 8-0 run after Rajon Rondo doubled on Kobe Bryant to give up a 3-pointer by Derek Fisher. He has scored 6 straight points to make up for his gaffe and now leads all scorers with 14 points. Kobe Bryant has 10 points in 4-for-13 shooting.

Halftime, Lakers 44-42: Celtics end the half on a 20-7 run to make it very interesting as Rajon Rondo ends the half with a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Celtics make 11 of 19 shots in the second quarter after 6-for-24 shooting in the first period. Rajon Rondo has 10 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds while the combination of Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum have 18 points and 17 rebounds. The Celtics have 17 rebounds as a team.

Second quarter, 2:50, Lakers 41-32: Celtics are on a 10-4 run and are beginning to hit shots. Meanwhile, we've got angry Kobe today as he has been barking about calls the while game and just picked up a technical for ripping his mask off after a non-call. He has 8 points while Andrew Bynum has 10 points and eight rebounds.

Second quarter, 5:29, Lakers 37-22: It's not Lakers dominance inasmuch as it's Celtics ineptness offensively. They are shooting 29.4 percent from the field (10 for 34) and the combination of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Brandon Bass are 1-for-15 with 2 points. They are lucky not to be trailing by 30. The Lakers have helped with 10 turnovers. But they winning the rebounding war 23-12.

End of first quarter, Lakers 24-14: Paul Pierce ends a porous first quarter with a jumper that hit the backboard and wasn't supposed to as the final shot of the quarter. The Celtics are shooting 25 percent and are lucky to be trailing by only 10. The Lakers have helped out with seven turnovers and three missed free throws. Kevin Garnett has 6 points for the Celtics while Pau Gasol has 7 and 7 rebounds for the Lakers.

First quarter, 3:20, Lakers 16-12: If you are a Celtics fan, you're encouraged because they are only down 4 despite shooting 29.4 percent (5 for 17) while the Lakers are shooting 53.8 percent. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Brandon Bass are a combined 0-for-8 shooting. Greg Stiemsma is the first man off the bench and just made a wicked block of a Pau Gasol shot.

First quarter, 5:55, Lakers 11-7: Bad news has Rajon Rondo just picked up his second foul on a meaningless reach-in on Pau Gasol. He was off to a positive offensive start with 5 points on 2-for-4 shooting. Gasol has 6 for the Lakers as Brandon Bass, who is 3 inches shorter, is having a difficult time covering him.

First quarter, 7:20, Lakers 9-5: The Celtics have begun the game missing five of seven shots while the Lakers are 4 of 6. Pau Gasol has 4 points from Kevin Garnett has 4 for Boston.

Final: Celtics 104-86: The Celtics were outscored 32-16 in the fourth quarter, making this game much closer than the game was for the first three quarters. The Celtics shot 47.7 percent and committed just seven turnovers while the Blazers shot 43.1 percent and committed 28 turnovers.

Fourth quarter, 5:13, Celtics 92-71: The Celtics reserves have scored 4 points in the quarter, making the game a lot closer than it should be. LaMarcus Aldridge remains the lone Blazer to score in double figures. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, each on the bench since the third quarter, each have 22 points.

End of third quarter, Celtics 88-54: The Blazers showed some life near the end of the quarter with a 9-4 run but it's much too play. They are playing for pride and Nate McMillan has decided to clear his bench and insert former BC forward Craig Smith.

Third quarter, 2:42, Celtics 84-45: Ray Allen and Paul Pierce each have 22 points and the Celtics have just five turnovers. The Blazers are shooting 36.2 percent and have 24 turnovers.

Third quarter, 8:00, Celtics 74-37: The Celtics are just trying not to lose concentration and play solid ball before heading out west to Los Angeles tomorrow. The Blazers are just trying to regain some respect. Ray Allen has 17 points for Boston while LaMarcus Aldridge has 16 for Portland.

Halftime, Celtics 65-30: Yeah there is a stunned excitment at TD Garden after the Celtics just anniliated the Blazers in the first half, scoring 38 points in the second quarter as it seems Portland has mailed this one in. LaMarcus Aldridge has scored 16 of Portland's 30 points on 6-for-9 shooting. The rest of the Blazers are 6 of 24. Paul Pierce has 17 points for the Celtics and Ray Allen has 12. Sasha Pavlovic has 8 off the bench for Boston.

Second quarter, 5:31, Celtics 48-21: Not sure what to make of this one, but it looks like the Blazers are mailing this one in with 15 turnovers in the first 18 1/2 minutes of the game. Gerald Wallace and Nicolas Batum have four each. Sasha Pavlovic has 8 points off the bench for Boston.

Second quarter, 10:18, Celtics 36-17: The refreshed Celtics are shooting 63 percent and have gotten 5 points from Sasha Pavlovic, including a steal and a layup as the Blazers look completely disinterested. They are shooting 42.1 percent with 11 turnovers in 14 minutes.

End of first quarter, Celtics 27-17: Things are coming along a little easier than expected because of nine Portland turnovers and 4-for-11 shooting from those Blazers not named LaMarcus Aldridge. He has 8 points while Kevin Garnett has 6 and Rajon Rondo 8 and two assists for the Celtics.

First quarter, 2:05, Celtics 21-14: Portland is playing sloppy basketball with seven turnovers already and it is depending on LaMarcus Aldridge, who has 8 points in 10 minutes. No other Blazer has scored more than 2. Kevin Garnett leads the Celtics with 6 points and they are shooting 52.9 percent in their green St. Patrick's Day uniforms.

First quarter, 5:55, Celtics 14-10: The Celtics have forced four Portland turnovers so far and have taken four more shot attempts en route to the early lead. Kevin Garnett has 6 points for the Celtics while Brandon Bass forced a Portland timeout with a rebound slam of a Rajon Rondo miss.

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

The Celtics will enter this game shorthanded with Chris Wilcox (personal reasons) and Mickael Pietrus (sore right knee) out for tonight as the Celtics prepare for their season-defining eight-game road trip. The Celtics are used to playing without their full roster and the Blazers will be without sparkplug swingman Elliot Williams, who dislocated his left shoulder during a practice Thursday at Emerson College.

STARTING LINEUPS

BOSTON CELTICS (20-17)

PG Rajon Rondo
SG Ray Allen
SF Paul Pierce
PF Brandon Bass
C Kevin Garnett

INACTIVES: Jermaine O'Neal, Mickael Pietrus

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (19-20)

PG Raymond Felton
SG Nicolas Batum
SF Gerald Wallace
PF LaMarcus Aldridge
C Marcus Camby

INACTIVES: Greg Oden, Elliot Williams

OFFICIALS: Eddie F. Rush, Josh Tiven, Gary Zielinski

Final: 76ers, 103-71: This one was never really in doubt after a 19-4 first-quarter run that gave the 76ers a 33-15 lead. The Celtics were embarrassed and such a performance was not surprising considering they played two OT games in the past three days. Paul Pierce led Boston with 16 points.

End of third quarter, 76ers, 80-53: The Celtics briefly cut the deficit to 59-39 with 9:46 left in the period but the 76ers responded with a big run. Doc Rivers has inserted the reserves and it looks like Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce will mercifully get the rest of the night off.

Third quarter, 4:30, 76ers, 73-45: The goal for the Celtics is not to get completely humiliated but that's going to be difficult. They have nothing to offer the 76ers tonight, and Philadelphia looks like a juggernaut after a day off to listen to all the talk about possibly losing first place in the Atlantic Division. Evan Turner has 23 points for the 76ers, including a stellar one-handed crossover layup on Paul Pierce.

Halftime, 76ers, 55-33: The good news is the Celtics went on a 13-6 run to end the half to make the score less offensive, but they still trail by a bunch and will need an Orlando-type comeback to secure first place in the Atlantic Division. The Celtics played no defense for the first quarter and a half, allowing the 76ers to score at will in the paint. They finally stepped up their defensive intensity near the end of the half and they got some stops.

Second quarter, 4:20, 76ers, 47-21: Sorry for the technical difficulties but this one is getting ghastly. The 76ers are running the Celtics out of Wells Fargo Center with Evan Turner treating the Celtics like they are Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament. He has 14 points in 17 minutes as the 76ers are shooting 54 percent. As expected, the Celtics look three steps slow, are missing easy shots, and have no offensive flow. It could be close to Doc Rivers pulling the plug and giving the starters some rest.

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

PHILADELPHIA -- The Celtics, after having played two overtime games in the past three days, now have a chance to claim first in the Atlantic Division with a win tonight against the athletic Philadelphia 76ers. The Celtics came out of Tuesday night healthy with Brandon Bass saying his sore left foot is good enough to play.

The 76ers will miss forward Thaddeus Young, who is out with an upper respiratory tract infection. Spencer Hawes (left Achilles' strain) is also out.

STARTING LINEUPS

BOSTON CELTICS (20-17)

PG Rajon Rondo
SG Ray Allen
SF Paul Pierce
PF Brandon Bass
C Kevin Garnett

INACTIVES: Jermaine O'Neal, E'Twaun Moore

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (22-17)

PG Jrue Holiday
SG Evan Turner
SF Andre Iguodala
PF Elton Brand
C Tony Battie

INACTIVES: Hawes and Young

OFFICIALS: Ken Mauer, Bennie Adams, Brent Barnaky

Final: Celtics 97, Rockets 92, OT

Paul Pierce scored 30 points on 9-for-21 shooting, including seven points in overtime, to lead the Celtics to a 97-92 victory over the Rockets, extending Boston's winning streak to five consecutive games. Pierce had 21 points in regulation on 7-for-18 shooting, but had nine in OT including the last four in a row for the Celtics, who improved to 20-17. Luis Scola led the Rockets (21-18) with 18 points and 14 rebounds.

Overtime

Celtics 91, Rockets 86, 3:01: A reverse up-and-under by Ray Allen, a perimeter jumper by Kevin Garnett and a foul-inducing runner by Paul Pierce enabled the Celtics to take control of a five-point lead in OT.

Rockets 84, Celtics 84, End of regulation: After Ray Allen buried a 3-pointer with 35.9 seconds to give the Celtics an 84-81 lead, Rondo blew an opportunity to put it away with a breakaway basket, but missed the layup, which opened the door for Goran Dragic to hit a baseline jumper in front of the Celtics' bench to tie it. Allen missed a last-gasp attempt to win it, sending it into overtime.

Rockets 82, Celtics 81, 55.9 seconds Kevin Garnett (11 points, 12 rebounds) went to the line when he drew a foul from Sameul Dalember (his fifth personal) on a defensive rebound of a Kyle Lowry missed jumper. Garnett hit both foul shots to cut it to one.

Rockets 80, Celtics 77, 2:49: The Celtics turned up the screws defensively, forcing a pair of turnovers on shot-clock violations, and went on a seven-point tear on a Pierce foul shot, an Allen lane jumper, and a Bass elbow-jumper to cut it to five. After Lowry missed a lane penetrating runner, Rondo fed Allen on the run-out for a foul-inducing basket that pulled Boston within three. Allen missed the chance to cut it to two with his missed foul shot.

Rockets 78, Celtics 70, 5:50: The Rockets expanded their lead to 10, 78-68, when Scola buried a huge perimter jumper with 7:48 to go. Scola, playing with four fouls, picked up his fifth with 6:39 left, which sent Paul Pierce to the line for a pair of foul shots that helped the Celtics cut it to eight.

Rockets 76, Celtics 67, 8:30: The Celtics slugged their way to within four points, 71-67, on Avery Bradley's baseline jumper, but Goran Dragic took over the Rockets and converted on a steal and breakaway dunk and then followed with a 3-point burial (over Garnett's outstretched hand) to give Houston a nine-point lead.

Rockets 68, Celtics 63: End of third quarter After Chris Wilcox hit a pair of foul shots to give the Celtics a 63-61 lead, Kyle Lowry buried a trey with 1:58 to go to spark a seven-point tear in the final two minutes of the third, enabling the Rockets to build a five-point lead. Courtney Lee followed Lowry's 3-pointer with a pair of foul shots and Samuel Dalembert capped the run with an offensive putback.

Celtics 61, Rockets 61, 2:33: The Rockets went on an 11-4 run to tie it on a pair of foul shots by Kyle Lowry.

Celtics 57, Rockets 50, 6:05: After Paul Pierce hit a pair of foul shots to expand Boston's lead to 10, 57-47, Scola hit a baseline jumper and Lowry added a foul shot to cut it to seven. The Rockets have committed twice as many turnovers (12) as the Celtics (6) at this juncture of the game.

Celtics 55, Rockets 45: 8:50: After a pair of foul shots by Chandler Parsons pulled the Rockets within 46-43, the Celtics went on a 9-2 run, capped by Brandon Bass's breakaway dunk, to control a 10-point lead, Boston's first of the game.

Halftime: Celtics 46, Rockets 40

Brandon Bass drained a 17-foot jumper with 0.7 seconds left before intermission to give the Celtics a 46-40 lead at the break. Paul Pierce led the way with 10 first-half points, while Rajon Rondo had 9 points and 6 assists. Luis Scola (12 points, 8 rebounds) led the way for the Rockets, who wound up hitting 41 percent from the field (15 of 37) in the first half. The Celtics, meanwhile, made 48 percent of their shots (21 of 44), but got outrebounded by the Rockets, 25-19.

Second quarter

Celtics 44, Rockets 40, 14.5 Doc Rivers signals for a 20-second timeout to gather his troops after the Celtics took an 8-point lead (44-36) and allowed the Rockets to trim it to four.

Celtics 40, Rockets 35, 2:48: Paul Pierce scored on a pretty driving scoop to break a 35-35 tie and, with the shot clock ticking down, Allen converted a kick-out by Rondo for a clutch trey that extended Boston's lead to five points.

Rockets 33, Celtics 31, 5:15: After Ray Allen made a nifty dish to Chris Wilcox and then followed with a flashy scoop to pull the Celtics within 30-29, Paul Pierce gave Boston its first lead since 13-12 when he got a jumper to fall, giving the Celts a 31-30 lead with 5:55 to go. Kyle Lowry, however, wrested the lead away with his 3-point burial with 5:32 to go.

Rockets 28, Celtics 25, 8:55: Greg Stiemsma knocked down a baseline jumper and Avery Bradley followed with a runner to pull the Celtics within three points.

First quarter

End of first quarter: Rockets 28, Celtics 21 Luis Scola led the way for the Rockets, taking the Celtics to escuela with his 11-point, 7-rebound first quarter effort. The Rockets hit the ground running, hitting 63 percent of their field goals (10 of 16) while the Celtics struggled from the outset, missing their first four shots in a row before Kevin Garnett made Boston's first basket with 9:36 to go. Rajon Rondo led the Celtics with 9 points in the first quarter. Brandon Bass departed the floor with 7:26 remaining to get his left ankle taped, but did not play for the remainder of the quarter.

Rockets 24, Celtics 19, 1:48: Luis Scola was en fuego going on a seven-point tear to help the Rockets open up a 21-15 lead. Kevin Martin's trey made it a nine point game, before Rajon Rondo answered with a 17-footer to cut it to seven.

Celtics 13, Rockets 12, 5:25: The Celtics held a scant 1-point lead when the first stoppage of play occurred for an official timeout.

Pregame

Welcome to TD Garden where the Celtics (19-17) will attempt to extend their winning streak to five consecutive games when they host the Houston Rockets (21-17) Tuesday night. If the Celtics make it five in a row, it will be the second time they strung together as many consecutive wins this season, dating back to a similar stretch at the beginning of last month when they won at Cleveland Jan. 31 and then posted consecutive home wins over the Raptors, Knicks, Grizzlies, and Bobcats.

The projected starting lineups:

BOSTON CELTICS

G Ray Allen
F Brandon Bass
F Kevin Garnett
G/F Paul Pierce
G Rajon Rondo

HOUSTON ROCKETS

C Samuel Dalembert
G Kyle Lowry
G Kevin Martin
F Chandler Parsons
F/C Luis Scola

Final: Celtics 115-111: Rajon Rondo finishes with an amazing 18 points, 17 rebounds and 20 assists. He missed 13 shots but he made the plays down the stretch as the Celtics win their fourth straight game.

Overtime, 10.4, Celtics 115-109: It looks like the Celtics are going to hold on after a 7-0 run in overtime. Jeremy Lin is 1-for-7 shooting in overtime and has 14 points on 6 of 16 field goals.

Overtime, 3:52, Tied at 105: Carmelo Anthony missed a 20 footer at the buzzer and the two teams are now slugging it out in overtime. Five players in double figures for New York, four for Boston.

Fourth quarter, 4.9, Tied at 103: Paul Pierce just sank a contested 3-pointer to tie the game. He has 34 points. Knicks ball.

Fourth quarter, 35.4, Knicks 101-100: Remember when we mentioned that Carmelo Anthony would be a factor. He has scored the Knicks' last 6 points, including a jumper to give New York the lead. He has 23 points. Jeremy Lin has 12 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Rajon Rondo has a triple double (18 assists) but has also missed 12 shots.

Fourth quarter, 2:07, Celtics 96-95: Linsanity has suddenly come to life with 6 consecutive points, including an uncontested 3-pointer to bring the Knicks with within 1 point. The Celtics have been solid but fouled way too much early in the quarter, putting the Knicks to the free throw line. A key play occurred when Lin lost the ball only to beat Paul Pierce to the ball and then streak for a layup.

Fourth quarter, 7:03, Celtics 88-82: New York is on a 17-8 run but the Celtics are making the plays to hold onto the league. Their defense in the second half has been stellar. Carmelo Anthony may be a factor down the stretch. He was hit in the face area on a reach in by Mickael Pietrus and didn't appreciate it. He was visibly upset.

Fourth quarter, 8:40, Celtics 85-78: The Knicks are making a run using their bench, which has scored 39 of their points. Steve Novak has canned four 3-pointers while Baron Davis has spelled Jeremy Lin and scored 8 points with six assists. Rajon Rondo is still one rebound away from a triple double.

End of third quarter, Celtics 80-72: New York climbs back into the game with a 7-0 run to end the quarter, including a 3-pointer from Steve Novak, who has three for the game. The Celtics are being led by Paul Pierce, who has 25 points and Rajon Rondo, who has 13 points, 15 assists and 9 rebounds.

Third quarter, 1:32, Celtics 80-65: Wow, the Celtics are on a stirring run, having outscored the Knicks 29-9 run in the quarter while Rajon Rondo has 13 points, 15 assists and 9 rebounds. Paul Pierce has 15 points in the period while the Knicks are 4-for-15 shooting in the quarter with five turnovers.

Third quarter, 8:49, Tied at 60: Celtics are always caused two New York turnovers and are running their offense with a better flow, getting a 3-pointer from Paul Pierce the even the game. The Knicks have 16 turnovers while Jeremy Lin has 4 points, 2 assists and 2 rebounds.

Halftime, Knicks 56-51: It's a minor miracle that the Celtics are so close. They allowed the Knicks to make 13 of 19 shots in the second quarter and trailed by as many as 12. But they ended the half on an 11-4 run in the last 3 minutes, helped by New York turnovers. The Knicks committed nine in the quarter. Carmelo Anthony has 12 points for the Knicks while Brandon Bass has 12 for the Celtics.

Second quarter, 2:55, Knicks 52-43: Celtics are going through another offensive drought while the Knicks are clicking on all cylinders. New York is shooting 62.5 percent and are 11-for-15 shooting in the quarter. That's a byproduct of poor defense. Paul Pierce and Brandon Bass each have 10 points while Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire each have 10 for New York. The New York bench has outscored its Boston counterparts 21-9.

Second quarter, 8:56, Knicks 38-36: The teams are trading baskets but the Celtics still haven't figured out how to stop the Knicks, who are shooting 56.5 percent and have 19 points from their bench. Jeremy Lin hit an off-balance runner and has 2 points on 1-for-3 shooting. Paul Pierce leads Boston with 10 points.

End of first quarter, Knicks 29-27: Each teams exchange 12-0 runs but it ends up being a terrible defensive quarter for the Celtics, who allow the Knicks to shoot 50 percent, score 10 points in the paint and get 14 points from the bench. Paul Pierce leads the Celtics with 10 points and five rebounds.

First quarter, 2:47, Celtics 21-20: Knicks are on an 8-0 run as the Celtics are on another one of their scoring droughts. Carmelo Anthony leads New York with 6 points and has attempted four free throws. Paul Pierce leads Boston with 8 and Brandon Bass has 6.

First quarter, 6:51, Celtics 16-10: Defense is optional so far as both teams are going at each other with the Celtics are having ran off a 12-0 run. Paul Pierce and Brandon Bass each have 6 points while Jeremy Lin has two fouls and has been replaced by Baron Davis.

Final: Celtics 107, Nets 94

Paul Pierce scored a team-high 27 points on 10-for-14 shooting and Kevin Garnett recorded his third double-double in the last four games with 20 points and 10 rebounds as the Celtics routed the Nets, 107-94, Friday night at TD Garden to expand their modest winning streak to three games.

Rajon Rondo and Chris Wilcox each had 14 points apiece for the Celtics, who improved to 18-17.

Brooks Lopez led all scorers with 28 points (8 of 10 from the foul line).

Fourth quarter

Celtics 103, Nets 86, 2:09: Gino Time! Kevin Garnett busted a few moves, as he delighted in his favorite part of a runaway Celtics victories.

Celtics 103, Nets 83, 3:39: Paul Pierce came off the floor, his work done for the night after scoring 27 points on 10-for-14 shooting (3 of 4 from the 3-point arc) to go along with 8 assists and 4 rebounds. Avery Bradley also came off the floor, but he limped off and headed back to the locker room with an injured right ankle.

Celtics 99, Nets 78, 6:15: Pierce came off the bench and stuck a 3-pointer, giving him 27 points for the game and the Celtics some breathing room with a 21-point lead. Humphries had a layup, but Avery Bradley converted a pretty reverse up-and-under off a Garnett feed to make it a 21-point game again, which prompted the Nets to signal for a timeout.

Celtics 94, Nets 76, 8:03: The Celtics endured a bit of spotty play from its reserves at the opening of the fourth quarter, which allowed the Nets to close to within 90-75. But a Sasha Pavlovic baseline jumper enabled the Celtics to maintain an 18-point lead.

Celtics 87, Nets 71, end of 3rd quarter: Just when it appeared they had reached the tipping point after falling behind by as many as 26 points with 5:15 remaining in the third quarter, the Nets mounted a late rally, outscoring the Celtics, 9-2, to pull within 14, 85-71, on Jordan Farmer's 3-pointer with 39 seconds to go. The Nets' defense sparked things when they forced three consecutive turnovers and scored all three times, with Gerald Green going in for breakaway dunks on the first two and Farmer following up with a breakaway layup.

Celtics 83, Nets 62, 2:46: The Nets showed some life after whittling a 26-point deficit to 19 on Gerald Green's alley-oop slam, but Pierce continued to scorch the Nets, hitting a jumper to expand Boston's lead to 21, giving him 24 points.

Celtics 79, Nets 53, 5:15: Paul Pierce went on a 11-point tear, scoring half of the Celtics' first 20 points of the second half, to match the Nets' output during that same stretch as Boston took a whopping 26-point lead.

Halftime: Celtics 58, Nets 40

The Celtics had this one well in hand by intermission after hitting 50 percent from the field (24 for 48) while holding the Nets to 33.3 percent (12-for-36) shooting. New Jersey's Brook Lopez led all scorers in the first half with 15 points, hitting 7 of 9 from the foul line. Paul Pierce and Mickael Pietrus led the way for the Celtics with 11 points each while Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett each had 10 points apiece.

Second quarter

Celtics 54, Nets 34, 1:22: The Celtics continued to pour it on, with Rondo scoring 4 in a row followed by a pair of free throws by Pietrus. The Nets, meanwhile, went 6 1/2 minutes between field goals, as the Celtics led by as many as 21 (52-31) . Paul Pierce left for the locker room with cramps during a timeout with 1:22 to go.

Celtics 46, Nets 30, 4:10: Garnett hit a jumper that sparked an 8-point spurt that was followed by a Pietrus breakaway dunk (off a Rondo steal), a Rondo second-chance putback, and another Pietrus breakaway dunk/chin-up (off another Rondo steal) to give Boston a commanding 16-point lead.

Celtics 38, Nets 30, 5:57: After the Nets pulled within 4, 34-30, the Celtics pulled away, getting a pair of foul shots from Pierce and a nifty transition finger roll by Garnett to give the Celtics an 8-point cushion.

Celtics 31, Nets 25, 9:29: Anthony Morrow drilled a 3-pointer, the first for the Nets after missing their first six, to cut the Celtics' lead to 6 points.

End of first quarter

Celtics 29, Nets 20: Paul Pierce led the way with 9 first-quarter points as the Celtics led by 11 three times during the quarter. Deron Williams led the Nets with 10 points, 4 coming from the foul line.

Celtics 25, Nets 16, 3:27: After the Nets pulled within 6, 22-16, on a pair of foul shots by Deron Williams, Chris Wilcox, in the game for Kevin Garnett, converted a foul-inducing dunk and the free throw to give the Celtics a 9-point lead.

Celtics 20, Nets 9, 5:32: Paul Pierce stuck a 3-pointer, his first of the game, to give the Celtics an 11-point lead.

Celtics 11, Nets 4, 8:32: The Celtics reeled off 9 unanswered points to rally from an early 4-2 deficit. Kevin Garnett, who had a fastbreak dunk (off a breakaway feed from Rajon Rondo), capped the run with a baseline jumper over Kris Humphries, formely Mr. Kim Kardashian, who was lustily booed when he took his first jump shot and then cheered when he missed it..

Pregame

Welcome to TD Garden where the Celtics (17-17) Friday night hosted the New Jersey Nets (11-25) . The Celtics went into the game minus guard Ray Allen, who was sick. Mickael Pietrus replaced Allen in the starting lineup. Boston entered the game after winning two in a row at Cleveland Monday, 86-83, and vs. the Milwaukee Bucks Tuesday, 102-96. The last time the Celtics posted back-to-back wins was early last month in a pair of home wins over Memphis (98-80) and Charlotte (94-84).

By Michael Vega, Globe Staff

Celtics coach Doc Rivers indicated before Friday night's game vs. the Nets that Ray Allen, who was sick, would sit out. Mickael Pietrus was expected to start in Allen's place.

The projected starters:

Boston Celtics (17-17)

F Brandon Bass
F/C Kevin Garnett
G/F Paul Pierce
G/F Mickael Pietrus
G Rajon Rondo

New Jersey Nets (11-25)

G/F MarShon Brooks
F Kris Humphries
C Brook Lopez
G/F DeShawn Stevenson
G Deron Williams

Final: Celtics, 102-96: Boston learned a lesson about coasting down the stretch as the Bucks used a 13-0 run to cut the deficit to 2 points with 24.2 seconds left and Kevin Garnett saved the Celtics with four free throws. Ersan Ilyasova and Drew Gooden combined for 48 points and 18 rebounds. The rest of the Bucks scored 48 on 21-for-62 shooting. Rajon Rondo had a triple-double (15 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists).

Fourth quarter, 2.1, Celtics, 100-96: The Bucks went on a 13-0 run to cut the deficit to 2 before Kevin Garnett sank two free throws and he is at the line for two more.

Fourth quarter, 1:57, Celtics, 98-85: The Celtics have not scored 100 points at home all season but need to 2 points to finally get to that mark. All five starters are in double figure scoring while the Bucks have scored 31 points in the second half after 54 in the first. Drew Gooden and Ersan Ilyasova have combined for 45 points and 16 rebounds.

Fourth quarter, 7:41, Celtics, 86-71: The Celtics have avoided the big Milwaukee run so far as the Bucks have just 17 points since halftime. Milwaukee is shooting 7 of 31 (22.5 percent) from the field since the break. Drew Gooden has 20 points but 16 were in the first half. Rajon Rondo is on a triple-double watch with 15 points. 9 rebounds, and 8 assists.

End of third quarter, Celtics, 77-67: The Celtics didn't score for the final 2:16 of the period, so watch out for one of their customary scoring droughts. But the quarter was a very good one. They made 13 of 24 shots in the period while Rajon Rondo is one rebound and two assists from another triple-double.

Third quarter, 2:53, Celtics, 75-64: Celtics are on a 23-6 run and have done it by pushing the ball and hitting shots. They are 12 for 20 from the field in the quarter compared with 4 of 18 for the Bucks. Rajon Rondo has 15 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds. Four Celtics have scored in double figures.

Third quarter, 5:20, Celtics, 65-60: The Celtics have struggled this year in third quarters but they are trying to change that trend with an early second-half push against the Bucks. Kevin Garnett has speadheaded this charge with 6 points during the 15-6 run while Brandon Bass has also helped out.

Halftime, Bucks, 54-50: The Celtics scored 5 points in the final eight seconds to make it close after a rather putrid first half defensively. Drew Gooden has burned Boston for 16 points on 5-for-11 shooting with six rebounds. Rajon Rondo leads the Celtics with 13 points while Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen have 8.

Second quarter, 2:56, Bucks, 47-39: The Bucks are basically outhustling the Celtics and hitting the boards. They have attempted nine more shots while the combination of Ersan Ilyasova and Drew Gooden already has 22 points and nine rebounds. Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett have 8 points apiece for Boston.

Second quarter, 8:47, Bucks, 31-28: Celtics going through another one of their lulls and the bench is trying to pick them up. Keyon Dooling is playing quality minutes while Rajon Rondo leads the team with 8 points. Milwaukee is shooting just 38.4 percent but it has taken eight more shots than the Celtics.

End of first quarter, Tied at 25: The Bucks have 21 points from three players and that's how they have stayed close. Ersan Ilyasova already has 10 points and Drew Gooden has 6 and five rebounds. Rajon Rondo has 8 points and Ray Allen has 6. The Celtics are shooting 47.8 percent.

First quarter, 5:34, Celtics, 14-11: The Celtics are trying to stay away from the silly turnovers on "home run" plays but they already have one in that category as Rajon Rondo's skip pass went out of bounds. Rondo already has 4 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists. Erson Ilyasova has 4 points and 2 rebounds for Milwaukee.

First quarter, 7:34, Celtics, 10-5: Ray Allen has already hit two 3-pointers, including one that was banked in as the 24-second clock expired as the Celtics are off to another strong start. They are 4 for 8 shooting while Milwaukee is 1 for 7.

The Celtics are finally home after five games and two weeks away from TD Garden and won last night against the Cavaliers in Cleveland. The Celtics are relatively healthy with Jermaine O'Neal the lone injured player. He saw a hand specialist today, but coach Doc Rivers had no further updates on O'Neal's health.

The player to watch tonight is Milwaukee forward Ersan Ilyasova, who is averaging 14.1 points and 11 rebounds in 13 games this month. He scored 13 points with 11 rebounds last night against the Washington Wizards.

STARTING LINEUPS

BOSTON CELTICS (16-17)

PG Rajon Rondo
SG Ray Allen
SF Paul Pierce
PF Brandon Bass
C Kevin Garnett

INACTIVES: E'Twaun Moore, Jermaine O'Neal

MILWAUKEE BUCKS (13-20)

PG Brandon Jennings
SG Shaun Livingston
SF Carlos Delfino
PF Ersan Ilyasova
C Drew Gooden

INACTIVES: Andrew Bogut

OFFICIALS: Bill Spooner, John Goble, Courtney Kirkland

Final: West 152-149: The game was exciting at the finish with LeBron James making a key turnover with 1.1 left as the West held on. LeBron James and Kevin Durant each scored 36 points. Rajon Rondo finished with 8 assists.

End of third quarter, West 124-112: LeBron James began a barrage of 3-pointers for the East as they are within striking distance in what should be a competitive fourth quarter. Kevin Durant has a game-high 34 points while Kobe Bryant has 24. LeBron James has 28 for the East while Dwyane Wade has 20. Rajon Rondo has four assists and Paul Pierce has 3 points.

Halftime, West 88-69: The West just set an NBA record for most points in a half with a mind-boggling offensive display where they shot 60 percent and canned eight 3-pointers. The combination of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have 38 points while Kobe Bryant has 14 and Blake Griffin has 13. For the East, Dwyane Wade has 14 and LeBron James 13. Paul Pierce has 3 points on 1-for-6 shooting while Rajon Rondo has two assists.

End of first quarter, West 39-28: Kevin Durant ;leads the West with 13 points and five rebounds while LeBron James leads the East with 11 and Dwyane Wade has 8. Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo appeared with 1:40 left and Pierce missed a stepbacl jumper.

Welcome to Orlando, home of the 2012 NBA All-Star Game. We'll give you quarterly updates and some notes on how the Celtics -- Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo -- are faring.

Final, Thunder 119-104: A respectable score considering the Celtics trailed by 27 in the second half. They cut it to 6 before Kevin Durant responded with a couple of bank shots. The Thunder shot an even 50 percent while the Celtics made 48.6 percent of their shots.

Fourth quarter, 2:46, Thunder 112-102: Celtics cut it to 6 after a Paul Pierce free throw with 3:31 left but the Thunder have responded and the Celtics need some 3-pointers and a couple of defensive stops to make a late rally. Russell Westbrook has 31 for Oklahoma City while Kevin Garnett has 23 and 13 rebounds for Boston.

Fourth quarter, 5:15, Thunder 106-95: An 8-2 run has the home fans a little nervous but the Celtics have already accomplished their goal of not getting embarrassed and playing good basketball against a good team. The Thunder has 34 second-half points after scoring 72 in the first.

Fourth quarter, 7:56, Thunder 104-87: The Celtics cut the deficit to 13 but the Thunder comes back with 4 straight points and now the Celtics need almost a miracle, but they have fought back enough to turn this game into a positive. Paul Pierce has 19 points for Boston.

Third quarter, 2:35, Thunder 92-70: The Celtics are fighting back but right now they are way too far back for any suspense. Paul Pierce has scored 9 of his 14 points in the period while Ray Allen, Avery Bradley, and Mickael Pietrus each have 10.

Third quarter, 6:32, Thunder 83-56: The Celtics are really trying but the Thunder are hitting every open shot and are 9 of 14 from the 3-point line. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook each have 18 and Daequan Cook has 16 for OKC. Kevin Garnett has 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics.

Halftime, Thunder 72-49: Yeah it's come to this. The Celtics actually led this game, 22-12, so that makes for a 60-27 run to end the half and the Thunder looked like the Harlem Globetrotters out there. They already have four players in double figures and Royal Ivey (yes Royal Ivey) has 8. Kevin Garnett has been the lone bright spot for the Celtics with 15 points and eight rebounds.

Second quarter, 7:12, Thunder 51-33: Oklahoma City went on a 30-3 run to steamroll the Celtics and turn this into a scrimmage. The Celtics are shooting 50 percent but the Thunder have taken 10 more shots and are 5 for 8 from the 3-point line. Daequan Cook has 13 points for OKC.

End of first quarter, Thunder 35-25: Oklahoma City puts on a scoring barrage and ends the quarter on a 21-2 run for a 10-point lead. The Thunder scored 35 points and shot just 45.8 percent but they attempted seven more shots than the Celtics and canned three 3-pointers. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook each have 9 points for OKC.

First quarter, 2:44, Celtics 25-24: A strong effort by Boston so far but there are problems arising. The Thunder are pounding the offensive boards and they have attempted five more shots. That's why they are behind by 1 point despite shooting 38.9 percent. The Celtics are at 69.2 but have three turnovers. Kevin Garnett leads the Celtics with 7 points.

First quarter, 7:34, Celtics 13-5: The Big Three is playing well in the early going with all 13 Boston points. Paul Pierce has two fouls so Doc Rivers is going to have to be careful for the rest of the half.

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

Both players are headed back to Boston to see doctors and it is uncertain if they will be available for the Celtics' Feb. 28 matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The good news is Kevin Garnett is back and will play tonight. Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he will extend Garnett's minutes to 35, five more than usual.

Meanwhile, Rivers added that the team is likely to seek another big man if Wilcox and O'Neal are out for any extended period of time.

"It's pointing that way for sure," Rivers said. "But I think we'll find out more once Chris and JO get back, but the way they've been injured so much, we may need to get one anyway. I think that's something that Danny [Ainge] and I will talk over [during] the All-Star break. But listen, if there's a big out there, there's a reason he's out there. There's someone out there, we just don't know who it is yet."

Final, Mavericks 89-73: This game was not as close as the score indicates. The Celtics were just trying to field a competitive team after two injuries to Chris Wilcox and Jermaine O'Neal. Wouldn't be surprised if there was a roster move tomorrow because of the lack of depth.

Fourth quarter, 8:47, Mavericks 80-59: The Celtics are just trying to keep it respectable and play hard. That's what this season has been reduced to. Paul Pierce has 20 points for the Celtics.

End of third quarter, Mavericks 70-53: The Celtics are just trying to field a team right now as Jermaine O'Neal and Chris Wilcox both left the game with injuries. O'Neal has a sprained left wrist and Wilcox has a strained adductor muscle. The Celtics showed some list with a 11-2 run to cut it to 68-53 until Shawn Marion ended the period with an improbable tip of a Lamar Odom shot.

Third quarter, 8:45 Mavericks 54-36: Exactly what the Celtics wanted to avoid, an early Mavericks spurt to begin the quarter. Dallas on a 10-2 run and Dirk Nowitzki just drained an open 3-pointer after someone left him open off an inbounds pass. It's turning into a disaster here.

Halftime, Mavericks 44-34: Dirk Nowitzki already has 21 points, including 14 in the second quarter and the Celtics are lucky to be down just 10. The Celtics shot 40.5 percent with Paul Pierce scoring 11 points and Ray Allen and Avery Bradley 8. Outside of Nowitzki, the Mavericks are 10-for-26 shooting for 23 points.

Second quarter, 5:45, Mavericks 33-21: The Celtics can't win if they don't score and they have 21 points in 18:15, shooting 32 percent and missing a litter of open jumpers. The Mavericks are just playing better offensively and Dirk Nowitzki already has 13 points and Chris Wilcox three fouls.

End of first quarter, Mavericks 20-15: An ugly first period as expected with the Celtics shooting 30 percent and Dallas shootign 37.5. Chris Wilcox has already picked up two fouls on Dirk Nowitzki, who has 7 points. Paul Pierce and Avery Bradley each have 6 points but the rest of the Celtics are 1-for-9 shooting.

First quarter, 4:23, Mavericks 13-8: The Celtics are 4-for-13 shooting and Avery Bradley has hit three of those shots. The rest of the Celtics are 1-for-7 shooting. Dirk Nowitzki already has 7 points and Brendan Haywood has 4. Jermaine O'Neal already has three blocked shots.

First quarter, 6:39, Mavericks 10-6: Avery Bradley has already hit two jumpers but the rest of the Celtics have taken just four shots and Ray Allen has already missed two of those. Dirk Nowitzki already has 4 points but Jermaine O'Neal had a nice block of Vince Carter's dunk attempt.

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

DALLAS -- Well the good news for the Celtics is they are back on the court after last night's debacle in Detroit. The bad news they will be without two key players after Rajon Rondo was suspended two games for tossing the ball at official Sean Wright and Kevin Garnett missed a second game with a personal family matter.

And the Celtics run into a Mavericks team pretty irked after losing to Linsanity yesterday in New York.

STARTING LINEUPS

BOSTON CELTCS (15-15)

PG Avery Bradley
SG Ray Allen
SF Paul Pierce
PF Chris Wilcox
C Jermaine O'Neal

DALLAS MAVERICKS (20-11)

PG Jason Kidd
SG Vince Carter
SF Shawn Marion
PF Dirk Nowitzki
C Brendan Haywood

OFFICIALS: Ed Malloy, Rodney Mott, Scott Wall

Final: Pistons 96-81: An embarrassing loss for the Celtics that may prove that it could be time to rebuild this team. Detroit wins despite shooting 37.8 percent from the field. That's because the Celtics committed 24 turnovers and 31 personal fouls. Rajon Rondo got tossed for arguing a non-call and Kevin Garnett missed the game because of a family matter.

Fourth quarter, 7:17, Pistons 81-66: The Celtics had their chances for a run but suddenly can't score while the Pistons are just running their offense and drawing fouls. The Celtics have spent all night bailing out ugly Detroit drives to the basket with silly fouls.

Fourth quarter, 8:48, Pistons 77-66: The Celtics need everything to go right to make a run and what's amazing is that Detroit is shooting 36.2 percent from the field and leading comfortably. That's because they have attempted 40 free throws, making just 23. The Celtics have damaged any chances of a run with 21 turnovers, eight int he second half.

End of third quarter, Pistons 75-61: The Celtics began the quarter with a spurt, cut the lead to 5 and then went 5:59 without a point and are now buried, facing their second loss to the downtrodden Pistons in five days. The Celtics have 18 turnovers and Rajon Rondo has been ejected for arguing a non-call in the third quarter.

Third quarter, 5:19, Pistons 61-54: The Celtics are playing better defense but have missed some open shots that could have closed the deficit even further. Ray Allen has two 3-pointers in the quarter while Paul Pierce has also added 5 points. The Celtics have committed one foul in the quarter.

Halftime, Pistons 55-42: The Celtics are just being frustrated by their litter of fouls and silly turnovers. They have allowed the Pistons 29 free throw attempts as well as committing 13 turnovers compared with Detroit's 5. Rodney Stuckey has 13 while Tayshaun Prince has 10. Detroit has 11 offensive rebounds for 15 second-chance points. The Celtics have 2.

Second quarter, 2:50, Pistons 47-36: The Celtics are 6 for their past 18 from the field while the Pistons are living at the free-throw line. They have attempted 26 free throws in the first half compared with eight for the Celtics. Ray Allen has yet to score while Paul Pierce and Chris Wilcox each have 10 points. Rodney Stuckey has 11 for Detroit.

Second quarter, 8:28, Pistons 33-27: The Celtics are killing themselves with silly fouls. They have already committed 14 to Detroits' 6 and the Pistons has shot a whopping 21 free throws in 15 1/2 minutes of action. Ray Allen remains scoreles for Boston.

End of first quarter, tied at 26: It seems like the Celtics are 10 points down because the Pistons has dominated the pace. But the Celtics are hanging close as Ray Allen has yet to score. The Celtics need a big game from Allen.

First quarter, 2:31, Pistons 23-22: Detroit is playing more active and pushing the ball and the Celtics are a step slow on defense. Jermaine O'Neal was off to a good start but picked up two early fouls. Remember no Kevin Garnett tonight because of family reasons.

First quarter, 5:49, Celtics 18-14: The Celtics should be leading by more given they have hit 8 of their first 9 shots, but the Pistons have two 3-pointers from Brandon Knight and 4 points from Rodney Stuckey. Jermaine O'Neal leads the Celtics with 6 points and Paul Pierce has 5.

First quarter, 7:57, Tied at 10: The Celtics are more focused defensively but that has left unproven Brandon Knight open at the 3-point line and he's hit two so far. Jermaine O'Neal has 6 points for the Celtics.

Final: Bulls 89-80: The game was tied at 69 with 8:29 left but the Bulls sealed the game with a 12-0 run as the Celtics once again couldn't score when they needed to. Kevin Garnett led the Celtics with 18 points and Rajon Rondo had 17 on 7-for-17 shooting. Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer each scored 23 for Chicago.

Fourth quarter, 47.0, Bulls 87-78: Celtics are about done after Luol Deng's sixth 3-pointer of the game. He is 1 for 6 on two-pointers and 6 for 9 on 3-pointers. The Celtics have lapsed on defense all night.

Fourth quarter, 6:31, Bulls 77-69: A series of bad breaks have put the Celtics in a hole. Taj Gibson caught a tipped pass near the basket for a layup and Luol Deng took a desperation 3-pointer for another hoop. The Celtics need a run now.

Fourth quarter, 8:42, Bulls 69-67: The Celtics haven't contained the Bulls from the 3-point line and that is the difference. Chicago is 8 for 18 from the 3-point line, four of those by Luol Deng and one by Mike James, who is here on a 10-day contract. The Celtics are 3 for 11 from the 3-point line, 0 for 3 by Mickael Pietrus.

End of third quarter, Bulls 60-59: Well, the Celtics at least keep you interested. After falling behind 53-37, they end the quarter on a 22-7 run as Ray Allen suddenly has returned to form with three 3-pointers during the run. Kevin Garnett had a chance to give the Celtics the lead but missed a streaking dunk.

Third quarter, 3:55, Bulls 56-51: Celtics are slowly making this game interesting as the offense has suddenly reappeared after taking the second quarter off. Ray Allen just drained his first 3-pointer since the last meeting with Chicago, He now has 4 points while Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo lead Boston with 12.

Third quarter, 5:51, Bulls 54-45: There is too much time left to relent, so the Celtics respond with an 8-2 run to climb back to within single digits. Paul Pierce has been more aggressive but Ray Allen is 0-for-6 shooting with 1 points. Kevin Garnett has 12 points and eight rebounds.

Third quarter, 9:58, Bulls 51-35: It's gone from bad to worse for the Celtics, who now have scored 2 points in the past 7:14. That's pretty hard to do. Meanwhile, the Bulls have gotten over their shooting troubles and are scoring at will. Four players in double figures.

Halftime, Bulls 44-35: Celtics were in good shape at the 5:12 mark, leading 33-29 but then they were flat awful. The scored one field goal the rest fo the period as the Bulls went on a 13-0 run to take control. Now the Celtics are in real trouble. They were 3-for-15 shooting in the quarter.

Second quarter, 5:26, Celtics 31-26: The Bulls are playing way below their usual level and the Celtics aren't taking advantage like they should. The Bulls are shooting 30 percent and have committed eight turnovers. Their backcourt of C.J. Watson and Ronnie Brewer are a combined 1-for-9 shooting, but the Celtics are shooting 41.9 percent and their offense has been stagnant in the second quarter.

Second quarter, 8:26, Celtics 24-22: A very physical game where the officials are letting them play. The Bulls are close despite shooting 25.9 percent but that's because they already have a whopping eight offensive rebounds. The Celtics are playing good defense but they can't defend successfully for more than 24 seconds.

End of first quarter, Celtics 24-18: Boston led most of the period and Rajon Rondo is on another scoring surge with 8 points on 4-for-8 shooting. Paul Pierce has 6 points while Kevin Garnett has 4 points and three rebounds. Carlos Boozer leads Chicago with 7 points. The Bulls are shooting 31.6 percent.

First quarter, 5:54, Celtics 12-11: A Rajon Rondo basket does not count and the Celtics have a 1-poin t lead after a 5-0 Bulls' run. Paul Pierce has 6 points while the Bulls have hit two early 3-pointers to stay close.

First quarter, 8:37, Celtics 10-6: Paul Pierce apparently won't have an issue with shot attempts tonight. He is 3 for 4 from the field and Kevin Garnett added a bucket as the Celtics are off to a solid start.

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

CHICAGO -- Kevin Garnett declared himself healthy enough to play tonight against the Chicago Bulls after missing Wednesday's loss to the Detroit Pistons with a sore left hip flexor. Garnett was in the starting lineup and let coach Doc Rivers know at the airport in Boston late Wednesday that he wanted to play tonight.

Meanwhile, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said his MVP point guard was making progress, Derrick Rose was held out of tonight's game with the Celtics with a sore back. Rose also missed the Celtics' 95-91 win over the Bulls on Sunday with back issues. Thibodeau said Rose worked out this morning and looked better but not good enough to return.

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

The weather is mild here today, just like Boston, and the Celtics are in desperate need of a solid performance after last night's debacle against the Detroit Pistons. Kevin Garnett was a game-time decision but has been declared healthy enough to play and will start. Derrick Rose (sore back) is out
.

BOSTON CELTICS (15-13)

PG Rajon Rondo
SG Ray Allen
SF Paul Pierce
PF Kevin Garnett
C Jermaine O'Neal

CHICAGO BULLS (24-7)

PG C.J. Watson
SG Ronnie Brewer
SF Luol Deng
PF Carlos Boozer
C Joakim Noah

OFFICIALS: Eddie F. Rush, Eric Dalen, Eric Lewis

Final score, Pistons 98-88: Rajon Rondo scored a career-high 35 points, but the Celtics were unable to stop a strong second-half Pistons rally. Rodney Stuckey scored 25 points and Ben Gordon added 22 points for Detroit.

Fourth quarter, 3:27, Pistons 93-83: The Celtics' offense continued to stagnate. Rajon Rondo scored his 32d point, but missed the second of two free throws, giving Detroit possession after a timeout.

Fourth quarter, 8:27 Pistons 87-76: Detroit went on a 20-4 run over a 5:42 period spanning the final quarters.

End of third quarter, Pistons 73-72: Detroit closed the quarter with an 8-2 run over the final 2:23, taking the lead on Greg Monroe's tipin with 24 seconds remaining.

Third quarter, 2:44, Celtics 70-65: Rajon Rondo came within one point of his season-high (32 points) with a jumper with 2:46 remaining in the quarter. Chris Wilcox set up the transition sequence by poking the ball away from Greg Monroe.

Third quarter, 8:36, Celtics 59-53: Rajon Rondo continued his hot streak, increasing his total to 27 points. Rondo converted three jumpers and a low post flip in the opening 3:22 of the half.

End second quarter, Celtics 49-47: Chris Wilcox gave the Celtics the lead with 21 seconds remaining. Wilcox, starting in place of Kevin Garnett, scored 10 points in the half.

Second quarter, 2:32, Pistons 43-38: Rajon Rondo continued to spark the Celtics, his 3-pointer providing a 5-point advantage with 3:16 remaining in the half. After a timeout, Ray Allen would be going to the foul line with a chance to give the Celtics their biggest lead of the game.

Second quarter, 8;06, Pistons 34-33: Ben Gordon and Walker Russell rallied the Pistons against Celtic reserve guards Avery Bradley and Keyon Dooling.

End of first quarter, Celtics 28-26: The Celtics fell behind by 6 points early, then began capitalizing on their transition game, Rajon Rondo and Chris Wilcox pushing the pace. The Celtics also isolated Rondo on the post and he responded with a 13-point first-quarter performance.

First quarter, 2:23, Celtics 22-20: Rajon Rondo continued to push the pace for the Celtics. Rondo scored 11 points over a 4:07 span and also fed Chris Wilcox for two transition hoops.

First quarter, 5:48, Celtics 16-12: Rajon Rondo keyed a 10-0 Celtic run over a 1:32 span.

By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff

Tip-off: 7:40 p.m.
Records: Celtics (15-12), Pistons (8-22)

Probable starters:

Celtics:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Chris Wilcox
C: Jermaine O'Neal

Pistons:
PG: Rodney Stuckey
SG: Brandon Knight
SF: Tayshaun Prince
PF: Jason Maxiell
C: Greg Monroe

Officials:
Derrick Collins
Tony Brothers
Ben Taylor

Storylines:

Garnett's health?: Kevin Garnett (hip pointer) missed practice Tuesday and was declared doubtful for the game. Garnett participated in the pregame shootaround and seemed set to make his team-leading 28th start of the season, but was declared out of the starting lineup.

Last home game -- until Feb. 29: The Celtics (11-7 at home) were set for a five-game road trip, covering the All-Star break. The next home game is against Milwaukee Feb. 29.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

JaJuan Johnson wasn't ready. That's what Doc Rivers told reporters about his lanky, athletic rookie forward about an hour before today's game with the Bulls. Maybe Rivers was being coy. Maybe he really had doubts that Johnson could perform against a good team.

Johnson scored 12 points in 33 minutes -- his best game by far in a Celtics uniform -- as the Celtics defeated the first-place Chicago Bulls, 95-91, Sunday afternoon at TD Garden. Johnson's play was the surprise contribution in a game that was utterly dominated by Rajon Rondo (32 points, 10 rebounds, 15 assists).

Rondo was off and running early as the Celtics made 9 of their first 10 shots from the floor, a start that might have been good enough to run away from other NBA teams. But the Bulls didn't go away easily -- or at all -- and the Celtics found themselves up, 28-23, despite shooting 59 percent from the floor and holding the Bulls to 36 percent shooting. Rondo had 11 points and 2 assists in the first quarter.

The second quarter brought more contradictions. The Bulls didn't play particularly well, but the Celtics did some things to shoot themselves in the foot. They turned the ball over nine times in the first half, and they also gave up 11 offensive rebounds. That added up to a five-point halftime lead despite the Bulls hovering around 34 percent shooting.

Momentum was neither gained nor lost in the third quarter as the Celtics added one point to their lead. Through three quarters Rondo had 28 points, 6 assists, and 9 rebounds.

The Celtics found their momentum with a scoring run in the middle of the fourth quarter. Up, 72-68, with 9:41 to play, the Celtics went on a 14-4 run to give themselves some breathing room. Allen started the run with five straight points, Johnson chipped in with a score down low, and Pierce threw in a huge 3-pointer to put the Celtics up by 11. Johnson and Wilcox then threw down consecutive alley-oops on the fast break as the Celtics stretched their lead to 86-72 with 5:06 to play. Johnson looked especially satisfied to throw one down, a chance for him to show what his lanky, athletic body can really. The Celtics shot over 50 percent as a team for most of the day, but that run was the only time it actually felt like it.

The Bulls are a tough team whether or not they have Derrick Rose (they were 5-1 without him), and this game goes down as Boston's marquee win this season. The Bulls were 23-6 coming into the game despite playing 19 of their first 29 games on the road. The Celtics are back in action at TD Garden Wednesday night vs. the Detroit Pistons.

Final: Celtics 95, Bulls 91:Rajon Rondo wins it from the line. Triple-double of 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists for Rondo.

2:22 4th quarter, Celtics 89-83:The Celtics need to be careful not to give this game away. The Bulls aren't quitting.

5:08 4th quarter, Celtics 86-72:Talk about momentum. JaJuan Johnson and Chris Wilcox put down consecutive alley-oops on the fast break as the Celtics threaten to blow this thing open. Great play for Johnson, who you can tell was just so relieved to be able to let it all out with a dunk. Wilcox has been a fast-break-dunking-machine today. Good for him running the floor and finishing.

7:29 4th quarter, Celtics 82-71:There it is. Ray Allen scores five straight points, JaJuan Johnson scores in the post, and Paul Pierce's 3-pointer gives the Celtics an 11-point lead. There haven't been many scoring runs today, so this one is huge.

9:41 4th quarter, Celtics 72-68:Rondo's on the bench for what can't be long. Not sure what the breaking point will be in this game, but it's coming soon.

END 3d quarter, Celtics 72-66:It certainly isn't a big lead, but the Celtics will take it. They're playing well enough not to lose. Rajon Rondo has 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists.

1:54 3d quarter, Celtics 65-61:Ray Allen and Paul Pierce have combined for just 10 points 3 of 11 shooting.

5:44 3d quarter, Celtics 61-56:It feels like a Sunday game. It's so quiet in here you can hear Tom Thibodeau yelling at his players, and I'm not sitting near him. It also doesn't feel like the Celtics are shooting 57 percent. They're making 57 percent look ugly.

5:44 3d quarter, Celtics 61-56:It feels like a Sunday game. It's so quiet in here you can hear Tom Thibodeau yelling at his players, and I'm not sitting near him. It also doesn't feel like the Celtics are shooting 57 percent. They're making 57 percent look ugly.

Halftime, Celtics 48-43:Celtics fans probably aren't sure whether to be encouraged or discouraged by the first half. The numbers are good: 55 percent shooting for the Celtics, 34 percent for Chicago. But the lead is only five. The Celtics probably can't play much better than they did in the game's first six minutes, but they can certainly play better than they have the rest of the half.

2:26 2d quarter, Celtics 43-39:The Celtics are getting sloppy. They've got nine turnovers, including an errant pass by Ray Allen trying to throw an alley oop to Chris Wilcox. Bad pass and bad idea considering the degree of difficulty of the play.

7:24 2d quarter, Celtics 33-30:You didn't expect the Celtics to run away with it, did you? The Bulls are ugly-ing this game up. Usually don't put much stock in these things, but Keyon Dooling a minus 6, while JaJuan Johnson is a minus 8. Boston's bench simply isn't playing well.

END 1st quarter, Celtics 28-23: Great first quarter by the Celtics, shooting 59 percent against a Bulls defense that is the best in the league. JaJuan Johnson played 6:20 in the first quarter and had an athletic offensive rebound and putback. He also had a few terrible defensive possessions, which is what Doc Rivers means when he says Johnson isn't ready.

1:22 1st quarter, Celtics 26-20: This is an excellent time to remind you that Doc Rivers said JaJuan Johnson and Greg Stiemsma would not play much today, and I believed him. Both are playing in the first quarter.

4:28 1st quarter, Celtics 18-15: This is the danger of playing the Bulls. An 8-0 run gets Chicago right back into it even though the Celtics are shooting 75 percent. And you know that's not going to last.

6:20 1st quarter, Celtics 18-7: Great start for the Celtics. The Bulls seem lost on offense without Rose. They're shooting 30 percent. Chris Wilcox has four quick points in a starting role. He's playing with great energy. The Celtics have made 9 of 10 shots from the floor because they're shooting layups.

8:16 1st quarter, Celtics 10-4: Rajon Rondo usually gets up for big games against other star point guards, but Derrick Rose is out tonight, and Rondo is still starting well. He's got six points and one assist.

Pregame: Derrick Rose, Jermaine O'Neal, and Brandon Bass out. Avery Bradley and Keyon Dooling in. Don't expect to see much of JaJuan Johnson or Greg Stiemsma. I think we're covered.

Oh yea, the Bulls are really good. Let's get it.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

The Celtics could desperately use a lanky, talented youngster to fill big rotation minutes as the team transitions away from the Big Three Era. JaJuan Johnson has the body of a star in the making -- think Kevin Garnett as a rookie -- and he's shown flashes of his potential late in blowouts.

But Johnson isn't ready to play meaningful minutes in big games for the Celtics, according to coach Doc Rivers.

"Not yet," said Rivers. "I think he's getting close. You've got to execute when you're on the floor. That's an area he has to improve on. He's talented, but there's a level to me of intensity that you have to play with every night, and focus. And he's inconsistent. But he's getting there, and he's a great kid, and he will be there."

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Brandon Bass (knee) and Jermaine O'Neal (shoulder) will miss this afternoon's game with the Bulls. Their absences make a tall task against a big, physical Bulls team even taller. Bass's absence is of particular concern, as Celtics coach Doc Rivers said the power forward could miss about 10 days after swelling in his right knee failed to dissipate like the team expected.

"It is [a surprise]," said Rivers. "After the Toronto game there was really nothing said. Eddie [Lacerte] called me this morning and told me that he was out, and out for a while."

Chris Wilcox will start at center. Rivers said the Celtics will use Greg Stiemsma a little bit but will most likely use a smaller lineup.

"We probably have to go small at some point just with what he have left," said Rivers.

The Celtics will get help in the backcourt today with the return of Keyon Dooling. Avery Bradley is also available and is "100 percent healthy", according to Rivers.

Bulls guard Derrick Rose told reporters he will miss this afternoon's game vs. the Celtics because of back spasms. That's a break for Boston, though it's not like the Bulls are a cakewalk with Rose out of the lineup.

Welcome to TD Garden, where the Boston Celtics will take on the Chicago Bulls on at 3:30 p.m. in a nationally-televised game.

This is supposed to be one of the NBA's showcase games this week, but today's game might not appeal to the average fan. That's not to say it won't be competitive. It just might not be very pretty. The Bulls play the league's best defense, and the Celtics are at their best when they turn up their own defensive pressure. If the Celtics make a game of this, the score might be stuck down in the 80's. That's good for fans of defense (me), but maybe bad for everybody else. This would be a big, big win for the Celtics if they were able to pull this out.

Players from both teams are getting their shots up on the floor. We'll have updates from both locker rooms shortly.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Just when it looked as if the Celtics might be back on track, a heartbreaking loss to the Lakers and a disheartening loss in Toronto have shifted our viewpoint on this team. Again. In this shortened season, getting too high or too low on the Celtics has become a sport in itself.

There's no ambiguity in this afternoon's matchup. The Celtics probably aren't title contenders this season, while the Bulls most certainly are. Chicago is the first team ever to win four consecutive road games by 20 points or more. They handled their business Friday night in Charlotte, while the Celtics squandered a similar opportunity Friday in Toronto. It's clear that there aren't any freebies for the Celtics anymore. Today's game most definitely isn't.

Tip-off: 3:30 p.m.
Records: Celtics (14-12), Bulls (23-6)
Broadcast info: ABC (Ch. 5), WEEI 93.7 FM/850 AM (Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell)

Probable starters:

Celtics:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Jermaine O'Neal

Bulls:
PG: Derrick Rose
SG: Ronnie Brewer
SF: Luol Deng
PF: Carlos Boozer
C: Joakim Noah

Storylines:

Style control: The Celtics fared pretty well when these teams last met, making it a game before losing, 88-79, on Jan. 13. Still, despite contending in that game, Chicago controlled the tempo and style of the game and imposed their defensive will on the Celtics. The Bulls are the most impressive team in the NBA so far this season because they're capable of putting their style up against any other team and taking them out of their game. Against a Celtics team that already has enough trouble scoring, this could be ugly.

Matchup problems: On paper, this is another brutal game for the Celtics. Derrick Rose is the best point guard in the league, negating any advantage the Celtics usually have with Rajon Rondo. Luol Deng gives Paul Pierce fits. And Joakim Noah is exactly the kind of young, energetic center Kevin Garnett struggles with.

Mr. Annoying: Watch Joakim Noah and tell me you wouldn't want that guy on your team. He's a monster in the paint on defense, and he's seemingly in on every play on that end of the court. He'll take the Celtics out of a lot of their offensive sets.

Final, Raptors 86-74: If this was a trap game, the Celtics are Saturday night dinner for the Raptors because this was an embarrasing performance. Doc Rivers took nearly 30 minutes following the game to address the media and challenged his team's mental toughness, calling the effort "Unceltic."

Fourth quarter, 1:38, Raptors 84-72: A trap game was right. The Celtics have been playing with cement in their shoes all night and will pay dearly with a loss. Jose Calderon has shunked in his matchup with Rajon Rondo, scoring 17 points with 13 assists.

Fourth quarter, 6:01, Raptors 75-63: The effort is now there but it may be too late. The Celtics are trying hard to make a run but Toronto keeps responding with big baskets. Linas Kleiza has hit two 3-pointers in the quarter while the Celtics have no answer for the athleticism of DeMar DeRozan.

End of third quarter, Raptors 63-51: The Celtics show a little life at the end of the quarter, but it's going to take quite a run to steal this one. They just don't have any energy tonight, obviously still reeling from the loss to the Lakers. Doc Rivers has used his whole bench, looking for a spark.

Third quarter, 2:56, Raptors 63-47: It's one of those nights here in Toronto. The Celtics have nothing left, it seems. James Johnson is driving around Paul Pierce for easy dunks, Jose Calderon can't miss and Aaron Gray has 11 rebounds in 18 minutes. Pierce just became the first Celtic to break double figures in scoring in what has been a miserable performance.

Third quarter, 5:22, Raptors 57-43: After a surge in the second quarter, it appears the Celtics are tired. Toronto is on a 10-2 run and the Celtics are just going through the motion. DeMar DeRozan has 17 points while James Johnson has 12 points. Three players have 8 points for Boston.

Halftime, Raptors 41-34: Celtics end the half on a 6-2 run but they are playing some ugly basketball, especially Rajon Rondo, who has 0 points, 2 assists, 5 turnovers and a minus-11 rating. Paul Pierce leads the Celtics with 8 points while DeMar DeRozan has 13 for the Raptors, who are shootign 38.5 percent.

Second quarter, 2:12, Raptors 39-28: The Raptors are giving the Celtics all types of chances to come back there but they are simply inept offensively. They have 12 turnovers and are shooting 35.7 percent. No player has more than 6 points and Rajon Rondo has one assist in 15 minutes.

Second quarter, 7:19, Raptors 30-22: Avery Bradley, who wasn't expected to play because of a sore right shoulder, is in the game for a pouting Rajon Rondo. Mickael Pietrus has 5 points for the Celtics.

End of first quarter, Raptors 26-14: A terrible (Charles Barkley voice) first quarter for the Celtics, who are lucky to trail by just 12. Mickael Pietrus made it respectable with a 3-pointer with 0.9 secodns left and he is second on the team in scoring with that 3 points. The Celtics were 4-for-13 shooting with six turnovers.

First quarter, 4:47, Raptors 16-7: As expected the Celtics are playing like they are hungover from last night's loss to the Lakers. They are 2-for-6 shooting with four turnovers, three by Rajon Rondo. The Raptors have attempted 10 more shots and are playing with energy. This will be a difficult game.

First quarter, 6:05, Raptors 12-4: The Celtics are off to a slow start with two turnovers and 1-for-5 shooting. They are also slow defensively, allowing some easy layups. The Raptors have attempted 14 shots and the Celtics just 5.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

It's no secret the Celtics have a "bigs" problem. But Doc Rivers is quick to remind people that there are only one or two teams in the league with centers capable of causing matchup issues.

The Celtics faced one of those centers tonight, and Lakers big man Andrew Bynum did his part with 16 points and 17 rebounds as the Lakers outlasted the Celtics in overtime, 88-87, at TD Garden.

In addition to Bynum, the Celtics got all they could handle from the oft-maligned Pau Gasol, who created a two-headed monster in the middle for Los Angeles. Gasol had a double-double of his own with 25 points and 14 rebounds, which did more than help Kobe Bryant, who led all scorers with 27 points.

The Celtics were able to withstand the Los Angeles middle men with inspired play of their own for most of the game. Shots weren't always falling for the home team, but the Celtics had 22 assists to nine turnovers. If they had gone to the basket more they may have won the game despite their struggles on the defensive boards.

Those struggles were significant. Bynum and Gasol combined for 11 offensive rebounds, which was pretty much the ball game.

There was a lot of ball game played, and for most of it the Celtics were leading. Boston trailed only once in the first half. Ray Allen led the Celtics with 12 points at the break, while the Celtics held Los Angeles to 41-percent shooting. At halftime it felt like Rondo had played a much better game than than 6 points, 4 assists, and 2 turnovers. The Celtics and Lakers shot a combined 3 of 14 from 3-point range before the break.

Coming off an emotional game Tuesday night in which he passed Larry Bird for second place all-time in Celtics scoring, Pierce hit just one of his first five shots to start the game but still chipped in seven rebounds and three assists by halftime.

The Lakers began to establish that big presence in the third quarter. Gasol had 9 points and 5 rebounds in the third as Los Angeles out-rebounded the Celtics by five. Bryant's 12 points in the third helped the Lakers take a 67-64 lead heading into the fourth.

The Celtics went ahead by two on a 3-pointer by Allen with 1:08 remaining, but they gave the Lakers too many chances on their next possession, and Gasol finished it off with a putback that tied the game with 9.8 seconds left. The Celtics had a chance to win in regulation but botched their chance when Pierce picked up his dribble and found Mickael Pietrus for a desperation three that fell off the mark.

Overtime started and ended badly for the Celtics, who found themselves down 86-82 halfway through the extra period because they hadn't scored yet. The Celtics did eventually score, and they had a chance to win the game on their final possession when Pierce missed his favorite shot -- a step-back jumper -- albeit too far away from the hoop.

Pierce finished 7 of 18 in the game, while Kevin Garnett was 6 of 23. Allen led the Celtics with 22 points.

Tonight began a representative stretch of this condensed NBA season, with the Celtics traveling to Toronto to face the Raptors tomorrow night before returning home Sunday to host the first-place Bulls. The Celtics face Chicago again next Thursday.

Final: Lakers 88, Celtics 87 (OT): Pierce gets a contested look and misses a step-back jumper from a little further away than he usually likes that shot.

6.1 seconds OT, Lakers 88-87: Still no score since we last talked. Kevin Garnett took a 3-pointer from the corner -- shot they wanted? -- and Bryant missed on the other end. Celtics timeout with another shot to win.

1:01 OT, Lakers 88-87: Paul Pierce with a monstrous 3-pointer, but Bynum gets another putback to put the Lakers ahead.

2:52 OT, Lakers 86-82: Bryant gets the Lakers on the board, and Steve Blake hits a jumper to force a Celtics timeout. The Celtics need to score here at some point.

END regulation, Tied at 82: Awful possession by the Celtics. Pierce loses his dribble and gets stuck, finds Pietrus, who forces an off-balance three from 35 feet. Overtime.

9.8 seconds 4th quarter, Tied at 82: Allen hits a huge 3-pointer, but the Lakers get too many chances on the other end and Gasol puts it in. Final shot of regulation coming.

1:16 4th quarter, Lakers 80-79: Bynum with a beastly put-back, and the teams trade a few scoreless possessions. Pierce?

3:41 4th quarter, Tied at 77: Pietrus hits another 3-pointer, his third of the game. Ray Allen, the Celtics' leading scorer with 19, is back in the game.

6:27 4th quarter, Lakers 71-70: Matt Barnes is a pest. He snuck in amongst the big boys for an offensive rebound and drew the foul. He's got 10 points and 4 rebounds.

8:16 4th quarter, Lakers 71-70: E'Twaun Moore has played eight minutes here with Avery Bradley scratched for medical reasons. He's been fairly invisible, which I guess could be considered a good thing. He's got as many points -- zero -- as Derek Fisher.

End 3d quarter, Lakers 67-64: It'll be disappointing if the Celtics lose this game considering the energy they've played with. They're clearly up for this one, but they're having a heck of a time with Andrew Bynum (10 points, 12 rebounds) and Pau Gasol (21 points, 8 rebounds).

2:40 3d quarter, Celtics 64-61: Pau Gasol has a sneaky 20 points. For all the talk of Gasol being soft, he's an unbelievably talented offensive player. He deserved Finals MVP in 2010 over Kobe Bryant for the way he played.

7:17 3d quarter, Celtics 57-53: Bryant is doing his best to take over this game, but the Celtics are playing inspired basketball. Rajon Rondo's drive to the hoop stops some Lakers momentum and puts the Celtics up four.

Halftime, Celtics 47-45: What a momentum-killer by Jermaine O'Neal at the end of the half, fouling Bynum on a crazy lay-up that goes in as time expires. The Celtics had built momentum of their own on dunks by Garnett and Allen, but they haven't been able to gain any kind of separation.

2:17 2d quarter, Celtics 41-38: Kobe Bryant is coming alive. He's got 11 points to lead all scorers. He's celebrating after every made basket. It's clear he loves playing in this building.

5:42 2d quarter, Celtics 35-32: Great pass from Garnett to a cutting Ray Allen for a 3-point play. Passing out of the post is one of the strongest parts of Garnett's game.

8:39 2d quarter, Celtics 30-28: The Celtics are struggling to get good shots on offense. Pierce, Garnett, and Allen are a combined 4 for 16.

10:46 2d quarter, Celtics 28-24: Marquis Daniels plays one minute, picks up a foul, Ray Allen checks back in.

END 1st quarter, Celtics 26-22: Lots of positive signs there for the Celtics, but they didn't finish the quarter well after having a nine-point lead. Mickael Pietrus has the hot hand off the bench with two 3-pointers.

3:49 1st quarter, Celtics 15-10: Brandon Bass is instant offense. That's something the Lakers have lacked on the road this season, and it's something the Celtics bench lacked last season. Bass has 4 points and 1 rebound.

5:48 1st quarter, Celtics 11-10: Teams are feeling each other out, and both teams are shooting 5 of 11. Paul Pierce made a ridiculous move to the basket that got three defenders off balance. It's the kind of extremely difficult move he's made look routine in his 14 seasons.

9:44 1st quarter, Celtics 7-2: Good start by the Celtics. Ray Allen has five points. Lots of Lakers fans in the building for some reason.

Pregame: Lakers coach Mike Brown talked about joining the Lakers-Celtics rivalry:

"I know it's a rivalry obviously because of the history of the two organizations," said Brown. "Not only the individual history, but the history they have playing each other. And you hear about it. People don't want me wearing green to practice."

Welcome to TD Garden, where the Boston Celtics will take on their doppleganger, the Los Angeles Lakers, at 8 p.m.

Gary Washburn wrote a good piece in today's Globe about how the Celtics and Lakers mirror each other in terms of their decline. The teams were peers in 2008, 2009, and 2010 because they were elite. They're peers once again now, just a notch down. Both teams can gain some momentum in this rushed season with a win tonight.

The Celtics are currently on the parquet going through a closed walkthrough. Not a ton of injury news expected to come before tonight's game, so we should really see these two teams in their complete form. It'll be interesting to see what kind of crowd shows up tonight. Something tells me the opponent will kick the intensity of this season up a notch or two.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

The Lakers are always a measuring stick.

While neither team is favored to win the NBA title this season, this is a big game for both the Celtics and their rivals from Los Angeles. The Celtics have won 9 of 10 games but haven't faced a team as good as the Lakers during that run. Los Angeles is 14-11 overall but is just 3-9 on the road this season. Tonight's game is a chance to rekindle some of the glitz and glamour of the teams that faced off in the 2008 and 2010 Finals. It's a chance for both teams to begin to build the confidence of turning it around.

Tip-off: 8 p.m.
Records: Celtics (14-10), Lakers (14-11)
Broadcast info: TNT, WEEI 93.7 FM/850 AM (Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell)

Probable starters:

Celtics:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Jermaine O'Neal

Lakers:
PG: Derek Fisher
SG: Kobe Bryant
SF: Metta World Peace
PF: Pau Gasol
C: Andrew Bynum

Storylines:

Kobe and Paul: Kobe Bryant and Paul Pierce are superstars who've both achieved incredible milestones in their careers. Bryant just passed Shaquille O'Neal in scoring, while Pierce passed Larry Bird. The milestones are out of the way, unlike during last year's Celtics-Lakers game in Boston when Ray Allen set the NBA's all-time record for 3-pointers. Just a basketball game tonight. Hopefully it's a good one.

Big men: The Celtics rarely have nights when they need to worry about going big, but this is one of them. Jermaine O'Neal will have no choice but to play big and stay out of foul trouble against Andrew Bynum. The Celtics will have a harder time going small against the Lakers as they've done against other teams by playing Brandon Bass and Chris Wilcox alongside Kevin Garnett.

Defense: The Celtics have allowed 86.5 points per game, but they also have one of the league's lowest-scoring offenses at 90.8 points. The Lakers have allowed 97.2 points per game on the road. Maybe we'll get a real grinder tonight.

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

Paul Piece is now second all-time in Celtics history in points as his 3-pointer with 10:23 left in the third quarter gave him 21,792 points, 1 ahead of the great Larry Bird. Pierce pressed the entire night trying to reach the record, missing eight of his first 12 shots. He received a long standing ovation from the soldout crowd at TD Garden and waved a few times for a louder response.

Teammate Mickael Pietrus held up a towel that read "THE TRUTH," Pierce's nickname. John Havlicek is the team's all-time leader in scoring with 26,395 points.

Final score, Celtics, 94-84 : Paul Pierce moved into second place on the Celtics' all-time scoring list as the Celtics (14-10) won for the ninth time in 10 games.

Fourth quarter, 1:53, Celtics, 92-77 : Kevin Garnett departed with 3:39 remaining. But the rest of the starters remained in the game as the Celtics struggled to extend their advantage. But two dunks by Chris Wilcox and one by Brandon Bass basically clinched the result as the rest of the starters joined Garnett on the bench.

Fourth quarter, 5:44, Celtics, 82-68: Kevin Garnett's free throw extended the lead to 82-64 with 6:47 remaining. But Garnett and Mickael Pietrus misfired and the Bobcats' Kemba Walker and Derrick Brown pulled the Bobcats within 14.

Fourth quarter, 8:37, Celtics, 77-64: Paul Pierce was closing in on a possible triple-double (12 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists) as he fed Avery Bradley for a layup and Kevin Garnett for a shot-clock buzzer jumper, the Celtics taking their largest lead of the contest.

End of third quarter, Celtics, 69-62: Ray Allen, who had two points at halftime, scored 13 points in the quarter.

Third quarter, 2:49, Celtics, 65-54: Ray Allen scored nine points as the Celtics went on a 13-6 run over a 4:44 span.

Third quarter, 5:14, Celtics, 59-50: Paul Pierce received a standing ovation during a timeout. The Celtics upped their lead to 59-48 on a Ray Allen 3-pointer 5:17 into the half. But Derrick Brown retaliated and Reggie Williams was going to the foul line after the timeout with a chance to reduce the Bobcats' deficit to seven points.

Third quarter, 10:29, Celtics, 48-40: Paul Pierce's 3-pointer moved him into second place on the all-time scoring list for the Celtics, surpassing Larry Bird (21,791 points), and trailing John Havlicek (26,395).

End of first half, Celtics, 45-38: Brandon Bass' free throws with 27 seconds remaining gave the Celtics their largest lead of the half.

Second quarter, 2:14, Celtics, 39-36: Brandon Bass scored in transition to give the Celtics a three-point lead. The Celtics forced the Bobcats into two airballs (by Tyrus Thomas) and a blocked shot on consecutive possessions.

Second quarter, 5:48, Tie, 35-35: Kevin Garnett missed a layup and the Bobcats' Byron Mullens scored in transition to give the Bobcats the lead. Paul Pierce then tied the score with a jumper.

End of first quarter, Celtics 27-22: Mickael Pietrus' 3-pointer with 2.7 seconds on the clock gave the Celtics their biggest lead of the game.

First quarter, 1:31, Celtics 20-18: Brandon Bass sank a jumper and was going for a three-point play as the teams returned from a timeout.

First quarter, 5:27, Celtics 12-10: Kevin Garnett scored eight points before being replaced 5:17 into the game.

Final, Celtics 98-80: One of the more impressive wins of the season, given the expected letdown after the Knicks win and athletic teams such as the Grizzlies give the Celtics trouble. Kevin Garnett led Boston with 24 points while Rajon Rondo added 5 points and 14 assists. Rudy Gay led Memphis with 21 points.

Fourth quarter, 2:43, Celtics 94-73: Celtics are pulling away without much resistance and all the starters are resting. Kevin Garnett tied his season high with 24 points while Paul Pierce added 21. Rajon Rondo has 14 assists while the Grizzlies are shooting just 36.7 percent.

Fourth quarter, 7:00, Celtics 83-70: A Mickael Pietrus 3-pointer sparked a 7-2 run as the Celtics are trying to close this one out. JaJuan Johnson has been a help off the bench with 10 points while Kevin Garnett has 18. Rudy Gay has 10 for Memphis

End of third quarter, Celtics 69-61: Rudy Gay went on a personal 6-0 run to cut the deficit to 6 before Kevin Garnett responded with a dunk. This game is still in the balance with Gay heating up. He leads all scorers with 18 points while Garnett has 16 points and Ray Allen 12 on 4-for-14 shooting. Chris Wilcox has 12 off the bench.

Third quarter, 2:42, Celtics 67-55: The Celtics are playing well to maintain their lead and their defense is forcing the Grizzlies into jump shots. The combination of Marreese Speights and Marc Gasol is 5-for-20 shooting while the Celtics are winning the rebounding battle 34-24.

Third quarter, 6:21, Celtics 56-45: After allowing the Grizzlies to come to within 5 points, the Celtics have used Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to gain control. Allen missed his first six shots but is now 3 for his past with two 3-pointers while Garnett just added his third 3-pointer in three games.

strong>Halftime, Celtics 43-35: A game of runs with the Celtics going on 10-2 and 8-2 runs before the Grizzlies tooka 5-point lead with a 16-3 run. The Celtics counter with a 16-3 run to end the quarter and regain the 8-point lead. Rajon Rondo has 5 points and 10 assists while Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett each have 9. O.J. Mayo, who kills the Celtics, has 8 off the bench while Marc Gasol has 7.

Second quarter, 1:08, Celtics 43-34: Boston is on a 16-2 run after the Grizzlies went up 5. Rajon Rondo already has 10 assists and cut down on the silly turnovers from earlier in the period. Ray Allen missed his first six shots but draining a jumper to beat the shot clock.

Second quarter, 6:32, Grizzlies 32-27: Memphis is on a 16-3 run after the Celtics committed five turnovers in the first five minutes of the quarter. They are now shooting 37.9 percent and are 1-for-5 shooting in the quarter.

Second quarter, 8:27, Celtics 26-24: Memphis is off to an 8-2 run to begin the quarter as the Celtics are committing silly turnovers, especially Rajon Rondo, who already has two in the quarter. Chris Wilcox has 10 points off the bench but the rest of the Celtics are 7-for-22 shooting with 16 points.

End of first quarter, Celtics 24-16: The Celtics are playing with more energy than the young Grizzlies, and that's a surprise. Memphis is shooting 33 percent, including a combined 3 of 10 for Mike Conley and Marc Gasol. Chris Wilcox has 10 points and 4 rebounds off the bench while Rajon Rondo has 4 points and 4 assists.

First quarter, 2:09, Celtics 18-14: A 12-2 run spearheaded by Rajon Rondo and Chris Wilcox, who is replacing Brandon Bass, has given the Celtics an early lead. Rondo already has four assists while Wilcox has 8 points off the bench.

First quarter, 5:32, Grizzlies 12-10: Memphis is off to a strong start, using a 6-0 run to go up 10-4 but the Celtics have used the transition game to rally. Chris Wilcox and Rajon Rondo have contributed baskets to slice the lead to 2. Kevin Garnett has 4 points.

Final score, Celtics 91-89: The Celtics forced two airballs in the final seconds, the last by Steve Novak.

Fourth quarter, 0:4.2, Celtics 91-89: Landry Fields shot an airball out of a timeout and Paul Pierce upped the Celtics' lead with a free throw with 5.2 seconds on the clock, missing the second as the Knicks called timeout.

Fourth quarter, 0:14.4, Celtics 90-89: Paul Pierce's 3-pointer was reviewed, lead official Monty McCutchon ruling the shot was after the shot-clock buzzer.

Fourth quarter, 1:26, Celtics 90-89: Tyson Chandler dunked off a lob out of a timeout and Landry Fields scored off a steal.

Fourth quarter, 1:57, Celtics 90-85: Ray Allen scored nine points in a 3:28 span.

Fourth quarter, 4:24, Celtics 82-79: Ray Allen's 3-pointer gave the Celtics their first lead since the first quarter. Rajon Rondo set up the play by knocking a rebound away from Landry Fields, the Knicks protesting the out of bounds call, coach Mike D'Antoni receiving a technical foul.

Fourth quarter, 5:49, Tied 79-all: Paul Pierce missed a 3-pointer off a jumpball with a chance to give the Celtics the lead. But the Celtics regained possession after a shot-clock violation following a Carmelo Anthony airball.

Fourth quarter, 8:24, Knicks 76-73: Paul Pierce's free throw pulled the Celtics within three points of the lead. Brandon Bass was going to the line after a timeout, having drawn the Knicks' fourth team foul of the quarter. But Bass was assessed a technical foul after bumping Amar'e Stoudemire.

End of third quarter, Knicks 72-69: Chris Wilcox followed Paul Pierce's airball at the buzzer as the Celtics closed the quarter with an 11-3 run over a 5:09 span. Wilcox also converted two foul shots on a four-chance possession with 37 seconds remaining.

Third quarter, 2:49, Knicks 69-60: Carmelo Anthony carried the Knicks' offense for most of the quarter, drawing fourth personal fouls from Ray Allen and Mickael Pietrus. Rajon Rondo found his shooting touch with two drives and a jumper in the opening 7:39 of the half.

Third quarter, 7:53, Knicks 65-55: The Celtics cut the deficit to four points, but then surrendered a second-chance dunk to Tyson Chandler, a jumper to Amar'e Stoudemire, and a Chandler jumper with :03 on the shot clock. Ray Allen departed after committing his fourth personal foul 2:50 into the half.

End of first half, Knicks 55-49: Rajon Rondo hit a free throw with 0.2 on the clock, his first point since sustaining a right wrist sprain in a Jan. 18 game. Paul Pierce and Mickael Pietrus got the Celtic offense in gear with three 3-pointers (two by Pierce) in the final 90 seconds of the half.

Second quarter, 2:53, Knicks 45-37: Paul Pierce got a mismatch against Tyson Chandler for a 3-pointer with 4:30 left in the half. But that would be one of only three Celtic field goals in the opening 9:07 of the quarter.

Second quarter, 5:48, Knicks 38-32: The Celtics struggled offensively at the start of the quarter, converting only twice from the field in the opening 6:12.

Second quarter, 8:43, Knicks 33-29: The Celtics went to an Avery Bradley-Rajon Rondo backcourt, forcing a shot-clock violation following a 50-plus second Knick possession.

End of first quarter, Knicks 28-27: Travis Lin restored the Knicks' lead with two free throws with 0.1 on the clock. Kevin Garnett scored 11 points, including a 3-pointer for a 25-24 Celtic lead with 29 seconds remaining.

First quarter, 2:38, Knicks 22-18: Carmelo Anthony had eight points in the opening 7:27.

By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff

Rajon Rondo returns after missing eight games with a sprained right wrist. The Celtics went 6-2 without Rondo, who was injured in a game against Toronto Jan. 18,

STARTING LINEUPS

BOSTON CELTICS (11-10)

PG Rajon Rondo
SG Ray Allen
SF Paul Pierce
PF Kevin Garnett
C Jermaine O'Neal

INACTIVES: Marquis Daniels, Keyon Dooling.

NEW YORK KNICKS (8-14)

PG Iman Shumpert
SG Landry Fields
SF Carmelo Anthony
PF Tyson Chandler
C Amar'e Stoudemire

INACTIVES: Baron Davis, Josh Harrellson.

OFFICIALS: Monty McCutchen, Curtis Blair, Eric Dalen.

Final, Celtics 100-64: The Celtics get a rare easy victory and led from start to finish in a pasting of the Raptors. And finally they are over .500 for the first time since being 4-3 about a month ago. Paul Pierce led Boston with 17 points but every active player besides Chris Wilcox scored for Boston.

Fourth quarter, 8:36, Celtics 80-53: The Celtics were able to get some starters some valuable rest. Kevin Garnett has played 17 minutes and Jermaine O'Neal 13. Paul Pierce's night appears done at 26 minutes. He leads the Celtics with 17 points.

Third quarter, 2:10, Celtics 77-49: The rout is obviously on as the starters since some much-needed rest and are pouring it on the Raptors. The Celtics are 10 for 15 from the 3-point line. Their season high is 12 made on Dec. 27 against Miami. Paul Pierce leads the Celtics with 17 points. Jerryd Bayless has 14 for Toronto.

Third quarter, 5:50, Celtics 66-45: All the Celtics have to do is maintain the lead and the starters can get an early night off. Toronto is trying to make runs but the Celtics continue to shoot well. Paul Pierce leads the Celtics with 12 points while Ray Allen has 9 points and five assists. Jerryd Bayless has 14 points for Toronto.

Halftime, Celtics 57-35: The Celtics hardly look like they played last night, finishing a flawless first half with a 3-pointer from Kevin Garnett at the buzzer for a 22-point lead. The Celtics shot 62.2 percent in the first half and eight players scored, including Brandon Bass with 10 and E'Twaun Moore with 8. Jerryd Bayless has 11 for Toronto, which is shooting 38.9 percent with nine turnovers.

Second quarter, 3:00, Celtics 48-28: The Celtics are spreading the offensive wealth with eight players having already scored, including 9 points from Ray Allen and 8 each from Brandon Bass and E'Twaun Moore. The Raptors are usually a tough road opponent but they have not played well in Boston this season. They have 8 turnovers.

Second quarter, 7:37, Celtics 34-23: Jerryd Bayless is keeping the Raptors close by himself with 9 points in seven minutes. But E'Twaun Moore has responded with 7 points while Brandon Bass has 8. All the while, the starters are getting plenty of rest. Kevin Garnett has played just six minutes.

End of first quarter, Celtics 29-16: A strong quarter for the Celtics but they have to keep the pressure on because they have been suceptible to losing big leads of late. Brandon Bass has 8 points in the quarter and Paul Pierce with 7. Jerryd Bayless scored 7 points in four minutes for Toronto.

First quarter, 2:45, Celtics 20-9: Hot shooting and some good defense has the Celtics up early, trying to make this an easy night and look forward to a day off. Brandon Bass has been money as usual offensively with 6 points while Paul Pierce already has 4 points, 3 assists and 3 rebounds.

First quarter, 5:35, Celtics 14-9: The Celtics have started hitting six of their first 11 shots and have gotten 4 points each from Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. The Rapotrs have 4 from Aaron Gray, a late-minute replacement at center.

Final, Celtics 93-90: Kevin Garnett hits a big shot with 1:04 left for a 4-point lead and the Celtics hang on to seal a surprisingly thrilling win. Kyrie Irving was sparkling in the fourth quarter with 13 of his 21 points. Anderson Varejao finished with 20 points and 20 rebounds.

Fourth quarter, 1:18, Celtics 89-87: The Celtics have found themselves in another war with the Cavaliers, getting outscored 29-13 in the quarter and having nothing left to defend Kryie Irving, who is making all the plays.

Fourth quarter, 5:49, Celtics 80-73: The Cavaliers are on a 15-4 run to begin the quarter and the Celtics again can't find the basket. They are 2-for-9 shooting in the period with two turnovers. They are going to need some late-game heroics to seal this one.

Fourth quarter, 8:25, Celtics 76-64: Boston is 0-for-6 shooting to begin the quarter and the Cavaliers have responded with a 6-0 run to make it interesting. The Celtics are missing some easy shots while they are allowing Cleveland to dominate the boards. Anderson Varejao has 20 points and 18 rebounds for the Cavaliers while Kyrie Irving has 10 points and six assists.

End of third quarter, Celtics 76-58: The Celtics are trying to apply the finishing blows to the Cavaliers but remember, they led by 11 with six minutes left and blew that lead, so expect Doc Rivers to play his starters heavy minutes despite tomorrow's home game against Toronto. Ray Allen scored 12 points in the third period for Boston.

Third quarter, 2:59, Celtics 72-53: Celtics are making sure they hold on to this lead, using a standout night from Jermaine O'Neal (12 points) and a 9-point period from Ray Allen to lead by double digits. Anderson Varejao has 18 points and 15 rebounds for Cleveland.

Third quarter, 8:14, Celtics 63-44: The Celtics appear like they are on a mission to put the Cavavliers away early, starting the half on a 12-5 run. Ray Allen has 6 points in the surge after going scoreless in the first half. Paul Pierce has 11 points and Jermaine O'Neal has 10 in his first game back in a week. Anderson Varejao has 14 for Cleveland.

Halftime, Celtics 51-39: A solid defense effort from the Celtics in the second quarter, holding the Cavaliers to 5-for-17 shooting and just 15 points as they continue to shoot well from the perimeter. Eight Celtics have scored and the bench already has 23 points, including 8 from Brandon Bass. Paul Pierce leads the Celtics with 9 while Ray Allen has gone scoreless but has five assists.

Second quarter, 5:10, Celtics 37-33: Cavaliers on a 7-0 run as Anderson Varejao continues to burn the Celtics with his activity. He has 14 points and 5 rebounds while the rest of the Cavs are 5-for-16 shooting with 19 points. Kyrie Irving has 6 points and has already attempted four free throws, as many as the entire Celtics team.

Second quarter, 7:49, Celtics 37-26: The defense is beginning to step up, forcing Samardo Samuels and Anderson Varejao into playmakers, which are not their roles. E'Twaun Moore has drained a 3-pointer and is playing solid defense against Kyrie Irving. The bench has already scored 19 points.

End of first quarter, Celtics 28-24: Both teams are shooting over 56 percent from the field but the Celtics have to find a way to prevent Cleveland but getting easy layups. They have 10 points in the paint, and Anderson Varejao has dominated his matchup with Jermaine O'Neal, scoring 10. Paul Pierce leads Boston with 9.

First quarter, 1:51, Celtics 25-20: The Celtics are shooting 61.1 percent from the field and Mickael Pietrus has come off the bench for two quick 3-pointers while Paul Pierce has 8 points. The Cavaliers are 9-for-15 shooting but Kyrie Irving has yet to score in 10 minutes.

First quarter, 4:30, Celtics 17-15: This looks to be a higher scoring game than Sunday's matchup but the Celtics still have no answer for Anderson Varejao, who already has 8 points and 4 rebounds in seven minutes. Paul Pierce has 8 points for the Celtics.

Final, Cavaliers 88-87: Paul Pierce misses a shot that may have been after the buzzer but this one will stick with the Celtics for a long time. They were held scoreless for the final 4:25 and plays like the Ray Allen missed layup and the Kevin Garnett travel after an offensive rebound proved costly. A bad loss.

Fourth quarter, 2.6, Cavaliers 88-87: Kyrie Irving makes a spinning layup with 2.6 seconds left to give Cavs the lead. Celtics haven't scored since the 4:25 mark.

Fourth quarter, 22.2, Celtics 87-86: Ray Allen misses a 3-pointer and Kevin Garnett travels after getting the rebound. Cavs miss the shot get the rebound and call timeout.

Fourth quarter, 1:38, Celtics 87-84: The Cavaliers are on an 8-0 run and Anderson Varejao just cut it to three with a layup after Ray Allen missed an uncontested layup that may have put the game away. Celtics ball.

Fourth quarter, 3:42, Celtics 87-80: The Celtics are trying to hold off the Cavaliers and have used Ray Allen and Brandon Bass to do it. Byron Scott helped the cause by holding Kyrie Irving and Antawn Jamison out for a key stretch of the fourth quarter. Irving has 21 points in 30 minutes.

Fourth quarter, 8:33, Celtics 74-71: The Cavaliers keep hanging around and have made a run with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen out of the game. Mychel Thompson scored the first four points of his NBA career on consecutive jumpers.

End of third quarter, Celtics 70-62: A 9-0 run created some distance but the Celtics scored just 1 points in the final 2:12 of the quarter so this game is still very much up for grabs. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen each have 18 points from Kyrie Irving looks like a franchise point guard with 15 points, 5 assists and 2 rebounds.

Third quarter, 2:32, Celtics 67-57: The Celtics are on a 9-0 run fueled by Ray Allen and Avery Bradley. Bradley just went to the locker room favoring his right ankle after a spill attempting a layup. He has 6 points and 2 assists. Paul Pierce has 15 points for the Celtics.

Third quarter, 5:03, Celtics 63-57: The Celtics are trying to create a little space between them and the Cavaliers as Ray Allen has made a sparkling return with 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting. Kevin Garnett has 14 for Boston while Paul Pierce has 13 but six turnovers. Anderson Varejao has 14 points and Kyrie Irving 13 for Cleveland.

Halftime, Cavaliers 44-43: Cleveland has come to play and is pounding the Celtics in the paint with a stunning 32 of its points. Anderson Varejao has been the main beneficiary with 12 points while Kyrie Irving has 9 and Omri Casspi with 7. Ray Allen leds the Celtics with 12 points and Paul Pierce has 11 with six turnovers. Kevin Garnett has 8 points.

Second quarter, 2:29, Tied at 37: The Celtics have already committed 10 turnovers, a whopping six of those by Paul Pierce and they continue to let Cleveland hang around. The Cavaliers have points from seven players, including Omri Casspi with 7 points and Kyrie Irving with 6.

Second quarter, 7:01, Celtics 33-31: These aren't last year's Cavaliers. They are improved and are using various players to push the Celtics. Ramon Sessions has 5 points off the bench while Omri Casspi also have 5. Ray Allen has returned from injury in stellar fashion, scoring 10 points with three rebounds in 10 minutes.

End of first quarter, Celtics 24-23: The Celtics made a defensive adjustment and held Cleveland to 4 points in the final 4:15 of the first quarter. The Celtics have been led by Paul Pierce with 7 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists while Ray Allen added 5 points in eight minutes. Anderson Varejao has 8 for Cleveland.

First quarter, 4:17, Cavaliers 19-15: A fast-paced game where defense is optional so far. The Cavaliers are shooting 60 percent (9 for 15) and Celtics nemesis Anderson Varejao already has 6 points and 3 rebounds. Ray Allen has 5 points in his return from a three-game injury absence.

Final: Celtics 94, Pacers 87

The Boston Celtics finally reached the .500 mark for the first time this season, evening their record at 9-9, after scoring a 94-87 victory over the Indiana Pacers tonight before a sellout crowd at TD Garden.

"I was telling the guys we're finally at sea level, now we've got to keep our heads above water,'' said Paul Pierce, who led the Celtics to their fourth consecutive win after scoring a game-high 28 points on 10-for-23 shooting, including 4 of 7 from the 3-point arc.

Pierce, who had 17 third-quarter points to help the Celtics expand a 42-34 halftime lead to 71-61 by the end of the third, also had 10 rebounds to go along with 8 assists.

"It's a huge win, especially after the back-to-back,'' Pierce said, referring to Boston's come-from-behind 91-83 road win in Orlando Thursday night, in which the Celtics rallied from a 27-point deficit. "Most of us got in at 3-4 o'clock this morning, we didn't have our normal shootaround to go over the game plan, so we just watched film [in the locker room], so it was just one of those games where, mentally, you're drained after the emotional win [Thursday] night and I'm proud of the way we stepped up and really got the job done.

"The win [Thursday] night probably wouldn't have meant as much if we didn't get it tonight.''

The Celtics also go double-digit contributions from starters Mickael Pietrus (13), Brandon Bass (12) and Kevin Garnett (13). Chris Wilcox scored a season-high 14 points off the bench, as the Celtics reserves outscored Indiana's, 24-17.

"It seems like every night we're getting different contributions from our bench,'' Pierce said. "One night, you have Chris, another night you have Sasha [Pavlovic], you have Marquis and, of course, E'Twaun [Thursday night]. So that's what we're going to need, especially with the injuries that we've had of late. It's going to have to come from a combination of guys to come in there, fill that role, and step up for us, and they've been great at it.''

The Pacers, who dealt the Celtics a humiliating 87-74 loss in their last visit to Boston Jan. 6, got a team-high 21 points from Danny Granger. Paul George had 16 while David West chipped in 14 points.

Fourth quarter

Celtics 88, Pacers 80, 2:56 -- After the Pacers closed to within 81-75, Mickael Pietrus drained a trey to spark a 7-2 spurt that enabled the Celtics to gain some breathing room, 88-78. But Paul George threw down a breakway dunk to cut it to eight with less than three minutes remaining.

Celtics 81, Pacers 73, 6:48 --

Celtics 81, Pacers 65, 8:38 -- The Celtics opened up a 16-point lead on Marquis Daniels' breakaway dunk. The C's bench has now outscored the Pacers' bench, 24-15, with Wilcox leading the way with a season-high 14 points.

Third quarter

Celtics 71, Pacers 61, end of third -- The Celtics took a 10-point lead into the fourth after getting a lights-out effort from Paul Pierce in the third quarter. Pierce scored 17 points in the period to lead the way.

Celtics 69, Pacers 59, 1:23 -- Celtics in complete control of the game, thanks to Pierce, who now has 24 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists.

Celtics 62, Pacers 50, 5:21 -- Pierce took the game over, scoring 10 points in a 14-2 run that enabled the Celtics to open up a 12-point lead, 60-48, on Pierce's 3-pointer with 5:53 to go. David West followed with a jumper, but Chris Wilcox, in the game for Bass after he picked up his fourth personal, went to the line for a pair of foul shots to make it a 12-point game.

Celtics 55, Pacers 46, 9:55 -- After Granger hit a pair of foul shots and a converted a Paul Pierce turnover into a breakaway layup that tied it, 46-46, the Celtics reeled off nine unanswered points to take a 9-point lead. Pierce sparked the run with a 3-point burial for a 49-46 lead with 8:25 to go, then fed Avery Bradley on a nice baseline cut to make it 51-46, and then drove the lane for a basket to make it 53-46. Kevin Garnett then converted on a heavily-contested turnaround lane jumper to make it 55-46, prompting the Pacers to call a timeout.

Celtics 44, Pacers 42, 9:55 -- The Pacers opened the second half by outscoring the Celtics, 8-2, to pull within two points. Danny Granger came out on fire, scoring the first two baskets of the half for the Pacers. Tyler Hansbrough answered a Brandon Bass follow dunk with a pair of foul shots (courtesy of Bass' third personal) and David West came back with a jumper to cut the Celtics lead to 2.

Halftime: Celtics 42, Pacers 34

Mickael Pietrus drained a 3-pointer, flashing the Pacers' bench with a double-fisted three-point hand gesture as he raced back downcourt, to give the Celtics a 42-32 lead with 8.5 seconds to go. But the Celtics got their comeuppance when David West drained a buzzer-beating jumper to pull the Pacers within 8 at intermission.

Chris Wilcox led the way for the Celtics with 10 points and 6 rebounds in the first while Danny Granger led the Pacers with 9 first-half points.

Second quarter

Celtics 37, Pacers 30, 2:12 -- Chris Wilcox is having a night for himself. He has scored 10 points to go with 6 rebounds, both season highs. But the Pacers did not go away. They got free throws from Granger and Amundson to cut it to 7. Hibbert was reported to have suffered a sprained ankle.

Celtics 34, Pacers 24, 4:48 -- A driving layup by Brandon Bass is followed by a Paul Pierce offensive putback to give the C's a 10-point lead, 34-24 with 4:55 left. The play proved costly for the Pacers when Roy Hibbert went down in a heap, clutching his right ankle. Not a good turn of events for the visitors who have struggled on the offensive glass, getting shut out in the first quarter.

Celtics 30, Pacers 24, 6:22 -- Pacers scored five in a row on Dahntay Jones' 3-point play and Paul George's fadeaway jumper. Doc Rivers called a timeout to give the Celtics a chance to regroup.

Celtics 30, Pacers 19, 10:49 -- Brandon Bass buries another long baseline jumper to give the C's an 11-point lead, their largest of the game so far.

Celtics 27, Pacers 17, 10:49 -- After Chris Wilcox throws down a resounding dunk to make it 25-17, Marquis Daniels converts on a turnaround jumper to give the Celtics a 10-point edge.

First quarter

Celtics 23, Pacers 17, end of first quarter -- Chris Wilcox led the C's with 6 points in the first-quarter, hitting a turnaround jumper in the lane with 35.8 seconds remaining in the period to give Boston a 6-point lead. Brandon Bass and Mickael Pietrus each chipped in 4 points as the Celtics converted 11 of 25 field goal attempts in the first quarter.

Celtics 19, Pacers 17, 2:11 -- The Celtics went on an 8-6 run to control a 2-point lead on Brandon Bass' baseline jumper, prompting the Pacers to signal for a timeout. The Celtics are six points away from matching their total first-half output in their last homecourt matchup against the Pacers Jan. 6, when they managed to score only 25 points.

Pacers 11, Celtics 8, 5:50 -- After a timeout, Paul Pierce ties it with a 3-pointer.

Pacers 11, Celtics 8, 5:50 -- After Kevin Garnett scored the first basket of the game, Pacers reeled off seven unanswered points before the Celtics came back and twice pulled within 1 (7-6 and 9-8), the latter on an Avery Bradley reverse layup with 6:59 to go. David West, however, answered with an open jump shot from the left wing to give the Pacers a 3-point lead.

Pregame

Welcome to TD Garden, where the Celtics, fresh off their 91-83 come-from-behind road win in Orlando Thursday night, will host the Indiana Pacers without starters Ray Allen (ankle), Rajon Rondo (wrist) and Jermaine O'Neal (left knee). The Celtics will be looking to avenge a hideous 87-74 homecourt loss to the Pacers Jan. 6.

Final: Celtics 91, Magic 83: Thats the ballgame.

Fourth quarter, 25.4, Celtics 89-83: The Celtics are going to pull off an improbable, perhaps season-changing win, rallying back from a 27-point deficit for their second straight win over Orlando. Paul Pierce has 24 points, 19 in the second half.

Fourth quarter, 5:56, Celtics 79-78: Celtics have wasted three chances to go up 5 and Dwight Howard makes them pay with a layup. Doc Rivers sees his team is tired and calls timeout. Celtics are 10 of 18 from the 3-point line.

Fourth quarter, 7:32, Celtics 79-76: A stirring 13-0 run has the Celtics up for the first time since early in the first quarter and they trailed 52-25 at the midway point of the second quarter. E'Twaun Moore is having his biggest game as a Celtic with 12 points off the bench, all 3-pointers.

Fourth quarter, 9:30, Magic 76-74: Celtics have all the confidence now and Paul Pierce is heading up. He has 7 straight points and the fans in Orlando are anxious. The Celtics defense is back to controlling the game as they did in the first matchup Monday.

End of third quarter, Magic 75-64: Celtics have never stopped playing hard and ended the quarter on a 17-7 run to make it interesting. Paul Pierce scored 9 points in the quarter while E'Twaun Moore hit a key 3-pointer as the Celtics are making up for their first half miseries.

Third quarter, 5:12, Magic 68-47: Orlando counters with an 8-2 run but not before Paul Pierce missed an open 3-pointer that could have cut the deficit to 12. Dwight Howard has 8 points for Orlando while Pierce has 11 on 3-for-11 shooting.

Third quarter, 8:39, Magic 60-45: Celtics have scored 8 of the first 10 points of the half, 6 of those by Paul Pierce and suddenly the game isn't a joke anymore. But they need more defensive stops and some 3-pointers to make it interesting. Dwight Howard is being stymied by Kevin Garnett, by the way.

Halftime, Magic 58-37: Celtics with a mini 12-6 run to end the half to make it somewhat respectable but this is a disaster so far. The Magic is getting every break, every bounce and every call seemingly and the Celtics just look lost without Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen. Scoring has been an issue but so has fouling. The Celtics committed too many silly fouls in the first half and would need a nice run to begin the third quarter to have any shot.

Second quarter, 2:47, Magic 52-27: Yeah the score is right. Orlando is on a 50-19 run and has turned this into a nationally televised embarrassment. The Celtics can't score consistently and have made nine field goals. Orlando has 21 field goals are getting every break. And Dwight Howard has 4 points.

Second quarter, 5:54, Magic 43-23: The Celtics are clinging to any kind of hope of staying in the game but they can't score consistently and Paul Pierce has 1 point in 15 minutes. The Celtics offense was already struggling without Ray Allen but Kevin Garnett is the only one who is looking to score at this point. Brandon Bass is on the bench with three fouls and Greg Stiemsma already has four.

Second quarter, 8:47, Magic 36-20: The Celtics are just trying to stem the tide and cut into Orlando's large lead. So far they are playing better defense but still only have eight field goals and attempted two free throws. Paul Pierce has yet to score.

End of fIrst quarter, Magic 32-16: Orlando ends the quarter on a 30-8 run and is in total control after a barrage of turnovers and and good fortune went the Magic's favor. After going scoreless in the first meeting Monday, Ryan Anderson scored 12 points in the period while Jason Richardson added 10. The Celtics committed seven turnovers and shot 38 percent. They need offense badly.

FIrst quarter, 4:58, Magic 15-10: A 12-2 run for Orlando and it has mostly scored in the paint, including 5 points from Glen Davis. Meanwhile, the Celtics are on another one of their scoring droughts with 2 points in the past three minutes.

FIrst quarter, 8:13, Celtics 8-2: Celtics playing with the same confidence as Monday and they have already drawn two fouls on Dwight Howard while Mickael Pietrus has two 3-pointers against his former team in place of the injured Ray Allen.

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

WINTER PARK, Fla. -- Rajon Rondo (right wrist) will not play tonight vs. the Magic, and Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Avery Bradley will likely take his place in the starting lineup. Ray Allen (left ankle) did not make the trip, but Rivers said he could play tomorrow at home vs. Indiana.

Rivers said Rondo couldn't even make it through yesterday's practice without favoring the wrist, meaning he could miss a few more games.

"He can't play," Rivers said. "If he could play, he'd play. His hand just won't let him. It's not broken or anything. It's just extremely sore. He tried to shoot and do things yesterday and you could just see it's not way. There's no way he could have been effective."

Mickael Pietrus (shoulder) is expected to start in place of Allen tonight, and Keyon Dooling (right knee) and Chris WIlcox (left calf) are also expected to return for the Celtics. Jermaine O'Neal (left knee) is doubtful, though he could return tomorrow night against the Pacers as well.

If O'Neal can't go, Brandon Bass, Kevin Garnett, Greg Stiemsma, and Wilcox will share the duty of guarding Dwight Howard.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Avery Bradley did his best Rajon Rondo imitation, and the Celtics put forth their best defensive effort of the year to pick up their first big win, 87-56, over the Orlando Magic at TD Garden tonight. Orlando's offensive output was historically low -- the Magic shot 24.6 percent from the field in the game, the second-lowest field percentage allowed by the Celtics in franchise history. Orlando's 16 field goals are the fewest in the shot-clock era.

The Celtics started a lineup of Bradley, Sasha Pavlovic, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jermaine O'Neal, and for the first quarter they looked the part of a depleted team. The Celtics made 8 of 22 shots in the first quarter and were saved by Pierce's 8 points. Garnett missed the only shot he took from the field.

But Bradley steadily led the team in the second, harassing Orlando's Jameer Nelson on defense and failing to turn the ball over once on offense as the Celtics found their groove. In the market for a second scorer, the Celtics found one in Brandon Bass, who had 11 points in the second quarter to supplement the scoring of Pierce. It finally clicked for the home team with a 12-4 run run to end the quarter as their offense began to match their defensive intensity. By halftime Orlando was shooting 29 percent from the field. The Celtics had six first-half blocks.

If the second quarter was surprising, the third was satisfying. The Celtics kept up the defense and cranked up the offense to outscore the Magic 23-10 in the third. By the end of the period Orlando had more turnovers (17) than field goals (13). It was -- by far -- the team's most complete effort of the year.

Pierce finished the game with 19 points, while Bass also had 19.

It's an important win for the Celtics because as they've seen in this lockout-shortened season, an injury means a player might miss 5 or 6 games instead of 3 or 4. In other words, they don't have time to wait for their injured players to get back. The C's should get Rondo and perhaps Keyon Dooling back Thursday night, when the Celtics and Magic meet again in Orlando in a nontraditional home-and-home.

Final: Celtics 87-56: Best effort of the year, hands down.

4:29 4th quarter, Celtics 77-51: JaJuan Johnson making his first appearance. Would like to see more of him.

6:28 4th quarter, Celtics 75-51: Both teams emptying their benches. OK maybe just the Magic, since the Celtics started theirs. Dwight looks done for the night.

8:07 4th quarter, Celtics 73-48: Jermaine O'Neal fouls out. Dance party music on. Fans looking ahead to Feb. 5.

END 3d quarter, Celtics 69-46: Orlando scores10 points in the third quarter, Celtics score 23. Tremendous defense by the Celtics here, by far their best effort of the season. Avery Bradley has been everywhere.

3:05 3d quarter, Celtics 60-41: The Magic have made 12 shots and have 16 turnovers. Brandon Bass and KG guarding Howard now with the Celtics' centers in foul trouble.

5:04 3d quarter, Celtics 56-41: Greg Stiemsma has four fouls in six minutes.

7:34 3d quarter, Celtics 54-39: Jermaine O'Neal gets into it with Dwight Howard and tries to go after Howard. Paul Pierce steps in and breaks it up. O'Neal didn't look like he was messing around. Double-technicals called. Not a good situation with O'Neal there.

8:44 3d quarter, Celtics 50-39: Turkoglu finally gets Orlando on the board in the second half. Ryan Anderson is 0 for 6.

Halftime, Celtics 46-36: Great end to the half by the Celtics, who are playing inspired defensive basketball. They finally strung together a few buckets to match their D before the break.

Pierce is going to need to lead the Celtics, and he's doing so with nine shots. He's also been to the line six times. The other scoring is coming from Brandon Bass, who has matched Pierce's 13. That seems about right, as Kevin Garnett has shown this season that big scoring nights probably won't be his thing.

Avery Bradley is playing very, very well in 17 minutes. He's been everywhere.

0:32 2d quarter, Celtics 43-33: A 9-0 run by the Celtics is capped by a 3-pointer from Pierce, who has 13 points.

2:44 2d quarter, Celtics 34-33: Brandon Bass is up to 10 points on 4 for 7 shooting. The man can score.

4:32 2d quarter, Celtics 32-29: This is a glorified men's league game. The Magic are just 3 for 13 in the quarter. On the other end, Marquis Daniels cannot for the life of him finish around the rim.

6:42 2d quarter, Celtics 30-29: The Glen Davis-Brandon Bass watch: 6 points and 4 rebounds for Bass, 6 and 4 for Davis.

9:55 2d quarter, Celtics 26-23: E'Twaun Moore doing good work in five minutes of play, forcing a Magic turnover. Rookie just needs to get some good minutes in.

END 1st quarter, Celtics 22-20: Good showing by the Celtics, who are led by Paul Pierce with 8 points. Dwight Howard has 12.

The NBA wouldn't be the NBA without Pierce owning Quentin Richardson. Pierce beat Q to the cup with a nifty move that left his former nemesis stuck in the mud in the paint.

2:21 1st quarter, Magic 16-15: The Celtics are somehow in this game despite having only 10 players and despite shooting 32 percent.

4:53 1st quarter, Tied at 10: Jermaine O'Neal takes a charge, something he's done well this season.

6:44 1st quarter, Magic 8-6: Here's the Glen Davis tribute video. Good ovation for Baby after an initial mixed reaction. I'd say that's just about right.

8:33 1st quarter, Tied at 6: Kind of fun to watch a lineup without Rondo and Ray Allen try to score points. Maybe Pierce can go for 60.

Pregame: Let's try something new: Celtics as plucky underdogs.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Former Celtics forward Glen Davis is in the building tonight to play against his former team. Davis can charitably be described as enigmatic during his time in Boston, helping lead the Celtics to the championship in 2008 before off-court issues and questions about effort hastened his departure to the Magic.

Davis hesitated and gave a long pause when asked if he wanted to be a Celtic again during the offseason.

"Um, yeah," said Davis. "You start your career somewhere and you don't want to leave. It's a business. Some things don't work out the way you want to, and you find a new home."

Davis said he wasn't sure how he'd feel coming back into this building, and he didn't know what his emotions would be during tonight's game.

"I heard they gave Perk like a little tribute," said Davis. "If they do that, I don't know. I might not be able to hold myself. But it's good. I think my emotions will be OK> I'm playing a basketball game. Hopefully I won't let the other family feelings get in the mix."

Davis had a complicated relationship with Celtics coach Doc Rivers, and Rivers expressed some of that when asked about Davis.

"He did a lot of great things for us," said Rivers. "He was on the stage when he held up the ball. He played a big part of it, he really did, especially that year. He was fantastic.

"He's a better player than his act. I was very hard on him. Still am when I talk to him, to be the player and not the act. I think Baby has a lot of good basketball left in him, and when he focuses on that, he does it."

Rivers said he has not spoken to Davis since he's gotten into town, but he said he probably will after the game.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Keyon Dooling, Chris Wilcox, and now Mickael Pietrus will all miss tonight's game due to injury. Your Celtics starters tonight are Avery Bradley, Sasha Pavlovic, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jermaine O'Neal.

"Sasha will start just because we want to have more shooting on the floor early," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers.

Rivers said Pietrus was due for an MRI on his shoulder after not being able to lift his arm over his head last night. That mean's he's probably out for a while. Rivers said Rondo and Dooling could return Thurs. in Orlando. The others aren't close.

-- Jeff Green made an appearance in the Celtics locker room before the game. He declined to speak to reporters but greeted his former teammates. He looked great just two weeks after heart surgery.

"It was awesome [to see Green], it was great," said Rivers. "We kidded around a lot. We brought him in in the morning for the breakfast. It was really cool. I was amazed obviously it was two weeks ago, and he looks normal, he's walking around. We made a joke, being sarcastic, to the guys who are injured, that he's walking around and they can't play."

Welcome to TD Garden, where the Boston Celtics will take on the Orlando Magic at 7:30 p.m. The teams meet again in a delayed home-and-home on Thursday night.

Ray Allen just walked onto the parquet floor as the Celtics prepared for their team walkthrough, which is closed to the media. The glimpse of Allen we got to see looked every bit like his usual robotic self. He was in uniform and walking without a limp and without a heavy ankle brace. His status for tonight's game is questionable.

Didn't get to see if Rajon Rondo was on the court before being kicked off, but imagine he can walk through plays even with an injured wrist. Whether he plays tonight is also up in the air. The Celtics probably need both players to beat a surging Orlando team, who could win their fifth straight road game tonight.

Back with more in a bit.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

The good news is the Celtics are back home tonight. The bad news is they're not playing the Wizards. The Celtics have three wins against the Wiz this season and three against everybody else. They've yet to log what could be considered a "good" win. A win tonight against Orlando would qualify.

Tip-off: 7:30 p.m.
Records: Celtics (6-9), Magic (11-4)
Broadcast info:CSNNE (Mike Gorman and Tommy Heinsohn), WEEI 93.7 FM/850 AM (Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell)

Probable starters:

Celtics:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Jermaine O'Neal

Magic:
PG: Jameer Nelson
SG: J.J. Redick
SF: Jason Richardson
PF: Ryan Anderson
C: Dwight Howard

Injuries: Ray Allen (ankle) and Rajon Rondo (wrist) are both questionable for the Celtics, as is guard Keyon Dooling. Avery Bradley would likely start again for Rondo if he can't go, while E'Twaun Moore, Marquis Daniels, or maybe even Mickael Pietrus could start for Allen.

Storylines:

Roster: The Celtics may be without their starting backcourt tonight. They were without Paul Pierce for the first three games of the season, all losses. It shouldn't matter. More guys aren't getting hurt this season, they're just missing more games. The Celtics can't afford to wait until their guys come back to start winning games. They're already behind.

Surprising Magic: With Dwight Howard probably out the door after the season, the Magic were an afterthought heading into this year. But they've won four straight on the road and are second in the East behind Chicago. Ryan Anderson (17.5 points, 7.3 rebounds) has been one of the league's best power forwards. The Magic were supposed to be in the same boat as the Celtics this season -- not quite elite -- but so far they've been much better.

Baby's back: Glen Davis returns to TD Garden tonight as a member of the Magic. The reaction won't be Perk-like, but it shouldn't be bad, either. Davis is averaging 7.9 points and 5.1 rebounds, and he is shooting 37.5 percent.

FInal: Celtics 100-94: A gritty win given Ray Allen was lost to a jammed ankle in the second quarter and the Celtics struggled at the point guard position. Paul Pierce finished with 34 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds in a magnificent performance.

Fourth quarter, 31.3, Celtics 97-92: The Celtics are trying to hold on but needed one more good possession and got a jumper from Kevin Garnett, who has warmed up in the second half. They have committed 17 turnovers and have been sloppy with the ball at times. They have been carried by Paul Pierce, who has 33 points.

Fourth quarter, 3:23, Celtics 93-86: Paul Pierce is going off on the Wizards, he has 33 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds and his layup just gave the Celtics a little cushion in what has been an afternoon on attrition. Ray Allen is out with a jammed left ankle, joining Rajon Rondo, who is also out for the second consecutive game.

Fourth quarter, 5:55, Wizards 84-83: Celtics are running out of game and getting little from the point guard position. Avery Bradley and E'Twaun Moore are a combined 1-for-10 shooting. Bradley has five turnovers and seven assists. Paul Pierce has 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists in his best game of the season.

End of third quarter, Celtics 73-69: Celtics led by 13 in the quarter but the point guard play is killing them right now. Avery Bradley had five turnovers while E'Twaun Moore needs more experience. Paul Pierce is near a triple double.

Third quarter, 5:59, Celtics 63-53: Doc Rivers, sensing a slight shift in momentum, calls a timeout after a 4-0 Washington run. The Celtics are trying to give themselves a break and put some real distance between themselves and the Wizards. John Wall has been a one-man show with 18 points, including a stretch of 12 in a row.

Third quarter, 8:54, Celtics 57-44: Celtics are trucking without Ray Allen, who left the game with a jammed left ankle. Mickael Pietrus has scored 12 points and Paul Pierce is on a triple-double watch with 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists as the Celtics try to get their swagger back without two starters.

Halftime, Celtics 49-40: Paul Pierce has had a break-out half with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists while Ray Allen has 7 points but left the game with a jammed left ankle. He is uncertain to return. Mickael Pietrus has 8 points and is being more aggressive. John Wall has 15 points for the Wizards, including the last 10 of the half.

Second quarter, 3:58, Celtics 40-32: Paul Pierce is beginning to look like his old self. He has 16 points with 6 rebounds and 3 assists and has drained both of his 3-point attempts. Ray Allen has 7 points but apparently sprained his ankle on an illegal screen by Washington's Jan Vesely and is in the locker room.

Second quarter, 6:50, Celtics 31-28: Boston on a 5-0 run and the Celtics are playing with some energy but the offense is having problems without Rajon Rondo. Paul Pierce and Avery Bradley lead the team with three assists apiece. The Wizards are getting production from their bench, which has scored 12 of their 28 points.

End of first quarter, Wizards 21-20: Washington ends the quarter on an 8-2 run as John Wall scored the final 4 points. The Wizards are shooting 42 percent from the field and are outrebounding the Celtics, 14-8. Ray Allen has 7 points for the Celtics while Avery Bradley is 0-for-3 shooting with three assists.

First quarter, 2:52, Celtics 16-13: Ray Allen has 7 points on 3-for-5 shooting, which is an encouraging sign for the offense. Paul Pierce scored 4 points with 3 rebounds and 2 assists in his seven minutes. Andray Blatche is off to a good start after being booed before the Wizards' previous home game. He has 6 points, including a statement dunk on Jermaine O'Neal.

First quarter, 5:57, Tied at 10: The Celtics are playing with aggression and forcing Washington into jumpers but the Wizards are hitting those jumpers. Ray Allen is off to a solid start with 4 points while Paul Pierce has 4 points and 2 rebounds.

First quarter, 7:50, Wizards 8-6: Avery Bradley has been aggressive but had both of his shots blocked while Ray Allen has an early bucket. Celtics trying desperately to get off to a fast start. Andray Blatche has 4 points.

Final: Suns 79-71: Hard to see anything encouraging about this one. The Celtics were awful offensively. scoring 15 points in the first quarter and 16 in the fourth. Ray Allen led Boston with 14 points while Paul Pierce added 12. Marcin Gortat led all scorers with 24 points, including 14 in a row in the first quarter. Steve Nash added 11 points and nine assists. The Celtics fall to 5-9.

Fourth quarter, 1:39, Suns 76-66: The Celtics are headed to another bad loss as Phoenix has led most of the way and shut down the Celtics' non-existent offense. Boston is shooting 40 percent with 18 turnovers, 11 in a putrid second half.

Fourth quarter, 2:50, Suns 71-63: This one's on the offense, which can't consistently score. The Celtics went 6:03 without a point and are headed for a season low in points unless something dramatic happens. Brandon Bass and Ray Allen led Boston with 11 points each.

Fourth quarter, 5:49, Suns 67-59: The Celtics went through a six-minute drought after taking a 55-52 lead and are desperately trying to scrape back. Paul Pierce and Avery Bradley lead the Celtics with 10 points while Marcin Gortat has 20 and 10 rebounds for Phoenix. The Suns are shooting 36 percent in the second half.

Fourth quarter, 8:40, Suns 64-55: The Celtics haven't scored since the 2:17 mark of the third quarter, a span of 5 minutes 37 seconds and Phoenix is on a 12-0 run. It's another example of the Celtics anemic offense, especially without Rajon Rondo and Keyon Dooling. Paul Pierce leads the Celtics with 10 points.

End of third quarter, Suns 60-55: Celtics allow Phoenix to score the last 8 points of the quarter and now trail by 5 after taking the lead. The defense was solid in that period but E'Twaun Moore has struggled running the point with 2 points on 1-for-6 shooting. Avery Bradler has been steadier with 8 points in 25 minutes.

Third quarter, 4:56, Suns 50-48: The Celtics are off to a 13-4 run to start the second half and seem to have solved the Suns defensively. But they are wasting more chances to go ahead or tie the game. A big issue in the last few games. Paul Pierce has 10 points while Avery Bradley has 8 points.

Halftime, Suns 46-35: The Celtics obviously aren't the same team without Rajon Rondo but the Suns are doing a nice job of defending everything near the basket and not giving up any easy layups. The Celtics have missed a load of easy shots and are shooting 36.4 percent from the field while Brandon Bass leads them with 8 points. Marcin Gortat scored 16 points in the first half, 14 in the first quarter.

Second quarter, 2:58, Suns 41-34: The Celtics are slowly climbing back into the game as four of the five starters have 6 points -- not Jermaine O'Neal -- and Brandon Bass has 8 off the bench. The Celtics have been able to slow down the Phoenix break and have just five turnovers. Avery Bradley has played well in his first start.

Second quarter, 5:48, Suns 35-25: Another slow Celtics start and Phoenix didn't come to Boston to play patsy. Marcin Gortat has 16 points and the Suns are shooting 51.7 percent. The Celtics need a scoring leader with Rajon Rondo out and no one has taken that responsibility yet.

Second quarter, 8:04, Suns 32-23: Suns on a 6-0 run and the Celtics' defense is sagging against Phoenix's up-tempo pace. Former BC standout Jared Dudley has 5 points off the bench while Marcin Gortat scored 14 points in 12 minutes. The Celtics are shooting 40.7 percent and Kevin Garnett has 4 points.

End of first quarter, Suns 20-15: Marcin Gortat is looking like Michael Jordan so far, scoring 14 straight points for Phoenix on 7-for-11 shooting with four rebounds. He has scored Phoenix's last 14 points. Grant Hill has 4 points for the Suns and Steve Nash has 2. The Celtics are shooting 36.8 percent. Paul Pierce has 6 points.

First quarter, 4:32, Suns 16-8: Marcin Gortat is giving Jermaine O'Neal the business with 10 points and 4 rebounds in just seven minutes. Gortat is 5-for-7 shooting while O'Neal has yet to score.

Final score, Celtics, 96-73 Rajon Rondo finished with 21 points, but did not return to the court after sustaining a right wrist injury late in the third quarter. The Celtics snapped losing streaks of four games at home and five games overall.

2:18, 4th quarter, Celtics, 93-66 The second unit upped the Celtics' advantage as Mickael Pietrus connected on two 3-pointers and Avery Bradley effectively directed the offense.

8:33, 4th quarter, Celtics, 77-57 The Celtics stayed with the Avery Bradley-E'Twaun Moore backcourt as Rondo received treatment in the locker room.

End of 3d quarter, Celtics, 73-55 The Celtics ended the quarter with an Avery Bradley-E'Twaun Moore backcourt. Rajon Rondo (right wrist injury), accompanied by team doctor Brian McKeon, remained in the locker room between quarters.

2:12, 3d quarter, Celtics, 69-49 Rajon Rondo drew a flagrant 1 foul from Linas Kleiza. Rondo went to the basket on a give-and-go with Kevin Garnett and went down in a clash with Kleiza. Trainer Ed Lacerte treated Rondo, who remained on the court under the basket as a timeout was called. Rondo converted a free throw, then was replaced by E'Twaun Moore and went to the locker room.

7:35, 3d quarter, Celtics, 53-41 Rajon Rondo continued to push the pace for the Celtics. The Celtics' defense also found a rhythm, holding the Raptors without a field goal for the opening 4:25 of the second half.

End for first half, Celtics, 44-38 The Celtics scored a season-high 29 points in the opening quarter. But the second unit struggled in the second quarter. Rajon Rondo scored 15 points for the Celtics.

2:49, 2d quarter, Celtics, 40-31 Rajon Rondo missed a layup after converting his first five field goal attempts.

5:45, 2d quarter, Celtics,36-27 The Celtics went to a three-guard setup, extending the lead to 36-23 on a Mickael Pietrus 3-pointer with 6:35 remaining in the half.

8:35, 2d quarter, Celtics, 29-21 The Celtics' Marquis Daniels-E'Twaun Moore backcourt struggled, Toronto capitalizing to score on three transition possessions, leading to a Celtics timeout.

End of 1st quarter, Celtics, 29-14 The Celtics went on a 13-0 run over a 5:54 span to take control.

3:56 1st quarter, Celtics, 19-7 Rajon Rondo's 3-point play extended an 11-0 Celtics run.

First quarter, 5:50, Celtics-Toronto, 14-7: Kevin Garnett scored 6 points in less than five minutes before being replaced by Brandon Bass.

Starting lineups for Celtics-Toronto Raptors:

Celtics: F-Pierce, F-Garnett, C-O'Neal, G-Allen, G-Rondo;
Toronto: F-J. Johnson, F-Davis, C-A. Johnson, G-DeRozan, G-Calderon.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

The return of Kendrick Perkins to TD Garden provided a lot of nice moments, but it didn't provide the Celtics with a win as the team dropped their fifth straight game, 97-88, to Perkins's Oklahoma City Thunder team Monday night.

The Perkins-Jermaine O'Neal matchup never materialized into a deal-breaker for either side, though the much-maligned O'Neal did show signs of life with a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds. Perkins was held scoreless in the first half but finished with 7 points and 5 rebounds in 28 minutes.

There was nothing pretty about a first quarter in which the Celtics shot 27 percent from the field. Kevin Garnett led the team's starters in the first with two made field goals. No one scored off the bench. The Celtics found themselves down eight.

With the second quarter came modest improvement. The Celtics methodically kept themselves in the game in the second by getting to the rim now and then, raising their shooting percentage for the period to 42 percent. Paul Pierce showed flashes of his vintage self on a couple of hesitation moves to the hoop.

Pierce scored the first two baskets of the second half, and it finally looked like he was on his way to busting out for a big game. He had eight points in the third quarter and got himself up to 19 points for the game as the Celtics tied the score at 57 with five minutes left in the period. But the Thunder closed out the third with a 15-5 run, holding the Celtics scoreless for the final 2:38.

Like they did against the Bulls last Friday night, the Celtics refused to go quietly, mounting a comeback in the fourth quarter. The Celtics got the score down to 78-76 with 4:59 left in the game, but Oklahoma City began shooting daggers, spreading the lead back out with two 3-pointers from Thabo Sefolosha and two from Russell Westbrook to give the Thunder enough cushion for the win.

Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 28 points while Westbrook had 26. Pierce led the Celtics with 24 points and 5 rebounds.

The toughest part of the Celtics' immediate schedule appears to be over. The team hosts Toronto at TD Garden Wednesday night and hosts the Phoenix Suns on Friday night. The Philadelphia 76ers improved to 10-3 with a lead over the Bucks today, increasing their grip on first place in the Atlantic Division.

51.1 seconds 4th quarter, Thunder 92-85 Mickael Pietrus hits his fifth 3-pointer, but Westbrook answers with his third in four tries. Clutch shooting from the Thunder point guard, who's got 26 points.

1:31 4th quarter, Thunder 89-82 Sefolosha and Westbrook hit back-to-back 3-pointers and that might do it. Big shots by the Thunder. This is why they're the Western favorites.

3:06 4th quarter, Thunder 83-78 KG misses another, he's 4 for 15. If he hits 8 of 15 the Celtics are leading this game.

4:59 4th quarter, Thunder 78-76 Pierce hits a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to two.

7:30 4th quarter, Thunder 74-69 Mickael Pietrus hasn't been as active here as he was in his first couple of games, but he's got three big 3-pointers, the last one cutting the Celtics' margin to five.

8:50 4th quarter, Thunder 74-64 Rondo's out of the game and the offense is stagnant, though he's not having his best performance, anyway. Rondo's just 5 for 12 with 4 assists.

END 3d quarter, Thunder 72-62: The Thunder put together a quick 15-5 run to open up a double-digit lead. Just like that a lot of good things go down the drain. Celtics didn't score in the last 2:38 of the quarter.

4:49 3d quarter, Tied at 57: Jermaine O'Neal now has 12 points and 11 rebounds. Think he's motivated tonight?

6:08 3d quarter, Thunder 57-53 Kendrick Perkins has his first four points of the game on a lay-up and a dunk. He gave Jermaine O'Neal a little stare after the slam. Offense is picking up on both sides.

8:49 3d quarter, Thunder 50-49 Paul Pierce continues where he left off in the second quarter, attacking the rim for six quick points here in the third. He's got 17.

Halftime, Thunder 46-39 The Celtics have made ugly basketball their trademark. How they're only trailing by seven points and shooting 34 percent is beyond me. The defense has been decent, but man. They're not making it easy on themselves,

Jermaine O'Neal is getting the best of Kendrick Perkins on the stat sheet so far, with 6 points and 5 rebounds to Perk's 0 points and 4 rebounds. Perkins has four fouls.

2:53 2d quarter, Thunder 40-31 Bass walks back to the bench, just a quick trip. The Perk watch: 0 points and 4 rebounds in 13 minutes.

3:56 2d quarter, Thunder 38-31 Brandon Bass goes back to the locker room. He did that last game too, just walked back right before halftime. Maybe it's nothing to worry about.

6:08 2d quarter, Thunder 32-27 Easy buckets are a good way to get that shooting percentage up. Rondo and Allen both get to the rim. Kevin Garnett is having as solid a game as we've seen in sometimes with 4 points and 5 rebounds.

8:08 2d quarter, Thunder 28-19 E'Twaun Moore getting some good run here. Sets up Brandon Boss with some nifty penetration and Bass draws the foul. Doc Rivers said before the game that Moore earned some playing time.

9:03 2d quarter, Thunder 27-19 Marquis Daniels finally drives to the hoop for an easy bucket. The Celtics need more of that, struggle mightily to find it.

END 1st quarter, Thunder 25-17 Paul Pierce is passing up lots of 3-pointers this season for shots that seem more contested. Have to like his desire to get to the rim, but sometimes it just isn't there, and he's their scorer. Other guys aren't making that shot if he isn't taking it.

Would like to give Kendrick Perkins credit for the Celtics shooting 27 percent, but they've been dreadful on offense in the first quarter almost all season.

2:43 1st quarter, Thunder 17-13 Celtics lost Kevin Durant in transition, then Ray Allen threw a lazy pass that was picked off by Russell Westbrook for an easy two. Can't let this team get out and run.

6:14 1st quarter, Thunder 9-8 A good old fashioned defensive effort in honor of Perk tonight. Teams are a combined 7 of 24. Isn't this fun? To be fair, the Celtics have been shooting like this all season.

The Celtics showed a video montage of Perkins during his Celtics years during the timeout, and Perkins walked to midcourt and raised his arms in appreciation. Very nice moment.

10:31 1st quarter, Celtics 5-2: Good start by Jermaine O'Neal, getting fouled and converting the basket. You feel bad for O'Neal -- and Jeff Green -- in all of this. They didn't ask to come here in place of Kendrick Perkins.

Pregame: A standing ovation for Kendrick Perkins as he's introduced. Nice ovation for Jermaine O'Neal on the other side. Lots of "Welcome back, Perk" signs in the crowd.

Let's get it.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Let's end quickly any notions of bad blood, revenge, or animosity of any kind between Kendrick Perkins and his old team. There never has been, and judging by today's comments on both sides, there isn't going to be any. Perkins will probably get T'd up, too. Won't matter.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said it would be emotional going against his former player.

"I don't ever call it coaching against players, because I can't go out there and guard them," said Rivers. "I wish I could foul the hell out of him but I can't. But it is going to be different, and I'm glad it's here and we can get it over with. Because he meant a lot to me."

Rivers said Jermaine O'Neal will start at center tonight.

"I hear a lot of talk about him, and one of the things I tell J.O. every day is, 'Do your job every night, and if you do that we're going to be happy with you,'" said Rivers. "And that's the rebounding, blocking shots, and taking charges. That's what important for us. I think when he gets into that he's so much better for us."

Rivers characterized O'Neal's play as up-and-down this season and said defensively he's been good more times than bad.

On Perkins's 30-pound weight loss with the Thunder, Rivers said he thought Perkins was Thunder guard James Harden when he first saw a picture of him.

Rivers had high praise for Harden, saying, "He's terrific. He's Paul Pierce as a two (guard), except for he's a better passer. At times he's their best playmaker. He plays at a great NBA speed, and he came into the league playing at that speed. He just has a great tempo about him, an unbelievable feel ... He kills you with simplicity."

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Backup point guard Keyon Dooling and reserve forward Chris Wilcox both said they are out tonight vs. Oklahoma City. Dooling (knee) said he was not sure when he'd be available, but it sure didn't sound like Wednesday against the Raptors. Dooling said he didn't want to give reporters bad information by pinpointing a return date.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Kendrick Perkins walked into TD Garden with the second wave of Thunder players moments ago and was trailed by a television camera tracking his every move. It will be all eyes on Perkins tonight as he plays in his first game in Boston as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Perkins spoke with the Globe's Gary Washburn earlier today. His coach Scott Brooks spoke to reporters a short time ago.

"He's exactly what I expected," Brooks said of Perkins. "Stats are never looked at when I judge him. What he brings is toughness."

Brooks said Perkins came into camp in tremendous shape after rehabilitating his knee in the offseason. He said Perk's weight loss allows him to guard both power forwards and centers this season, whereas last season he was only guarding the five position.

"Everybody on our team knows that Perk is about defense, Perk is about toughness," said Brooks. "He doesn't always play perfect, but none of our guys do. He's always about the team. You can never have enough guys like that."

Perkins will start at center for the Thunder tonight opposite Jermaine O'Neal, who can't be feeling too excited about facing off against one of the most popular players in Celtics team history.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Welcome to TD Garden, where the Boston Celtics (4-7) will take on the Oklahoma City Thunder (11-2) at 8 p.m.

Kevin Durant (above) is warming up on the parquet for Oklahoma City (apologies for the amateur photography). This observer is struck by how softly Durant launches even long-range shots. Even when his ball lands on all rim, he sometimes gets a friendly roll because it takes such a soft landing. By contrast, Paul Pierce looks like he's throwing a sack of flour at the basket. It never looks like Pierce's shots are going to go in, but both players are plenty good at knocking in those long-distance shots.

We're awaiting a breakout game from Pierce in 2012, and we're also awaiting what should be a warm and fuzzy reception for Kendrick Perkins from the Boston crowd. Perkins spoke to the Globe's Gary Washburn earlier today (next post down), and although he may be nervous about his return, he shouldn't be. He'll get plenty of love.

Perk's return is nice, but the Celtics do need to get down to the business of winning basketball games. Tonight's opponent won't help. Another slow start and the C's could be on their way to their fifth straight loss.

Back with plenty more from both locker rooms in a bit.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

It's all about Kendrick Perkins tonight as the hard-nosed former Celtics center makes his first return to Boston in an opposing uniform. He brings with him an Oklahoma City Thunder team that might be the best team in the Western Conference. They're certainly playing like it so far. Perkins is averaging 5.7 points and 6 rebounds in about 26 minutes per game. He's a thoughtful, emotional player who has expressed gratitude for the eight seasons he spent in Boston, and the home crowd should give that right back to their former big man tonight.

Tip-off: 8 p.m.
Records: Celtics (4-7), Thunder (11-2)
Broadcast info:TNT (no local TV broadcast tonight), WEEI 93.7 FM/850 AM (Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell)

Probable starters:

Celtics:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Jermaine O'Neal

Thunder:
PG: Russell Westbrook
SG: Thabo Sefolosha
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: Serge Ibaka
C: Kendrick Perkins

Injuries: Keyon Dooling and Chris Wilcox both missed shootaround this morning and are unlikely to play tonight.

Storylines:

Perk: There really won't be much focus on anything else tonight as far as Celtics fans are concerned. Perkins was never a big scorer or rebounder, but he's brought toughness to the OKC frontcourt. Everyone will be looking at Perkins vs. Jermaine O'Neal, but watch Perk and Kevin Garnett go at it. Does Perk make his teammates better defensively like KG used to make his? Will be fun to watch these two go at it.

Scoring: The Celtics have scored fewer than 90 points in each of their last five games, and they've lost four in a row.The Thunder just hung 104 points on the Knicks, and Kevin Durant is the league's best scorer. The C's are going to have to top 90 to win tonight.

Someone step up: Rajon Rondo will have the whole Russell Westbrook thing to motivate him, but someone, anyone, needs to step up for the Celtics. That's usually Paul Pierce, but not this season, at least not yet. Kevin Garnett took 19 shots Saturday night vs. Indiana. That's good! Take more. Get this offense going.

Final, Pacers 97-83: Celtics never led again after losing a 24-19 lead and right now just aren't ready to compete with the Pacers, who improved to 9-3. They have lost four straight games but did show signs of progress. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett each scored 21 points.

Fourth quarter, 3:07, Pacers 93-77: Eventually the Celtics will reap the benefits of how hard they are working right now but not tonight. Indiana was too athletic and the Celtics missed too many easy shots.

Fourth quarter, 6:22, Pacers 87-71: Celtics are playing for pride at this point. They have made progress tonight, but not enough to beat good teams and Indiana is a good team. The Celtics are not there yet.

End of third quarter, Pacers 82-67: Indiana is just executing at every opportunity and Darren Collison scored 11 points in the quarter and that was a killer. Boston had several chances to make it close but would make a turnovers and the Pacers will counter with a couple of fastbreak baskets. There are signs of progress, but now for the Celtics are mired in a slump.

Third quarter. 3:23, Pacers 75-60: It's not if the Celtics aren't trying here. They are desperately trying to make this a game, but every time they are close to making it interesting, they miss a shot and Indiana responds with two baskets of its own. Ray Allen missed a 3-pointer that could have made it a 69-63 game and Indiana scored the next 6 points. It's frustration time here in Indiana.

Third quarter. 9:32, Pacers 62-52: The Celtics are showing signs of becoming themselves, they are making plays, passing the ball and have a combined 28 points from Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, but they can't get stops. Indiana is living at the free throw line.

Halftime, Pacers 56-48: A very bizarre game considering the Celtics are playing well in some facets and poor in others. They have 10 offensive rebounds, have been hustling for loose balls and making the extra pass but yet Indian has hit every off-balance shot and leaning runner. The Pacers are shooting 43.2 percent but have hit 16 of 17 free throws. The Celtics are at 38.6 percent and are led by Kevin Garnett with 13 points and Paul Pierce with 11.

Second quarter, 2:57, Pacers 47-38: It's crazy how the Celtics are hitting offensive boards (they have 10 already) but can't cash them in. Boston is shooting 33 percent, including 0 for 3 from Jermaine O'Neal and 2 for 9 from Brandon Bass and Mickael Pietrus. The Celtics just need to make some shots.

Second quarter, 5:50, Pacers 38-32:Indiana went on a 17-2 run over the first and second quarters to take a 10-point lead and the Celtics have been fighting back but they can't make a shot despite a lot of good looks. In one sequence Paul Pierce and Jermaine O'Neal missed layups and they committed a backcourt foul chasing an errant pass. Pierce is looking better and has 9 points.

Second quarter, 8:57, Pacers 35-26: The Celtics have hit one of their scoring skids, having score 2 points in the last 6:34 while Indiana has scored 16 points in that span. So the Celtics are trying to stay close until their offense returns. They are shooting 32 percent from the field and has hit one of their last 10 shots.

End of first quarter, Pacers 29-24: Celtics go scoreless for the final 3:31 of the period and Indiana goes on a 10-0 after trailing by 5. The Celtics shot just 36 percent in the quarter and Indiana made all eight of its free throws. Celtics need stops on defense.

First quarter, 2:21, Celtics 24-23: The Celtics are going back to basic and seem to be playing more relaxed away from home. The bench has helped greating so far but the problem is the defense. Indiana is getting easy layups off backdoor plays. Paul Pierce has 5 points for Boston.

First quarter, 5:43, Pacers 15-14: The Celtics may actually score 20 points in the first quarter, which is a major accomplishment given their slow starts. But they don't have an answer for Paul George, who already has 9 points and has attemptef four free throws.

First quarter, 8:25, Celtics 7-6: The Celtics are feeding Kevin Garnett in the post early to get him going while the Pacers are looking a little unfocused with three turnovers.

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

It's desperation time in Boston as the Celtics once again face a playoff-caliber team needing a win. But first, the Celtics actually have to begin competing when the game starts. They have been putrid in first quarters of the past five games, averaging just 16.6 points and shooting 33 percent. They have scored more than 18 points in the first period once in that span.

So fans may actually know the Celtics' fate before the Patriots kickoff against the Broncos an hour later. Hopefully they can keep the fans intrigued for longer than that.

Tip-off: 7 p.m.
Records: Celtics (4-6), Pacers (8-3)
Broadcast info:ESPN, CSNNE (Mike Gorman and Tom Heinsohn), WEEI 93.7 FM/850 AM (Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell)

Probable starters:

Celtics:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Brandon Bass
C: Kevin Garnett

Pacers:
PG: Darren Collison
SG: Paul George
SF: Danny Granger
PF: David West
C: Roy Hibbert

Injuries: Garnett was icing his left ankle but is expected to play. Keyon Dooling (knee) is out.

Storylines:

Who starts?: Doc Rivers said that Brandon Bass will start 70 percent of the time at power forward with Kevin Garnett at center. That is his way to get more athletic with the fresher legs of Bass running the floor. Jermaine O'Neal just hasn't rebounded enough to garner being a starter.

Stretch ending: This difficult stretch of games ends Monday with Oklahoma City but the Celtics definitely don't want to go 0-4 against elite teams and just rack up wins beating the inferior teams. The Celtics need a confidence-boosting victory and they have two chances before Toronto comes to TD Garden Wednesday.

Rematch: The two teams played an ugly game on Jan. 6 with the Pacers prevailing 87-74 after the Celtics scored just 25 points in the first half, a franchise low. The Celtics do remember Danny Granger showboating after hitting a couple of garbage-time 3-pointers in the final minute and they have kept that memory in the back of their minds. Paul Pierce and Brandon Bass went a combined 5-for-24 shooting in that game.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

The Celtics managed to combine futility and passionate basketball into a wonderfully frustrating, at times entertaining, 88-79 loss to the Chicago Bulls at TD Garden tonight.

The home team could not have possibly set expectations any lower with their early play, and just as it looked like coming into the game, Chicago and Boston looked like two teams going in opposite directions. But tonight's game was a tale of two halves, with the Bulls imposing their dominant defense on the Celtics in the first half before the Celtics got it together enough to make a significant run and cut the lead to one point early in the fourth quarter.

The Celtics scored 13 points in the first quarter on Friday the 13th, and a scarier offensive display from this group of Celtics hasn't been seen since the assemblage of the New Big Three. Every Celtics point in the first quarter came from Rajon Rondo himself or off of a Rondo assist.

So it didn't bode well for the Celtics when Rondo took a breather at the start of the second quarter. The Bulls started the period with an 8-0 run as Avery Bradley and the rest of the team struggled to find any kind of offense with Rondo out of the game. Things improved somewhat for the Celtics when Rondo came back into the game, but they were still outscored by six in the second quarter and found themselves down, 52-33, at halftime.

Normally that would mean game over, but the Celtics seem unwilling to label themselves as the aging, out-of-contention team they appear to be at times. Flashes of the old Celtics emerged in the third quarter as the team outscored the Bulls, 26-15, to cut the lead to single-digits. After being out-rebounded, 27-14, in the first half, the Celtics closed that gap to 11-10 in the third as Kevin Garnett got on the board for the first time and Jermaine O'Neal became a presence around the rim.

The Celtics scored the first seven points of the fourth period to extend the run to 25-6 spanning the two quarters and get within one point, 67-66. Just like they've done many times over the last four years, they had the building rocking and had fans remembering why it is they watch this team.

But they couldn't sustain it, and the Bulls used to 10-3 run to open up some distance and re-extend their lead before holding on for the win.

Rondo paced the Celtics with an almost-triple-double of 14 points, 11 assists, and 7 rebounds. Derrick Rose led all scorers with 25 points, while Luol Deng had 21 points and 16 rebounds for Chicago.

It's a broken record, but it doesn't get easier for the Celtics anytime soon. They're in Indiana tomorrow night for a rematch against a Pacers team who blew them out at TD Garden last week, and they return home to face the Western Conference favorites, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Monday night.

2:29 4th quarter, Bulls 82-73 Chicago picking apart the Boston zone. Rose makes a three and Ronnie Brewer hit a long jumper to increase the deficit.

6:08 4th quarter, Bulls 77-69 Bulls have found their offense again, led by Rose, whose penetration has opened up shots and for other players.

9:58 4th quarter, Bulls 67-66 They're almost all the way back. The Bulls have yet to score in the fourth and the Celtics have started the period with a 7-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Mickael Pietrus. New ballgame. The Celtics' run is now 25-6 spanning the two quarters.

END 3d quarter, Bulls 67-59 Tremendous end to the quarter as the Celtics cut it to single-digits. That entire quarter was 26-15 run by the Celtics, and it felt like one too. Defense led to offense, and the Celtics finally showed a little tenacity on the glass. Rajon Rondo is going to run around this court as fast as he can until it kills him.

3:59 3d quarter, Bulls 63-50 Celtics showing signs of life, especially on the offensive end. Brandon Bass has two offensive rebounds, and one of them led to a 3-pointer by Pierce. A 17-11 run here by the Celtics. Not dominating, but better.

6:31 3d quarter, Bulls 61-43 KG finally makes two in a row.

11:42 3d quarter, Bulls 52-35 Brandon Bass hits his first shot to start the second half, an improvement over his 2 for 7 in the first.

Halftime, Bulls 52-33 It's going to get worse before it gets better. Rondo (8 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds) is pretty much matching Rose (8 points, 6 assists, 2 rebounds), but Rondo has no help. The Bulls are playing suffocating defense. The Celtics can't execute, and they haven't matched Chicago's energy.

2:17 2d quarter, Bulls 41-28 Rondo takes it at Derrick Rose on the fast-break and gets called for the charge. Rondo upset and gets a technical. Momentum killer.

4:31 2d quarter, Bulls 36-24 Finally some life. Pierce with a steal, Rondo with a run-out, and Chris Wilcox with a follow-up dunk.

5:49 2d quarter, Bulls 34-17 At this point it's hard to see where the offense will come from. Rondo's driving into the paint and finding no options when he gets there. The Bulls are getting their points too easily, especially with Rose out of the game.

Luol Deng has 12 points and 9 rebounds.

8:38 2d quarter, Bulls 30-13: Down to 19-percent shooting for the Celtics as the Bulls start the second quarter on an 8-0 run with Rondo out of the game.

END 1st quarter, Bulls 26-13: Never seen this group of Celtics play this badly in a quarter. Twenty-five percent shooting for the Celtics in the first, and they're getting out-rebounded 17-5.

2:23 1st quarter, Bulls 22-11: The Celtics are shooting 29 percent. Another dreadful offensive performance early on. They're not making it too difficult for Chicago, either. Bulls have 14 of their 22 points in the paint.

6:17 1st quarter, Bulls 14-6: Celtics getting run out of the gym so far. Bad shots on offense leading to run-outs and easy buckets for the Bulls. Paul Pierce is 1of 3, including a miss at the rim.

9:46 1st quarter, Bulls 5-2: Bass defending Noah, KG on Boozer, reversed on Chicago's side of the ball. Got it?

Lineup change: OK so apparently Brandon Bass is starting at center. Didn't know that before the game. Doc Rivers said Jermaine O'Neal was playing tonight. Maybe he will, he's in uniform.

Pregame: Friday night games are always fun. Good atmosphere in here.

Let's get it.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

The NBA rumor mill started churning in full force Thursday after Yahoo! Sports reported that Rasheed Wallace was contemplating a return to the NBA. The 37-year-old Wallace was one of the best power forwards of his era, and he was last seen playing for the Celtics in a Game-7 loss to the Lakers in the 2010 NBA Finals.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers didn't exactly express interest in bringing Wallace back to Boston Friday, but he did say that Wallace could return successfully if that was his intention.

"He can play," said Rivers. "With everyone, it's conditioning. If he's in great condition, then I'm sure he can play. If he's not then I'm sure it's going to be tough for him to play."

Rivers said he was not surprised that Wallace would be contemplating a comeback.

"I was surprised that he retired, honestly," said Rivers. "Things didn't end great, but he did play well in the first half of that Game 7, and then the cramps and all that stuff took its toll on him. But I think he still had basketball left in his body ... I think sometimes you talk yourself into it, and then when you get home you think, 'What have I done?', and I think that's what he's going through. I think he thinks he left a year or two out there."

-- Is tonight the night Paul Pierce breaks out in a big way? Rivers thinks he's close.

"He missed camp, that hurts your conditioning, and I think he's working around it," said Rivers. "He didn't play well the other night, but I saw it coming. You can see it coming with him. I can see it coming. I wouldn't be surprised in the next two or three games you'll see a big Paul Pierce game."

-- Rivers said we may see rookie E'Twaun Moore get some time tonight in the absence of Keyon Dooling.

"You can make the case that running the point guard spot, he may be our best option," Rivers said. Rivers said he likes to use Dooling as a shooting guard, and tonight's game might give him a chance to see how Moore and Avery Bradley do backing up Rajon Rondo.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Celtics backup point guard Keyon Dooling will sit out tonight's game against the Bulls to rest a sore knee. Dooling said he felt OK but was not well enough to play in a basketball game today. He expects to return to the court sometime in the next few days, though he won't make the trip to Indianapolis for tomorrow night's game against the Pacers.

League MVP Derrick Rose just told the Globe's Gary Washburn that he's playing tonight. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said a few minutes earlier that Rose was probable tonight, depending on warm-ups. Expect to see him on the court.

"The core of the team is still intact, and that team is always going to be tough to beat," said Thibodeau. "The adjustment is more with the new guys. As those guys get acclimated to what they're doing, they're going to be right there with everyone else."

Thibodeau earned a reputation as an outstanding defensive coach during his time as a Celtics assistant, and he has his Bulls playing tenacious defense with younger bodies. Still, the coach praised the Celtics -- and Paul Pierce in particular -- for being experienced defenders who will turn it around.

"It's a team that will put a lot of pressure on you," said Thibodeau. "They're going to be tough."

Thibodeau also praised Rajon Rondo, calling him "an offense unto himself."

-- Celtics center Jermaine O'Neal will play tonight, according to Celtics coach Doc Rivers. O'Neal sat out of Thursday's practice.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Welcome to TD Garden, where the Boston Celtics (4-5) will take on the Chicago Bulls (10-2) at 8 p.m. Note the late start time for national television.

Derrick Rose is probable tonight, which could be a good thing for Celtics fans watching this game. At least someone will score. The Bulls play the best defense in the NBA under former Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau, and they scored just 78 points without Rose in a win over Washington Wednesday. Chicago's own scoring problems during last season's playoffs cost them a chance at a title, and the Celtics have visibly struggled on offense at times in this early season.

Would be a great night for one of those vintage Paul Pierce games.

We're nine games into the season and Rajon Rondo's 31 points on Christmas is still the Celtics' high-scoring game by any player. Ray Allen's 28 against Miami is second. Rondo's spectacular play is not a bad thing, but the Celtics need someone else to have a big scoring night. If they want to win tonight, Rondo needs to explode in addition to another Celtics player.

The Celtics are going through a closed walkthrough on the parquet floor at the moment. The Bulls had their shootaround here this morning, from which the Globe's Gary Washburn reported that Rose was more likely to play than not.

Should be a good one here tonight. We'll keep you updated on injuries and chatter from both locker rooms throughout the night.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Despite the 1 for 10 start and the vanishing act from Paul Pierce (who left without speaking to the media), the Celtics found themselves very much in tonight's game vs. the Mavericks late in the fourth quarter. Pierce tied the game with a 3-pointer with 25 seconds left before Dirk Nowitzki put Dallas back up by 3 points on a drive and finish past Kevin Garnett. The Celtics got the ball back with 5.1 seconds left, and the betting man's choice for who they would look for was Ray Allen.

Allen was the intended target of the play, but Rajon Rondo threw an awkward pass to Allen on the sideline closest to the Dallas bench, and Allen could not handle the pass as the ball went out of bounds.

"It just kind of skipped underneath me," said Allen. "Rajon's angle, the way he had to throw it, the ball just kind of dove at my legs. I didn't know if I was open or not but I was certainly going to shoot it."

Allen never got the chance as Jason Terry converted a layup for the final margin of victory.

The Celtics dropped to 4-5 with the loss and are seemingly struggling to find their identity as either a contender or something less. Allen vehemently denied that there was any concern among him or his teammates.

"No, there's none," said Allen. "We've been here before. We've been in tough situations, and that's what makes us champions. We know where we need to go to get this thing rolling. Everybody feels the same way."

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Defense was evident against the defending champs, but the Celtics botched a late inbounds play and fell to the Dallas Mavericks, 90-85, at TD Garden tonight. The Celtics fall to 4-5 with the loss and face a daunting three-game stretch the rest of the week.

Paul Pierce couldn't hit a shot all game because he barely took any, but he hit the tying 3-pointer with 25 seconds remaining to give the Celtics hope. Pierce finished 2 for 5 in the game and gave up some time to newcomer Mickael Pietrus, who played 17 minutes of sticky defense.

The Celtics dug themselves into an early hole, missing 9 of their first 10 shots from the field on the way to shooting 28 percent in the first quarter. They were lucky to trail by just 8 points after one.

The Celtics threw themselves fully into their defense in the second quarter, holding Dallas to 30-percent shooting. The increased effort led to 5 fast break points, a welcome sight after the team had difficulty scoring in the first. The Celtics shot 62 percent in the second and trailed, 42-41, at the break.

Rick Carlisle's ejection early in the third quarter put his team down temporarily, but the coach's emotions were well-spent, with the Mavericks finishing the quarter on a 25-12 run to take a 9-point lead into the final frame.

The Celtics fought back to tie in the fourth, but Rajon Rondo's pass found Ray Allen, whose foot was on the sideline. The Celtics gambled and gave up an easy bucket to Jason Terry for the final tally.

One bright spot for the Celtics was Kevin Garnett's defensive effort. Garnett harassed Dirk Nowitzki to 16 points on 5-of-11 shooting, though Nowitzki did have the last laugh, putting Dallas ahead, 88-85, with a key drive late in the game.

It only gets harder for the Celtics in the immediate future. The Bulls come to town Friday night, the Celtics turn it around quickly in Indiana on Saturday, and Kendrick Perkins and the Oklahoma City Thunder crash the Garden on Monday.

Final: Mavericks 90, Celtics 85 Ray Allen was out-of-bounds as the Celtics attempted to tie the game, and that's your ballgame.

5.1 seconds 4th quarter, Mavericks, 88-85 Dirk with the drive past KG and the bucket plus the foul. Garnett fouled Nowitzki before the shot as well. Great strength by Dirk.

0:25 4th quarter, Tied at 85 Nothing going right for the Celtics and Pierce hits a 3-pointer to tie it. Unbelievable.

1:32 4th quarter, Mavericks, 84-80 Pierce is usually the go-to guy in these spots, but he's been non-existent. Do the Celtics still run a play for him?

2:42 4th quarter, Mavericks, 84-79 The Jet lands two baskets to put Dallas ahead. Terry leads the Mavericks with 16 points off the bench.

3:36 4th quarter, Tied at 79 Vince Carter scores and ends up in the stands right in front of Danny Ainge. Ainge screams at Rondo to push the ball before Carter can get back, and Rondo hits a layup.

6:04 4th quarter, Tied at 77 Tie ballgame. Mickael Pietrus is playing great defense, though he just asked to come out of the game. Not sure if it's for a breather or if he tweaked something. This game is ugly, but maybe that's how the Celtics need to play now.

8:07 4th quarter, Mavericks, 75-71 Paul Pierce has taken just four shots in the game.

9:12 4th quarter, Mavericks, 74-66 Getting chippy now. Rondo T'd up, then Doc Rivers. The emotion is good, but those free throws hurt.

10:02 4th quarter, Mavericks, 70-66 Keyon Dooling bringing the Celtics back with some outside shooting.

END 3d quarter, Mavericks, 68-59 Not the quarter the Celtics wanted: just six field goals. Pierce and Allen have 9 points combined.

2:35 3d quarter, Mavericks, 63-53 Celtics have scored 1 point in almost four minutes. They're losing this.

4:28 3d quarter, Mavericks, 56-52 What an up-fake by Brandon Bass. Dirk Nowitzki flies by. Chris Wilcox into the game for the first time.

5:46 3d quarter, Mavericks, 53-52 Surprised we haven't seen more of Greg Stiemsma with Jermaine O'Neal logging just three rebounds in 21 minutes.

7:25 3d quarter, Mavericks, 51-49: The Celtics are playing tough, physical defense, and Doc Rivers has to be pleased with that. This can and should be the team's identity.

10:34 3d quarter, Celtics, 47-42: Rick Carlisle just got hit with two technical fouls and was tossed from the game. He was upset with how physical Kevin Garnett was playing Dirk Nowitzki.

Halftime, Mavericks, 42-41: What a difference a quarter makes as the Celtics clamp down on defense and frustrate the Mavs. Dallas shoots just 7 of 23 in the second quarter. Rajon Rondo leading the charge for the Celtics with 16 points and an impressive 8 for 10 shooting free throws.

2:22 2d quarter, Mavericks, 43-37: The defense has been much better, but the Mavs have 8 second-chance points to none for the Celtics. Mavs have scored 26 points in the paint.

4:27 2d quarter, Mavericks, 34-32: Defense turned up to 11 for the Celtics. They're playing with passion. Doc's plan appears to be to play KG until he passes out.

6:43 2d quarter, Mavericks, 32-26: Celtics turning up their defense to good effect. Avery Bradley has earned his six minutes with hustle and has gotten to the rim twice for buckets. Pietrus is already providing good energy. Brandon Bass needs to pass the ball at least once a game. He got swallowed up there and turned it over.

9:16 2d quarter, Mavericks, 27-20: Mickael Pietrus hits his first shot as a Celtic, a 3-pointer. Still a lot of confusion on offense.

END 1st quarter, Mavericks, 23-15:Terrible start for the Celtics, who are lucky to be down just 8. The Celtics shoot 5 for 18 and give up 55-percent shooting to the Mavericks. This team is lacking an identity at the moment, and that first quarter was a perfect example.

1:25 1st quarter, Mavericks, 19-12: Mickael Pietrus checks in for the first time. Believe it's pronounced "McHale" Pietrus.

2:46 1st quarter, Mavericks, 17-9: So much for the 5-5-5 with Kevin Garnett. KG plays eight-plus minutes and leaves when Dirk leaves, giving way to Brandon Bass. Doc must like having KG guard Dirk, though it would seem to be a major mismatch in favor of Dallas at this point.

4:49 1st quarter, Mavericks, 15-6: Shawn Marion hits his second 3-pointer of the game. Offense is coming for the Celtics, but what a bad hole to dig themselves into from the jump.

7:07 1st quarter, Mavericks, 10-2: The Celtics have had 13 possessions and have scored on one of them. They're 1 for 10.

9:20 1st quarter, Mavericks, 4-0: Delonte West with the first 4 points of the game. Beats moving sectionals.

Pregame: Mickael Pietrus in a Celtics uniform. Good crowd, good energy. Will Pietrus be a difference-maker? Celtics just need him to help.

Let's get it.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Mickael Pietrus said he will play for the Celtics tonight vs. the Mavericks, adding to the team's depth at the small forward position.

"The thing I think he'll give us right away is defense," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "He understands the schemes already and plays so hard defensively. The thing we want him to do is just make those open shots."

Rivers said he was worried about giving Pietrus time to get into basketball shape, though he said he came to the team in great physical shape, and that was evident by seeing him up close before the game.

-- Delonte West is making his return to TD Garden tonight as an opponent. While he's very happy he landed on a good team, West said Boston will always have a place in his heart, and that he plans to play "for 20 more years" and hopes to end up a Celtic again someday.

Rivers said the Celtics miss West, but he stressed that they preferred Keyon Dooling.

You're going to miss [West's] toughness," said Rivers. "And that's big for your team. He's an instigator. You need a lot of them."

On his offseason, which included applying for a job at Home Depot and working for a furniture store, West said, "It taught me that the league-minimum isn't that bad."

-- Rivers put aside any notion that the Celtics were somehow saving themselves because of the condensed season.

"We haven't played well," said Rivers. "It has nothing to do with the approach. We're not pacing ourselves. We're not winning games, we've got to play better."

-- Sasha Pavlovic and JaJuan Johnson are inactive for tonight's game.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Welcome to TD Garden, where the Celtics (4-4) will face the defending champion Mavericks (5-5) at 8 p.m. Note the late start time for national television.

Should be a lovefest in here for Delonte West tonight, and the former Celtics guard should start at the point for Dallas with Jason Kidd injured. Just had a discussion with CSNNE's Jessica Camerato on the level of the ovations for West, Kendrick Perkins, and Glen Davis in their respective returns, and we both agreed that the order -- from loudest to softest -- would be Perkins, West, Davis. Delonte was well-liked here for playing hard much in the same way Perkins was.

The big issue the Celtics will obviously need to contend with tonight is Dirk Nowitzki. The Celtics don't start anyone who can guard him, and Brandon Bass would appear to get the assignment off the bench. Will be interesting to see if Dallas goes right to Dirk with Kevin Garnett on him early in the game.

This should be a tough test for the Celtics, but it might also be the easiest of their next four games. No pressure or anything.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

The Celtics are 4-4, and we still don't have much of an idea of what kind of team they'll turn out to be. The defending champion Mavericks are in the same boat, having evened their record with a win over the Pistons last night. Tonight begins a brutal stretch for the Celtics in which they face the Bulls on Friday, travel to Indiana on Saturday, and face the Thunder back home on Monday. Given that gauntlet, tonight's game may be the easiest to win of the next four, and that's not saying at all that it will be easy.

Tip-off: 8 p.m.
Records: Celtics (4-4), Mavericks (5-5)
Broadcast info:ESPN, CSNNE (Mike Gorman and Tom Heinsohn), WEEI 93.7 FM/850 AM (Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell)

Probable starters:

Celtics:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Jermaine O'Neal

Mavericks:
PG: Delonte West
SG: Vince Carter
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Brendan Haywood

Injuries: Jason Kidd (lower back) is out for the Mavericks. Marquis Daniels was present at Celtics shootaround this morning and is questionable.

Storylines:

Pietrus might debut: Swingman Mickael Pietrus (above) should make his Celtics debut tonight, welcome news for a team that has struggled on the wing after losing Jeff Green for the season. Pietrus should provide defense and long-range shooting. If he can spell Pierce effectively, he'll be a welcome addition to the rotation.

Energy: The Celtics have been off since Friday and have no excuse to start off slowly. This should be a game in which the Celtics come out with energy and intensity. If they don't, it's a bad sign of things to come on this little four-game swing.

Blueprint?: The Mavericks were thought of as a blueprint for the Celtics after winning the title with an aging team last season, taking one superstar and a collection of really good team players and beating Miami. This season, the Mavericks are struggling as badly as the Celtics are early on. Neither team knows how this will turn out. Are the Mavericks an example to be followed or a sign that the Celtics' decay is also near?

The Pacers allowed 118 points to the Heat Wednesday, but played tight defense against the Celtics Friday at TD Garden to walk away with an 87-74 victory.

"We have confidence that we can beat any team in any building and this was a game that we knew to win here, we'd have to make it like an Eastern Conference playoff-type battle," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. " And both teams defended at an extremely high level. All of our guys contributed."

The Pacers' bench outscored the Celtics' 33-14.

"There's going to be nights like that," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "I would say this: Brandon [Bass] was 2-for-7 and he missed five great shots. So, that's going to happen. We do have to get more out of our bench."

Allen, who returned to the starting lineup after being held out Wednesday with flu-like symptoms, led the Celtics with 23 points on 7 of 11 shooting, four of which from beyond the arc.

Six Pacers were in double figures: Darren Collison (14), Paul George (12), Danny Granger (15), Roy Hibbert (11), George Hill (13) and Tyler Hansbrough (12).

"It seemed like they played harder than us for four quarters, and that can't happen," Allen said.

2:48 4th quarter, Pacers, 77-70: Costly turnover by Pierce in the waning minutes. Allen is on tonight and Danny Granger knows it. He was waiting for that pass.

3:30 4th quarter, Pacers, 77-70: The Celtics will need a big run they've been lacking in order to extend their winning streak to five.

6:00 4th quarter, Pacers, 75-65: The Celtics are still getting crushed on the boards, 44-29, and it's reflecting on the scoreboard, too.

10:10 4th quarter, Pacers, 67-60: Allen has all five points for the Celtics in the final quarter -- a layup and a 3-pointer.

END of 3d quarter, Pacers, 63-55: Paul George helped the Pacers stay on top with four buckets, while Pierce is 3 of 15 from the floor.

3:30 3d quarter, Pacers, 53-47: Allen is perfect on three attempts from beyond the arc and leads the Celtics with 14 points. The Celtics seem to have the momentum this quarter but the Pacers aren't going away.

8:20 3d quarter, Pacers, 37-35: Allen hit a 3-pointer, Pierce took a charge, Rondo made a layup, and the Celtics are right back in it. Their offense is very explosive and tough to silence at TD Garden.

12:00 3d quarter, Pacers, 33-25: The Celtics had a huge third quarter Wednesday to pull away from the Nets. Tonight they trail by 8. We'll see in a few minutes if the Celtics try something different or stick to their system in the second half -- more likely the latter. It's worked in their previous four games.

END of 2d quarter, Pacers, 33-25: Notes: The Celtics shot 26.5 percent from the floor in the first half while the Pacers weren't much better at 33.3 percent. The Celtics are +6 with Rondo, the only Celtic in the positives. Hibbert and David West have seven rebounds apiece, and the Pacers outrebounded the Celtics 30-18.

2:24 2d quarter, Pacers, 29-25: The last time Roy Hibbert played the Celtics he scored 26 points but didn't have to face O'Neal. Tonight, Hibbert is 2-for-8 after O'Neal just stuffed him in the paint. O'Neal has three blocks and we aren't even at halftime yet.

3:28 2d quarter, Pacers, 27-25: Pacers guards aren't fooling anyone. Rondo has two steals and nearly had a third with a deflection.

5:50 2d quarter, Pacers, 25-21: Allen made a 3-pointer and has played aggressively on the offensive end. Flu? What flu?

9:36 2d quarter, Pacers, 20-14: Allen re-entered at the 11-minute mark. The Celtics need him healthy now, trailing by 6. Hansbrough made back-to-back buckets for the Pacers.

END 1st quarter, Celtics, 14-14: We're all square at the first break. Pierce is scoreless after leading the Celtics with 24 points Wednesday night and Danny Granger is 1 of 5 from the floor. The Pacers shot under 20 percent from the floor as a team, but are tied with the Celtics because of their free throw shooting: 5 of 6.

0:50 1st quarter, Celtics, 13-12: Jermaine O'Neal blocked Tyler Hansbrough's layup, then took a charge against a driving George Hill on the same possession. He's showing Doc Rivers why he belongs on the floor: Defense.

3:14 1st quarter, Celtics, 13-9: So Allen is human. He missed his first free throw attempt tonight, and has gotten off to an unusually "slow" start from the line this year (11 of 15). Allen was the first Celtics starter to exit after playing the first eight minutes.

5:27 1st quarter, Celtics, 10-9: Rajon Rondo has hit two layups and Paul Pierce has missed his first three attempts. It didn't take long for Allen to get on the scoreboard: 82 seconds.

7:45 1st quarter Some fans are booing David West whenever he touches the ball. If you didn't hear, he said earlier today that the Pacers were a better option to sign with this past offseason.

12:00 1st quarter: Ray Allen is on the floor for the first time since Monday's win against the Wizards. We'll have updates on him and the rest of the Celtics throughout the game.

Tip-off: 7:30 p.m., TD Garden
Records: Celtics (4-3), Pacers (4-2)
Broadcast info: CSNNE (Mike Gorman and Tom Heinsohn), WEEI 93.7 FM/850 AM (Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell)

Probable starters:

Celtics:

PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Jermaine O'Neal

Pacers:

PG: Darren Collison
SF: Danny Granger
SF: Paul George
PF: David West
C: Roy Hibbert

Story lines:

Ray's back: After missing Wednesday's game against the Nets and not practicing Thursday, coach Doc Rivers confirmed Ray Allen will start tonight. "He should be well-rested if nothing else," Rivers said. "You just never know when a guy is sick, what he has in his tank, so we'll see."

Does Danny Granger compare to Paul Pierce? Depends on which coach you ask. Pacers coach Frank Vogel said before the game that he saw a lot of Pierce in Granger, while Rivers quickly dismissed the comparison. "They're both great scorers, but no I don't see a big similarity just because of their size difference and how they play. Paul is crafty." Vogel worked with Pierce closely as an assistant coach for the Celtics from 2001-05.

On the rebound: The Pacers were blown out in Miami Wednesday night, 118-83. Vogel devoted all of yesterday's practice to defense and said that will be the key against the Celtics.

Remember me? Jermaine O'Neal played eight of his best seasons in Indiana and tonight he'll get a chance to play against his old team.

By Lenny Neslin, Boston.com Staff

The Celtics didn’t need Ray Allen to beat the Nets. Not even a little bit.

Paul Pierce led the Celtics above .500 for the first time this season with 24 points, six rebounds and five assists in the 89-70 win over the Nets at TD Garden.

Brandon Bass (15 points, 13 rebounds) and Kevin Garnett (14, 12) both had double-doubles, Rajon Rondo dished out 12 assists, and Ray Allen sat on the bench with the flu. His status is uncertain for Friday’s game against the Pacers.

The Celtics led by as many as 24 points in the second half after trailing by one point at halftime, outscoring the Nets 29-12 in the third quarter.

"They really turned up the pressure, clamped us down, and smothered us," Nets coach Avery Johnson said. "They're a championship team with a lot of experience. [Kevin] Garnett disrupted a lot of our offense just with his activity and his length and [Rajon] Rondo with turnovers."

End 4th quarter, Celtics, 89-70: The Celtics move above .500 for the first time this season, and the Nets drop to 1-6. Reactions from coaches and players coming up. Stay tuned.

2:55 4th quarter, Celtics, 79-58: Celtics forward Greg Stiemsma took a charge for Jordan Farmar's fifth foul. Farmar has 11 points on 4 of 8 shooting.

5:48 4th quarter, Celtics, 75-55: Garnett has made 6 of 7 for 14 points and has 12 rebounds. Rondo has 12 assists, eight points, three steals and three turnovers.

9:14 4th quarter, Celtics, 67-51: Kevin Garnett played 21 minutes in the first three quarters and entered two minutes into the final period. Then he quickly made a 21-foot jumper to force a Nets timeout.

END 3d quarter, Celtics, 63-47: In 12 minutes, a one-point deficit turned into a 16-point lead for the Celtics. Paul Pierce had something to do with that.

1:33 3d quarter, Celtics, 59-46: Celtics with their best quarter yet. Avery Bradley hit a 3-pointer from the corner, then Bradley made a nice play on the sidelines to force a turnover.

4:55 3d quarter, Celtics, 52-44: A 3-pointer by Pierce forced another Nets timeout. He's up to 18 points on 7 of 12 shooting (2 of 4 from beyond the arc).

6:09 3d quarter, Celtics, 47-44: Nets injury report: Forward Damion James left the game at the end of the 2d quarter with a sore right foot. His return is questionable. He has two points and four rebounds tonight.

7:11 3d quarter, Celtics, 45-44: Nets guard Sundiata Gaines had two straight buckets, then missed a free throw that would have tied the score.

9:18 3d quarter, Celtics, 40-38: Garnett tied the score with a free throw, then a few plays later Rondo rushed down the floor for a layup.

Halftime, Nets 35-34: Kevin Garnett cleaned up on the glass for the Celtics with seven boards, and Rajon Rondo dished out six dimes in the first half. The Celtics led by as many seven in the 2d quarter, but now trail by 1.

End 2d quarter, Nets, 35-34: Neither team shot very well in the first half -- 39.4 percent for the Celtics and 38.5 percent for the Nets -- but the Nets are on top. Brooks leads all scorers at the half with 15 points (7 of 13, two steals), and Pierce is the only other player in double figures with 13 points (5 of 9, five rebounds).

1:45 2d quarter, Nets, 33-31: Shelden Williams tied the score on a dunk and gave the Nets a two-point lead on a jumper. Anyone expect this against the 1-5 Nets?

5:54 2d quarter, Celtics, 28-22: Former Patriots offensive lineman Joe Andruzzi is at tonight's game and got a standing ovation from the home crowd.

6:29 2d quarter, Celtics, 28-22: Celtics starters are back in. Time to pull away?

8:53 2d quarter, Celtics, 22-17: Kevin Garnett had a pretty turnaround 7-foot jumper off the glass before Avery Bradley's two free throws. Garnett makes it look so easy.

END 1st quarter, Celtics, 18-17: The Nets cut the deficit to 1 with a Shelden Williams jumper, a Jordan Farmar free throw and an Anthony Morrow jumper to close the quarter.

1:59 1st quarter, Celtics, 18-12: Pierce has made four of his first five attempts and leads all scorers with 10 points.

7:28 1st quarter, Celtics, 9-4: Paul Pierce forced a Nets timeout with a two-handed dunk on a nice bounce pass from Keyon Dooling.

11:01 1st quarter, Celtics, 3-2: The Nets' leading scorer (in the lineup) MarShon Brooks got the Nets their first points with a turnaround baseline jumper. They'll have to rely on him tonight without Deron Williams.

Check back for live updates throughout the game tonight. We're about to get underway here at TD Garden. Here are tonight's starting lineups:

NEW JERSEY NETS

G: Sundiata Gaines
G: MarShon Brooks
F: Damion James
F: Shelden Williams
C: Mehmet Okur

BOSTON CELTICS

G: Rajon Rondo
G: Keyon Dooling
F: Paul Pierce
F: Kevin Garnett
C: Jermaine O'Neal

Ray Allen is out tonight with the flu, Doc Rivers said. Keyon Dooling will start in his place.

Dooling is averaging 7.5 points per game and has shot 8 of 18 from beyond the arc in limited action this season. He posted 18 points against the Heat on Dec. 27.

By Lenny Neslin, Boston.com Staff

The Celtics continue their five-game home stand tonight at TD Garden and look to capture their fourth straight victory against an injury-beleaguered Nets squad.

Jermaine O'Neal participated in shootaround this morning and is listed as a starter for the Celtics, and the Nets will be without Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and Kris Humphries. The Nets have lost seven of their last eight in Boston and haven't faced each other yet this season. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.

In other news, NBA All-Star ballots opened today. Each of the Celtics' Big Four was voted as a reserve for the East last season, and that likely won't change this year. Cast your vote here or send a text message with the player's last name to 6-9-6-2-2 ("MYNBA"). Fans can vote for up to 10 different players per day.

We're only six games into the season, but at this point Rajon Rondo probably has the best chance to overtake a starting job for the East. He'll have to beat out last year's starters -- Bulls guard Derrick Rose and Heat guard Dwyane Wade -- which is no easy task, but he's having a great year at the point. His 16.5 points per game are six points better than his average last season, and he's still averaging 10.5 assists, six rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.

Stay here for live updates throughout the night.

The Celtics return home after a solid 94-86 win last night over the Washington Wizards to face the Wizards again but this time they will be shorthanded.

*Jermaine O'Neal will not play with a sore left hamstring. Celtics coach Doc Rivers said that trainer Ed Lacerte suggested O'Neal take a night off after tweaking the hamstring last night and Rivers obliged. Rookie Greg Stiemsma will make his first NBA start.

*Chris Wilcox (sore left shoulder) will return after missing the past three games. Wilcox still doesn't remember how he hurt the shoulder last week against the Miami Heat.

*Rivers said he likes the competition for minutes with Avery Bradley facing off with E'Twaun Moore and Sasha Pavlovic and Marquis Daniels. Pavlovic was a healthy DNP-coach's decision last night.

*Wizards center Ronny Turiaf will miss five to six weeks with a broken left hand sustained against the Celtics.

STARTING LINEUPS

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

PG John Wall
SG Nick Young
SF Rashard Lewis
PF Andray Blatche
C JaVale McGee

BOSTON CELTICS

PG Rajon Rondo
SG Ray Allen
SF Paul Pierce
PF Kevin Garnett
C Greg Stiemsma

Final, Celtics 94-86: The Celtics spend the last three quarters staving off Washington rallies and hold on for a solid win. Kevin Garnett finished with 24 points and nine rebounds while Rajon Rondo collected his eighth regular-season triple double with 18 points, 14 assists, and 11 rebounds. Ray Allen added 13. Nick Young scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half for Washington.

Fourth quarter, 4:14, Celtics 91-77:Fourth quarter, 4:14, Celtics 91-77: Celtics have restored order after the Wizards got to within 7 points. Kevin Garnett is having the best game of the season with 20 points and nine rebounds while Rajon Rondo needs two rebounds for a triple-double -- he has 18 points and 13 assists. Ray Allen has 13 points and Paul Pierce a quiet 9 in 28 minutes.

Fourth quarter, 7:48, Celtics 80-73: Washington is on a 6-0 run as the Celtics can't seem to put the feisty Wizards away. They are committing silly turnovers in the second half and have lacked that killer instinct. The Wizards have played better defense and are looking to run at every opportunity. The Celtics bench was responsible for this latest Washington run.

End of third quarter, Celtics 73-60: Washington actually cut the deficit to 7 before the Celtics ended the quarter on an 8-2 run. Rajon Rondo carried the Celtics in the quarter and he has 16 points and 11 assists. Kevin Garnett has 14 points and nine rebounds while Paul Pierce has 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. Nick Young scored 10 points in the quarter for the Wizards.

Third quarter, 2:19, Celtics 65-58: The Wizards have scored 24 points in 10 minutes after tallying 34 in 24 minutes in the first half. Nick Young has caught fire while the Wizards are taking advantage of poor Celtics shooting. The Green are 6 for 15 from the field in the quarter.

Third quarter, 5:43, Celtics 58-49: Boston is off to a slow start and the Wizards are pushing the ball and creating scoring opportunities. John Wall and JaVale McGee have combined for 27 points and 18 rebounds. The rest of the Wizards have essentially taken the night off.

Halftime, Celtics 51-34: Best half of the season for Boston, which shot 55.6 percent and got points from 10 players. Kevin Garnett led the Celtics with 12 points and six rebounds while Rajon Rondo has 6 points, 9 assists, and 4 rebounds. John Wall and JaVale McGee have 20 of Washington's 34 points. The Wizards are shooting 28 percent.

Second quarter, 3:30, Celtics 44-27: Celtics respond with a run of their own and look as sharp as they have all season. Kevin Garnett has 12 points and six rebounds while Paul Pierce and Ray Allen each have 6 points. Rajon Rondo has eight assists in 14 minutes.

Second quarter, 7:38, Celtics 32-25: Sorry for the technical difficulties. Celtics have led most of the way but the Wizards are on a 6-0 run. Celtics are shooting 56 percent and gotten points from nine players, including Kevin Garnett with 6.

Tip-off: 6 p.m., The Verizon Center, Washington D.C.
Records: Celtics (1-3), Wizards (0-3)
Broadcast info: CSNNE (Mike Gorman and Tom Heinsohn), WEEI 93.7 FM/850 AM (Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell)

Probable starters:

Celtics:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Jermaine O'Neal

Wizards:
PG: John Wall
SG: Nick Young
SF: Rashard Lewis
PF: Andray Blatche
C: JaVale McGee

Storylines:

Back-to-back: The Celtics and Wizards will play back-to-back games, with the teams meeting tomorrow night in Boston. Tonight is a chance for the Celtics to get their first back-to-back wins of the season. The Celtics have a soft stretch of games coming up, two with the Wizards and one with the New Jersey Nets.

Beating bad teams:The Verizon Center is not the friendliest of places for the Celtics, who have struggled there in the past and lost to some bad Wizards teams. Washington is hungry for a win and would like to jump-start its season by beating the Celtics. John Wall and JaVale McGee give Boston's aging lineup problems, so tonight will be a challenge.

Pierce back: The Celtics were happy to bring back Paul Pierce from a bruised right heel injury and he returned to score 12 points with 5 assists and 4 rebounds in 23 minutes. Celtics coach Doc Rivers gave the club New Year's Eve off and also did not conduct a shootaround, so they should be fresh for the back-to-back.

No Wilcox:Forward Chris Wilcox will miss his third consecutive game with a bruised left shoulder sustained against Miami. Wilcox said he does not know how he suffered the injury.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Paul Pierce returned to the court tonight at TD Garden, and the Celtics returned to form in a 96-85 win over the Detroit Pistons, their first victory in four tries this season.

Pierce was effective if unspectacular in 22 minutes, hitting 4 of 8 shots from the floor for 12 points while adding four rebounds and five assists. It was the kind of all-around game fans expect from Pierce, in a smaller dose. Two key 3-pointers early in the third quarter triggered a run that put the game away.

How much credit Pierce gets for the resurgence of center Jermaine O'Neal is up for debate. After scoring eight total points in the season's first three games, O'Neal finished with 17 points and 7 rebounds in a game reminiscent of his days as an All-Star in Indiana. O'Neal's effectiveness -- or maybe Pierce's return --- allowed Kevin Garnett to rest (23 minutes).

While Pierce and O'Neal sparked the offense, another difference in the team's first win vs. their previous three losses is that, for the most part, the Celtics did a good job on defense. In the first half they limited the Pistons to 44-percent shooting. Detroit made just 1-of-9 3-pointers before halftime, and many of them were well-contested. The Pistons would end up shooting 43-percent for the game.

After telling reporters he wouldn't play Pierce much, Doc Rivers played Pierce for 15 minutes in the first half, third on the team behind Rondo and Garnett. O'Neal led the Celtics in scoring before the break with 10 points.

The Celtics got off to a great start in the second half, with Allen and Pierce hitting back-to-back 3-pointers to get the lead up to 13 points. Those shots started a 17-8 run over the first six minutes of the third quarter that gave the Celtics some breathing room. They extended that lead to 86-64 by the end of the period before putting the game away in an uneventful fourth.

The Celtics play the first of two back-to-back games with the Wizards Sunday in Washington.

5:10 4th quarter, Celtics 92-76 The Celtics seemed to have settled the game down a bit with good defense. Encouraging to see Garnett in there for that.

6:24 4th quarter, Celtics 90-76 Pistons not going away here, though it doesn't feel as the outcome is in doubt. I've been wrong before. Read the comments.

10:07 4th quarter, Celtics 88-67 Celtics bench is in right now. Let's see if they can hold the lead.

END 3d quarter, Celtics 86-64: Brandon Bass beats the buzzer and it's all coming up swishes for the Celtics.

1:53 3d quarter, Celtics 83-59: Great sequence by O'Neal, first with the blocked shot and then with a 3-point play at the other end.

3:43 3d quarter, Celtics 74-55: Jermaine O'Neal just picked up his fourth foul, which is a shame because he's having himself a game. O'Neal has 14 points and 6 rebounds. He's looking for his shot, which is much more than can be said about the three previous games this season. He's got that mid-range jumper.

7:42 3d quarter, Celtics 63-49: Pierce is up to 12 points now after another 3-pointer on a kick-out from Garnett. Pierce's impact really comes down to the simple fact that he can score. Celtics were lacking that guy in the first three games.

11:14 3d quarter, Celtics 56-43: Ray Allen starts the second half off with a 3-pointer off an inbounds play. Paul Pierce hits a three from the corner on the next trip up the floor. Great way to start the second half.

Halftime, Celtics 50-43: Rondo gets a floater to drop and the Celtics lead at the break. Jermaine O'Neal leads the Celtics with 10 points. Paul Pierce has played 15 minutes, third most on the team.

1:40 2d quarter, Celtics 46-39: With the lead slipping, Paul Pierce back in to close out the half.

2:53 2d quarter, Celtics 44-36: It's pretty quiet in here. Guess the Pistons aren't exactly inspiring venom from the folks in the seats. Celtics have looked OK, but at least they have the lead.

4:58 2d quarter, Celtics 40-30: Rondo is back in the game. The Celtics have clamped down on defense, holding Detroit to 42-percent shooting.

7:56 2d quarter, Celtics 36-26: Pistons are arguing who was responsible for Greg Stiemsma, who cut across the lane and was fouled by Austin Daye. Stiemsma makes both free throws.

9:21 2d quarter, Celtics 31-24: Doc Rivers pushes the quirky button with a lineup of Pierce, Garnett, Stiemsma, Dooling, and Pavlovic, but it's working. Dooling hit a three and KG hit a jumper to give the Celtics a nice little lead.

END 1st quarter, Celtics 24-22: The Celtics come out of the quarter with the lead, but Rajon Rondo may need to come out of the game. He slipped coming around a screen trying to defend Brandon Knight, who buried a jumper. Rondo called to the bench to come out and limped up the court, but Doc Rivers either didn't see him or didn't care.

3:58 1st quarter, Celtics 18-15: Celtics force a shot-clock violation. Better.

5:32 1st quarter, Pistons 15-13: A couple of troubling things amid the noise of the T-shirt toss. The Celtics look a little lost on offense, and their defense doesn't look too good, either. Pistons are shooting 64-percent.

7:19 1st quarter, Celtics 9-6: The Celtics are stagnant on office, but Rajon Rondo bails them out with a 3-pointer from the top of the key. Rondo's been working on his shot, which is good. The Celtics look like they're standing in mud on offense, which is bad.

10:45 1st quarter, 0-0: Ray Allen posts Ben Gordon, blows by him, then misses the reverse. Two UConn products going at it.

Pregame: Home sweet home for the Celtics. Hopefully.

Huge hand for Pierce as he's introduced. Let's get it.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Celtics coach Doc Rivers told reporters that Paul Pierce will return to the starting lineup tonight against the Pistons. Rivers said he will monitor Pierce's minutes but does not expect Pierce to be limited in any way.

"I don't know what percentage he is," said Rivers when asked to assess Pierce's health. "I just know [trainer] Eddie Lacerte said Paul should play tonight. I'll be able to give you that after the game, tell you what percentage I thought he was."

Pierce went through a walkthrough with the team before the game and took a few shots after before heading back into the locker room.

Rivers scoffed at the notion that Pierce would be behind in learning the team's plays or defense. The team has been playing some zone defense.

"He can do that," said Rivers. "Or we'll just play man. We haven't played either very well ... whether we can get it out of him, I don't know. That's part of the lockout season.

-- Forward/center Chris Wilcox told reporters before the game that he hopes to practice tomorrow and return to game action Sunday vs. the Wizards. Wilcox said he was "not ready" to play today but was confident he'd be back soon. Wilcox said he did not get an MRI on his injured shoulder because it was feeling better.

-- Rivers said he was OK with Jermaine O'Neal's play in stretches but wants to see him be more consistent. O'Neal has struggled outside of a few stretches in the first game in New York.

-- The Celtics held an extended closed walkthrough before the game instead of a morning shootaround or practice. They plan on doing more of that this season, and it's something they've done in the past.

Rivers said the Celtics put in a new set today before the game.

"I would never do that if the season was normal," said Rivers. "I told the guys today we're probably going to mess it up a few times tonight. But we're absolutely going to run it. And that gives us a chance to work on it, and maybe we'll have it down by the third or fourth game."

On tonight's game being a must-win, Rivers said, "Is this Game 7 of the world championship? Did I miss something?"

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Welcome to TD Garden, where the Celtics will take on the Detroit Pistons at 7:30 p.m. Both teams are seeking their first win.

Been trying to get onto the court for over an hour, but the Celtics are holding a closed walkthrough on the court. In six years of covering the team I've never seen the pregame walkthrough go this long or this close to game-time. The C's obviously have a lot to work on.

Since the court is closed we can't tell if Paul Pierce is shooting or not. We'll have an update on Pierce's status for tonight's game shortly.

UPDATE 5:58 p.m. Well we finally did get onto the court, where Paul Pierce was seen shooting before going back into the locker room. No update yet on Pierce but we'll have one shortly.

Rajon Rondo was out on the court shooting that 19-footer and making it with consistency. He's definitely working on the shot more than in the past, which is a good start to him making more of them.

One more note: Mickael Pietrus was seen sitting on the Celtics bench after the team's walkthrough. He is expected to join the rotation in a couple of weeks.

Locker rooms are open soon. Back in a bit.

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

This should be the one.

You could give the Celtics passes for an opening-day loss to the Knicks and a loss in Miami against the league's prohibitive favorite two days later. They were still losses, but good showings in those games gave Celtics fans some hope.

Wednesday's loss in New Orleans, however, was extremely disheartening. It's no secret the Celtics might not be world-beaters in back-to-back games this season, but losing by 21 points to a mediocre Hornets team without its best player doesn't really qualify as showing up. Paul Pierce's absence can't excuse that one. The Celtics need to play better.

A Comcast promo during Wednesday night's broadcast previewed tonight's game with the words, "I am not South Beach. I am Causeway St. I am home." The Celtics are indeed home tonight, but the big question is whether or not the location will make a difference in the team's play. It should help, and the opponent should help as well, though it can be debated whether or not the Pistons are a worse team than the Hornets team the Celtics lost to the other night.

Tip-off: 7:30 p.m.
Records: Celtics (0-3), Pistons (0-2)
Broadcast info: CSNNE (Mike Gorman and Tom Heinsohn), WEEI 93.7 FM/850 AM (Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell)

Probable starters:

Celtics:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Jermaine O'Neal

Pistons:
PG: Rodney Stuckey
SG: Ben Gordon
SF: Tayshaun Prince
PF: Jonas Jerebko
C: Greg Monroe

Storylines:

Pierce: The Celtics captain tweeted last night, "I'm close very very close very" after telling reporters on Wednesday that he would give them 24 hours notice on Twitter before his return. That mean's he's likely in tonight. Pierce's return would be a huge boost to a team that is desperate for scoring outside of Ray Allen. Pierce's return would also take Sasha Pavlovic out of the rotation.

Kevin Garnett: This should be an "on" night for Garnett with the day off and return home. Garnett has been dreadful in two out of three games this season, and there are legitimate concerns about him slowing down this season. There are legitimate concerns about the center position, but the Celtics may be able to get by without huge production in the middle. They won't be able to go very far without an effective Garnett.

Eye test: The Celtics passed the eye test in much of the first two games because they hung in with good teams and made the games close. How will they look tonight? The win is important at this point because they're desperate, but a close win against a bad team won't calm the nerves of many fans. Can the Celtics put their foot down?

Final: Hornets 97-78: This one was as bad as it reads. The Celtics had nothing in the fourth quarter after cutting the lead to 9 and were flat embarrassed by a team not picked to make the playoffs in the Western Conference. Jarrett Jack led the Hornets with 21 and Carl Landry added 20 and 11 rebounds. Ray Allen paced Boston with 15. Besides Allen and Rajon Rondo, the rest of the Celtics were 19 for 60 from the field. The Celtics are 0-3 for the first time in five years.

Fourth quarter, 8:00, Hornets 81-67: The Celtics have little left to offer tonight. Their leading scorer is Rajon Rondo with 13 points and they are shooting 36.8 percent from the field. They look tired and New Orleans has made all the plays. The Hornets have five players in double figures, led by Jarrett Jack with 19.

End of third quarter, Hornets 72-63: Celtics with another mini-run to end the quarter to stay within striking distance. It would be different if it were the Knicks or Heat, but the Celtics are being completely outplayed by the Hornets without Eric Gordon. There is a reason for concern. Rajon Rondo has 13 points for Boston.

Third quarter, 4:06, Hornets 67-54: The Hornets have a balanced attack and the Celtics have no idea what to do with Jarrett Jack, who is creating for himself and teammates with 14 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds. Four Hornets have scored in double figures.

Third quarter, 9:17, Hornets 56-44: The Celtics just can't get a stop and their defense, or lack thereof, has become a serious problem. New Orleans has balanced scoring with Carl Landry and Jarrett Jack each with 12 points. Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo have 8 points apiece for Boston.

Halftime, Hornets 48-39: It's been a difficult half for the Celtics, who are fouling at an alarming rate and shooting 32 percent from the field. Kevin Garnett has just 4 points and Jermaine O'Neal 2 on 1-for-5 shooting. You wanted to know what the Celtics would look like in the third game in four nights and this is what it is. It's ugly.

Second quarter, 2:50, Hornets 42-30: It's going to be a grind tonight for the Celtics, who have committed 12 fouls and are shooting 34 percent.

Second quarter, 5:03, Hornets 36-29: The Celtics are fouling way too much and the Hornets aren't fouling at all. New Orleans has attempted 11 free throws to the Celtics' zero and have yet to commit a foul this half.

Second quarter, 7:45, Hornets 30-24: The Celtics have been outscored, 28-15, since taking a 9-2 lead and it's been ugly. They have already commited 10 personal fouls to New Orleans' 4 and they are shooting 35 percent from the field. Marquis Daniels has already taken eight shots, four more than anyone else on team.

End of first quarter, Hornets 24-18: New Orleans ends the quarter on an 11-2 run as the Celtics look lethargic and foul-prone again. They commited seven fouls in the quarter and sent the Hornets to the free throw line seven times. They Celtics have not attempted a free throw. Marco Bellinelli has 7 points for the Hornets and Jarrett Jack has 6.

First quarter, 4:16, Celtics 14-13: The Hornets made an 8-0 run to take the lead and now the teams are just trading baskets. Five Celtics have scored but they are allowing Jarrett Jack to get off early. He has 4 points.

First quarter, 8:23, Celtics 9-2: Jermaine O'Neal already has a dunk and Sasha Pavlovic has 4 as the Celtics try to get off to a fast start. New Orleans, which is without Eric Gordon, is 1-for-5 shooting.

By Gary Washburn, Globe staff

The Celtics end their three-game road trip with the tricky Hornets, who are beginning a new era without Chris Paul and David West. But the retooled club will be without Eric Gordon, who will miss the game with a bruised right knee sustained in the season-opening win over the Phoenix Suns.

As for the Celtics, Paul Pierce remains out as does Chris Wilcox, who bruised his left shoulder in the Miami game. Coach Doc Rivers said the Celtics would have had trouble defending Gordon man-to-man with Ray Allen, but the team has a history of losing to shorthanded teams.

STARTING LINEUPS

BOSTON CELTICS

PG Rajon Rondo
SG Ray Allen
SF Sasha Pavlovic
PF Kevin Garnett
C Jermaine O'Neal

NEW ORLEANS HORNETS

PG Jarrett Jack
SG Marco Bellinelli
SF Trevor Ariza
PF Carl Landry
C Emeka Okafor

Final: Heat 115-107: Rookie Norris Cole broke the Celtics' backs down the stretch with key buckets and the Heat staved off a furious Boston Rally. Ray Allen finished with 28 points.

Fourth quarter, 1:31, Heat 110-105: After the Celtics force a Dwyane Wade miss, Rajon Rondo throws the ball back to Wade trying to get a streaking Keyon Dooling to the basket. Rookie Norris Cole then drains a jumper. Celtics ball.

Fourth quarter, 2:02, Heat 108-105: Keyon Dooling has gone on a personal 7-0 run for the Celtics are yes, they are one possession behind after trailing by 20 in the third quarter. Boston is relentless this evening but it needs to make a few more plays and the first has to be a defensive stop on this next possession.

Fourth quarter, 3:01, Heat 108-98: The Celtics are valiantly trying to rally but keep allowing big Miami buckets, such as a 20-footer by rookie Norris Cole for the 10-point lead. The Celtics have employed a zone to slow down the Heat and it's worked but they need one final surge. Another nothing game for Jermaine O'Neal, who has no points and 1 rebound in 20 minutes.

Fourth quarter, 6:00, Heat 102-93: The Celtics keep pushing and have cut the lead to single digits yet again with an 8-2 run as Ray Allen has carried the Celtics with 28 points and Rajon Rondo has 20. Kevin Garnett has not been a factor with 10 points in 26 minutes.

Fourth quarter, 8:54, Heat 98-85: The Celtics are off to another slow start and are ruining their chances of any rally. Norris Cole has emerged as Miami's starting point guard and has two baskets in the quarter and Shane Battier has added a 3-pointer. The Celtics have gotten nothing from Jermaine O'Neal, who has no points in 20 minutes.

End of third quarter, Heat 91-83: Amazingly, the Celtics are close despite Miami shooting 70 percent midway through the third quarter. The Celtics ended the quarter with 18-6 run as they finally started to play defense and rebound. The Celtics are shooting 54 percent and Ray Allen has 25 points, looking as effective as ever.

Third quarter, 4:23, Heat 89-74: The Heat are just running up and down the floor and scoring with ease. They are much improved from last season it that's possible and that's scary for the rest of the Eastern Conference. The Miami Big Three has combined for 60 points and the rest of the Heat 29. The Celtics are shooting 54 percent, so again, this one is on the defense.

Third quarter, 7:02, Heat 81-65: It's simple, the Celtics just can't stop the Heat offensively. They are trading baskets, which puts great pressure on the offense to score every time. Miami is on a 6-0 run, just from hitting jumpers off the fastbreak. Miami's shooting percentage has soared to 68 and the duo of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have 38 points.

Halftime, Heat 69-54: It's been a boat race so far in Miami, with the Heat surging to big leads and the Celtics trying to stay close. The Celtics came to within 10 but the LeBron James scored 6 straight points, including a layup and breakaway dunk as the Heat shot 65 percent in the first half. The Celtics are luckily close enough to make a run but need more from Jermaine O'Neal. who hasn't scored while Brandon Bass has just 2.

Second quarter, 2:25, Heat 59-49: James Jones has come on to his three 3-pointers in the quarter, which makes Miami almost unguardable because he is going to be open off double teams. But the Celtics have used a stellar stretch from Ray Allen (17 points) and a 3-pointer from Keyon Dooling to stay close. The Heat are shooting 63 percent.

Second quarter, 5:38, Heat 51-37: Miami is on a 21-10 run in the quarter as the Celtics are looking for fouls and not getting any. The Celtics have commited 12 turnovers and are relying on Rajon Rondo's penetration. They need someone else to step up.

Second quarter, 9:00, Heat 38-29: Miami off to an 8-2 run to begin the quarter because the Celtics are making constant turnovers. Rajon Rondo had a breakaway layup that he airballed because he anticipated a Dwyane Wade block attempt. Miami is still shooting 65 percent so the Celtics are lucky that they are still within striking distance. Rondo leads the Celtics with 8 points.

End of first quarter, Heat 30-27: The Celtics are lucky to be this close. They have already commited nine fouls to Miami's four and Dwyane Wade and LeBron James have combined for 14 points and the Heat are shooting 63 percent. The Celtics were trailing 26-15 but the bench sparked a rally, including Marquis Daniels and Keyon Dooling.

First quarter, 4:18, Heat 26-20: The Celtics are playing bad defense and again are fouling too much. Doc Rivers is going to get a technical soon with the way he is working the officials, especially Olandis Poole, who just called one on Rajon Rondo for arguing a non-call on a layup. Miami is shooting 9 of 11 from the field. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade each have 7 points.

First quarter, 6:49, Heat 18-11: Miami has started the game off strong and the Celtics are just trying to hang in until it cools off. Chris Bosh just trailed a play and hit a 3-pointer, making the Heat even tougher to defend. A good sign is a 3-pointer by Sasha Pavlovic, his first points of the season.

First quarter, 8:05, Heat 11-9: The Celtics are trying to hang in early and are trading baskets with the Heat. Sasha Pavlovic just canned a 3-pointer and Jermaine O'Neal just picked up his second foul.

First quarter, 11:40, Celtics 2-0: Ray Allen opens the game with two free throws after being fouled by Joel Anthony.

By Gary Washburn, Globe staff

We're back in Miami folks and the Heat are very excited about this season, especially after their pasting of the Dallas Mavericks in the opener. The Celtics will be shorthanded yet again with Paul Pierce out but Kevin Garnett avoided any suspension for his altercation with Bill Walker and will play.

STARTING LINEUPS

BOSTON CELTICS

PG Rajon Rondo
SG Ray Allen
SF Sasha Pavlovic
PF Kevin Garnett
C Jermaine O'Neal

Inactives: Paul Pierce, Mickael Pietrus

MIAMI HEAT

PG Mario Chalmers
SG Dwyane Wade
SF LeBron James
PF Chris Bosh
C Joel Anthony

Inactives: Mike Miller, Eddy Curry

Officials: Dan Crawford, Dick Bavetta, Olandis Poole

NEW YORK -- The Celtics started off slow, then played brilliantly and then ran out of gas at the end as Carmelo Anthony took over in the fourth quarter and the Knicks sealed a 106-104 season-opening win today at Madison Square Garden.

Anthony's two free throws with 16.3 seconds left were the winning points and the Celtics missed two chances to tie or win. Marquis Daniels missed a 3-pointer from the side and Kevin Garnett missed an open 16-footer at the buzzer.

Rajon Rondo was stellar for the Celtics, scoring 31 points, with 13 assists and 5 steals. But without Paul Pierce (bruised right heel), the Celtics lacked a closer at the end of the game. They scored justs 6 points in the final 5:16 and were scoreless in the final 1:16. Ray Allen scored 20 points, 17 in the second half, but forced a jumper in the final two minutes.

Anthony finished with 37 points and Amar'e Stoudemire added 21. The Celtics stopped Stoudemire in the second half but had no defensive answer for Anthony, who attempted 15 free throws.

Fourth quarter, 16.3, Knicks 106-104 Celtics get blocked twice on shots and Carmelo Anthony comes back to hit two free throws. Celtics ball.

Fourth quarter, 58.9, Tied at 104 Carmelo Anthony hits a leaning jumper and Marquis Daniels responds with a layup off a Rajon Rondo pass. Knicks ball but just 6 seconds left on the shot clock.

Fourth quarter, 1:48, Tied at 102 The Knicks could have taken the lead by have missed two free throws in the last minute. This is when the Celtics need Paul Pierce but someone else is going to have to respond. Rajon Rondo has 31 points, one short of his career high.

Fourth quarter, 2:47, Celtics 102-100 This is turning into a great game with each team taking shots at the other. Carmelo Anthony has taken over for New York and briefly tied the game at 100 with a 3-pointer. Kevin Garnett countered with a 20 footer. Now Tyson Chandler is at the free throw line for two shots.

Fourth quarter, 5:59, Celtics 94-92 The Knicks have returned and are on a 6-0 run as Carmelo Anthony is piling up fouls on the Celtics and they have picked up two technical fouls arguing calls. Sasha Pavlovic has zero points, 1 rebound and 4 fouls in 15 minutes.

Fourth quarter, 8:33, Celtics 94-86 The Knicks have not cut into the Celtics' lead but Carmelo Anthony is hot and the Knicks are getting the ball to him every time against Marquis Daniels, who has four fouls. Anthony has 27. Rajon Rondo has 29.

End of third quarter, Celtics 85-77 A 35-17 quarter and the brilliance of Rajon Rondo has turned the game into the Celtics' favor. Rondo has 29 points while Brandon Bass has 18 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, finishing plays that Glen Davis couldn't. The Knicks' Iman Shumpert left the game with a leg injury after Chris Wilcox fell into him in a heap under the basket. The Knicks made 7 of 19 shots in the quarter.

Third quarter, 3:01, Celtics 77-73 The Celtics climbed back into this game with a stunning 22-2 run over a 7-minute period to take an 8-point lead. The Knicks have responded with 4 in a row. But the Celtics look like a completely different team in the third quarter. Ray Allen has 8 points in the quarter while Brandon Bass has been stellar in his debut.

Third quarter, 7:11, Tied at 69 The Celtics have awaken and are on a 14-2 run spearheaded by Rajon Rondo, who already has 26 points while Ray Allen has 7 in the quarter. Carmelo Anthony picked up his fourth foul with 8:10 left in the period.

Halftime, Knicks 62-52 The Celtics battled back in the second quarter to make this game respectable but they are getting killed on the hustle points and by the combo of Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, who have 29 points. Rajon Rondo has 19 points for Boston, looking like an elite point guard. The rest of the Celtics are a step slow, including Ray Allen, who has 3 points.

Second quarter, 5:47, Knicks 49-38 The Celtics are showing some life after falling behind by 17 with a 6-0 run. The Celtics need to play defense and rebound. New York is beating the Celtics with its depth and hustle. The Celtics look tired. Rajon Rondo has 11 points and Kevin Garnet has 7.

Second quarter, 8:20, Knicks 45-29 New York is on a 9-0 run, all nine scored by Amar'e Stoudemire and Toney Douglas. The Knicks are pushing the ball and hitting the offensive boards while the Celtics are struggling to score. Let's see if the Celtics have a run before half.

End of first quarter, Knicks 34-23 A terrible defensive sequence for the Celtics, who allowed the Knicks to shoot 52 percent on 11 field goals. The Celtics are surviving at the free throw line with 15 attempts. The Celtics have 1 combined point from Ray Allen, Jermaine O'Neal and Sasha Pavlovic.

First quarter, 2:50, Knicks 24-16 Doc Rivers has to be really disappointed in his defense so far. They are letting the Knicks get easy shots and repeatedly to the rim. The Knicks are 8-for-14 shooting while the Celtics are 5 of 13. Four Knicks have 5 points apiece.

First quarter, 5:42, Knicks 19-12 Rajon Rondo is the lone Celtic to show up to MSG so far. He has 9 points and the rest of the club has 3 on 1 for 4 shooting. Harnett has taken 3 of those shots and Ray Allen 1. The Knicks have already hit three 3-pointers and have 5 apiece from Amar'e Stoudemire, Landry Fields and Toney Douglas.

First quarter, 10:00, Knicks 6-4 The Knicks are attacking the basket while the Celtics are using Rajon Rondo to penetrate and dish. Toney Douglas has a 3-pointer for New York.

By Gary Washburn, Globe staff

The MSG court is mostly dark in preparation for the pre-game festivites but we'll have all the updates for Opening Day coming up soon. Happy Holidays!!

Final, Celtics, 81-73: The Celtics were never really threatened and sweep the two-game preseason set with the Raptors. Rajon Rondo led the Celtics with 17 points in 22 minutes while Brandon Bass added 12 and E'Twaun Moore 11. Andrea Bargnani led Toronto with 20 and DeMar DeRozan had 16.

Fourth quarter, 3:17, Celtics, 78-65: Michael Sweetney, once a lottery pick, scored his first preseason bucket as the Celtics are pulling away. E'Twaun Moore has 11 points off the bench.

Fourth quarter, 8:20, Celtics, 74-58: For those interested in preseason minutes distribution: Kevin Garnett has played 18 and Ray Allen 21.

End of third quarter, Celtics, 67-53: A 13-4 run to end the quarter has the Celtics back in control and the starters are getting some valuable rest. Brandon Bass has 12 points off the bench, including a nice drive and dunk in that late-period run. E'Twaun Moore has 9 points in six minutes.

Third quarter, 2:46, Celtics, 54-49: The bench is struggling in the third quarter and Toronto is chipping away at the Celtics' lead by inducing turnovers. The Celtics have 16 turnovers.

Third quarter, 6:10, Celtics, 52-42: The starters are now being replaced by the reserves as the Celtics continue to cruise. Rajon Rondo leads Boston with 17 points and six assists while Kevin Garnett and Brandon Bass each have 8. Toronto is shooting 30 percent and is led by Andrea Bargnani with 14.

Halftime, Celtics, 47-31: The Celtics are cruising, using this game as a blueprint for the season opener against the Knicks. Rajon Rondo has been most impressive with 15 points and six assists. Kevin Garnett and Greg Stiemsma have 7 each and Brandon Bass has 8.

Second quarter, 3:14, Celtics, 41-24: Greg Stiemsma is making a strong case to stick around with 7 points in nine minuites on 3-for-5 shooting. Rajon Rondo leads Boston with 13 points, 5 assists, and 2 rebounds.

Second quarter, 7:57, Celtics, 27-16: The Celtics are using different rotations and are having little trouble with Toronto. A point of concern is Avery Bradley, who is already 0 for 5 shooting. Rajon Rondo has 10 points for Boston.

End of first quarter, Celtics, 22-13: Doc Rivers played 10 players in the first period and the Celtics look sharp, but then again it's the Raptors. Toronto is shooting 30 percent and has one player with more than 2 points: Andrea Bargnani (6).

First quarter, 3:35, Celtics, 18-9: Rajon Rondo has 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting and 2 assists as the Celtics appear in control. They are 8 of 12 shooting. Andrea Bargnani has 6 points for Toronto.

Final: Celtics 76, Raptors 75: Celtics make strong defensive stand in final seconds, inducing DeMar DeRozan to force up jumper and Amir Johnson's putback is too late.

Fourth quarter, 12.6, Celtics, 76-75: Greg Stiemsma tips in his own miss to give Boston the lead. Raptors ball. Doc Rivers is playing four rookies and Avery Bradley.

Fourth quarter, 2:09, Tied at 70: The Celtics have scored 9 points in the fourth quarter as Doc Rivers is using the game to try different lineups. Right now, he has mostly rookies in and they are struggling to score. The Celtics are 2-for-14 shooting from the field in the final period.

Fourth quarter, 4:02, Celtics 70-69: Celtics are real close to coughing up a 12-point lead in less than five minutes. With Doc Rivers trying out different lineups, the offense has become stagnant while the Raptors have given up the jump shot and started taking the ball to the basket. Ed Davis has 10 points and 10 rebounds for Toronto. Rajon Rondo is 2-for-9 shooting with 8 assists.

Fourth quarter, 8:35, Celtics 65-53: Doc Rivers has played everyone except JaJuan Johnson, who is on the bench in uniform. Not sure why he hasn't played. Nine Celtics have scored and they have only commited 12 turnovers compared to Toronto's 19.

End of third quarter, Celtics 61-51: The Celtics are looking more comfortable as the game progresses, especially the bench. Marquis Daniels has 11 points in place of an injured Paul Pierce while Rajon Rondo has 4 points and 8 assists. Andrea Bargnani has 14 for Toronto, which is shooting 35.8 percent.

Third quarter, 2:09, Celtics 59-47: The most impressive aspect of today's performance is the production of the bench, which has contributed 20 points, including 8 from Brandon Bass and 5 each from Chris Wilcox and Keyon Dooling. Ray Allen leads Boston with 10. Andrea Bargnani and DeMar DeRozan have 26 of Toronto's points. The rest of the Raptors are 10-for-30 shooting for 21 points.

Third quarter, 8:28, Celtics 46-36: Kevin Garnett is getting untracked with consecutive jumpers and the defense is merely allowing Toronto to shoot itself out of the game. The Raptors are shooting 33 percent. Garnett has 6 points and 6 rebounds.

Halftime, Celtics 40-33: The Celtics led by as many as 12 but allowed Toronto to make a 9-2 run near the end of the half. Ray Allen leads Boston with 10 points while Marquis Daniels has 7 and Rajon Rondo has 6 assists. DeMar DeRozan has 10 points for Toronto, which is shooting 34 percent.

Second quarter, 4:22, Celtics 30-24: The Celtics are beginning to gain some consistency offensively and are letting the Raptors just put up jumpers.

Second quarter, 8:53, Raptors 19-18: This is turning really ugly as the Celtics have yet to score in the period while the Raptors have rolled off 4 big points in that span. The Celtics have seven turnovers and are shooting 39 percent from the field.

End of first quarter, Celtics, 18-17: As you would expect, it's been a ragtag opening period but there are some good signs for the Celtics. Jermaine O'Neal and Marquis Daniels have played well. Chris Wilcox has three rebounds in five minutes. Doc Rivers is really looking at the bench and so far, so good. DeMar DeRozan has 5 points for Toronto.

First quarter, 5:25, Celtics, 12-10: The Celtics have ran off 12 of 18 points. Doc Rivers said he was going to run Kevin Garnett hard today and he appeared winded at about the 7-minute mark,

First quarter, 9:47, Raptors, 4-0: The Celtics are struggling getting into their offense. They are obviously slugggish. Toronto has baskets from Andrea Bargnani and James Johnson.

By Gary Washburn, Globe staff

After nearly five months and the cancelation of hundreds of games, the NBA and its players have reached agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement, according to reports out of New York. CBSsports.com was the first to report the breaking news.

In a joint press conference, commissioner David Stern said free agency and training camp will begin on Dec. 9. The Celtics will be a very busy team with six open roster spots.

"It's subject to a variety of complex calculations but we're optimistic that will all come to pass and that the NBA season will begin on Dec. 25, Christmas Day," Stern told reporters in a 3:30 a.m. press conference at a Manhattan hotel. "We've very pleased that we've come this far. There's a lot of work to be done in a lot of places but we're optimistic that it will hold and we'll have ourselves an NBA season."

The season is expected to start Dec. 25 and it is uncertain whether the league will pick up from its original schedule or add more games. The two sides agreed to talk again this week after the NBA Players Association disbanded and became a trade association. The NBPA filed two lawsuits against the league in the past two weeks.

Those lawsuits would have to be settled, and the league would have to carve time for free agency, training camp and a short preseason. When it appeared the season would be canceled, the two sides began talking informally this week and talks became serious Friday and lasted until 3 a.m. Saturday before reports surfaced that an agreement had been reached.

"For myself as a representative for a lot of players, the most important key here that our fans and the support of the people," NBPA president Derek Fisher said. "It's great to be a part of this particular moment in terms of getting our fans what it is that they've so badly wanted and want to see."

If the schedule does not change, the Celtics would open the season at Madison Square Garden in New York on Dec. 25. The Celtics' first home game would be Dec. 30 against the Detroit Pistons.

Now, both sides will take the deal to their respective parties for a vote. Stern said the NBA labor relations committee are likely to ratify the deal while Hunter said it will take "three days to a week" for the NBPA to reform and then vote to ratify the deal.

Final: That's your ballgame. Kendrick Perkins's and Rajon Rondo's Green team wins 145-142. Click here for photos from the game. Video will be posted later tonight.

5:03 3d quarter: Jeff Green just hit a 3-pointer from 30 feet to get the White team within one.

7:17 3d quarter: Rudy Gay is a phenomenal offensive talent. Almost makes up for Kevin Durant's absence tonight. Man, I miss the NBA.

END 3d quarter: We're tied at 112 heading into the fourth quarter. Jeff Green and Kendrick Perkins have, in my eyes, been the best two players on the court so far tonight. Granted there hasn't been any defense, but Perk clearly felt he had something to prove from the jump. Seeing that probably inspired Green to do his best, and his best is pretty darn impressive.

3:44 3d quarter: The white team is up over 100 now and leads 103-95. Nate Robinson has found his stroke. In other news, he shoots a lot. All the former Celtics are shooting a ton tonight, with Powe and Perkins hoisting up jumpers like they're being paid per diem.

9:23 3d quarter: The score is magically tied at 73 to start the third quarter. Look for more Paul Pierce this half.

END 2d quarter: Some in the crowd started chanting "Defense". Must be hockey fans. It's 73-50 Green team at halftime, and Perkins must have at least 20 points.

Some other thoughts: The players are really making an effort to connect with fans throughout the game, throwing towels and gifts into the intimate crowd. At halftime, six fans were selected to play a game of cornhole with six of the player. From a PR perspective, it's bound to work. Of course, the people here are already siding with the players, anyway.

5:00 2d quarter: Pierce has decided to sit out the second quarter and sit in the stands instead, posing for photos with some kids.

END 1st quarter: The white team makes an amazing comeback and trails Green, 29-26. Of course, these things tend to be miraculously close at the end.

Rondo was built to play in these games. He's pulled out some passes that would make Aaron Rodgers jealous, including a beautiful bounce pass off the floor and behind his back that Rudy Gay caught and dunked.

Another highlight: Pierce blocking Perkins and Perk chirping to the ref about the lack of a foul call. In a charity game.

5:19 1st quarter: A couple of revelations. The white team stinks without Paul Pierce, who is changing and will play shortly. Kendrick Perkins looks ripped and is playing point guard. And Rajon Rondo likes playing with his old friend and teammate.

9:23 1st quarter: Leon Powe starts the game off with a three. Just the way they drew it up.

Pregame:

Update (6:18 p.m.) : Still no Paul Pierce. Not sure if he's late or a no-show.

Update (6:09 p.m.): We're a little later starting here as players and fans file in. Mayor Menino is in the house, as is Deion Branch. Rajon Rondo is out on the court now, as well as Rudy Gay. Kevin Durant pulled out of the event yesterday.

We're about 16 minutes from tip-off here. Leon Powe is the first player on the court, to a huge ovation from the crowd. Powe's wearing a "Basketball Never Stops" shirt endorsed by some company with a big orange swoosh.

Kendrick Perkins just walked onto the court to a standing ovation. So much love for Perk here still, and why not? Both he and Powe can't get any more likable in a lunch-pail-toting, rebound-getting kind of way.

Members of the Harvard women's basketball team are playing the roles of ball girls during warmups.

By Gary Washburn, Globe staff

The worst-case scenario from last night's seven-hour NBA labor talks came to fruition as commissioner David Stern canceled the first two weeks of the season after describing the two sides as being a “gulf” apart.

Six Celtics games have been wiped out, including the Nov. 2 home opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers and home games against the Charlotte Bobcats and Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 9 and 11 respectively. Refunds for those games are available for season-ticket holders, but the damage to the NBA fans may have irrevocably done after this drastic move.

The NBA owners and players’ association met for more than seven hours, the length of the meeting offering encouragement to fans, team officials and players that progress was being made.

But despite hours and hours of negotiations over the past two weeks, the two sides came away unable to even develop a framework for a new collective bargaining agreement.

"The gap is so significant that we just can't bridge it at this time," Stern told reporters, who waited hours outside a New York hotel for the meeting to conclude. "(The sides are) very far apart on virtually all issues. ... We just have a gulf that separates us."

Last Tuesday, Stern announced that if an agreement wasn’t reached by yesterday, he would be forced to cancel the first two weeks of the season. The two sides separated after five hours of talks last week and appeared headed for an abbreviated schedule, especially when the NBA said it would only meet with the NBPA if they agreed to a 50-50 split of basketball-related income.

The NBPA did not agree to such terms, but they did agree to meet. But seven hours of discussions could produce nothing but the brutal reality that games will be missed and the sides aren't close to a deal.

“Despite extensive efforts, we have not been able to reach a new agreement with the players’ union that allows all 30 teams to be able to compete for a championship while fairly compensating our players,” NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.

The two sides have not scheduled a meeting date and Stern intimated that the owner's new offers will take into consideration losses accured by the missed games.

By Gary Washburn, Globe staff

After another day of negotiations resulted in nothing close to a labor deal, Commissioner David Stern canceled the remainder of the NBA preseason tonight, wiping out six games for the Celtics, including home games at TD Garden scheduled for Oct. 21 and Oct. 26.

In addition, Stern said that if a deal is not reached by Monday, he would have no choice but to eliminate the first two weeks of the regular season, a nightmare for the league's owners and players. No new meetings are scheduled.

The two sides met today at a New York hotel for about four hours and came away with little hope of saving a full regular season. According to Stern, the owners floated the concept of a 50-50 Basketball Related Income (BRI) split, which was soundly rejected by the players. Under the current agreement, the players earn 57 percent of the BRI and they had offered to reduce that number to 53.

Six high-powered agents wrote a letter to players and pleaded for them not to accept anything below 52 and the league's owners would not budge above 50. In a telling example of the confusion that is surrounding these meetings, players association executive director Billy Hunter said the owners offered 47 percent BRI while Stern said a 50-50 split was suggested.

"They said 'we can't do it,'" Stern said. "And we ended the day."

Stern maintained that the 50-50 split was never officially proposed but he was told by the players association that it wouldn't be considered. Stern also said the players backed off their previous insistence on a hard salary cap, rollbacks on current salaries and elimination of guaranteed contracts.

The players association, which included Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett of the Celtics, appear steadfast on not dipping below its 53 percent offer and until then the league has a major stalemate and fans have no basketball.

HERE ARE THE PRESEASON GAMES CANCELED

Oct. 10 vs. Philadelphia 76ers at Dunkin' Donuts Center (Providence) 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 15 vs. New York Knicks at Times Union Center (Albany, N.Y.) 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16 vs. Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre (Toronto) 6 p.m.
Oct. 19 vs. Philadelphia 76ers at Mullins Center (Amherst) 7 p.m.
Oct. 21 vs. Toronto Rapotrs at TD Garden (Boston) 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 22 vs. New York Knicks at XL Center (Hartford, CT) 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 24 vs. New Jersey Nets at Prudential Center (Newark, N.J.) 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 26 vs. New Jersey Nets at TD Garden (Boston) 7:30 p.m.

By Gary Washburn, Globe staff

Although the lockout has been in place for six weeks, the NBA released its preseason schedules and the Celtics will play two games apiece against their Atlantic Division opponents, including games in Providence, Albany, N.Y., Amherst, Hartford and Newark, N.J.

If you wonder why the Center aren't traveling that far for preseason games, that's Doc Rivers's wish. After going to Hidalgo, Texas a few years ago to play the Rockets, Rivers decided to keep the preseason travel more localized.

Here is the C's preseason sked:

Oct. 10 vs. Philadelphia 76ers at Dunkin' Donuts Center (Providence) 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 15 vs. New York Knicks at Times Union Center (Albany, N.Y.) 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16 vs. Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre (Toronto) 6 p.m.
Oct. 19 vs. Philadelphia 76ers at Mullins Center (Amherst) 7 p.m.
Oct. 21 vs. Toronto Rapotrs at TD Garden (Boston) 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 22 vs. New York Knicks at XL Center (Hartford, CT) 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 24 vs. New Jersey Nets at Prudential Center (Newark, N.J.) 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 26 vs. New Jersey Nets at TD Garden (Boston) 7:30 p.m.

By Gary Washburn, Globe staff

SPRINGFIELD -- Commissioner David Stern, despite NBA owners and players being far apart in reaching a labor accord, told the Globe tonight that he "expects" an eventual agreement that would prevent cancellation of the season.

“I would say that we have very smart players who recognize that this system is very good to them,'' he said. "You've got 13 players on a roster averaging $5 million apiece, that’s $65 million and what the owners have said is, ‘we’re going to try very hard as we reset this thing to keep you as close to that number as we can.’

“The NFL, which is usually profitable as opposed to the NBA, which isn’t, got the double-digit [revenue] reductions from their players. Our players will understand that when the rhetoric stops and they will understand that the owners are trying to do the right thing and our players always try to do the right thing.”

Stern walked away discouraged from the first full negotiating session two weeks ago and less than 24 hours later, the NBA filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board to prevent a decertification.

Still, Stern said he is optimistic about reaching an agreement.

“I expect that we’ll make a deal because the alternative is very destructive,” he said. “It’s destructive of $2 billion worth of player salaries and it’s destructive most important to our fans of the game. And if it spirals badly everyone gets hurt. But in some ways I worry because the players have more to lose, especially those in the later stages of their career. So we’re going to do everything we can when the rhetoric slows down to get this thing back on track.”

The previous statement may have been a shot at Players Association executive director Billy Hunter, who told the National Bar Association last week that he expects the 2011-12 season will be lost because of the labor dispute. Stern said a scheduled negotiating session yesterday was canceled by the players.

“They’ll be smaller meetings, conversations, you don’t need these great media events to have dialogue,” he said. “Eventually we’ll get it done.

“I will not set a deadline on Aug. 11,” he said. “We close to two months away.”

By Gary Washburn, Globe staff

The Celtics have felt their first potential casualty of the lockout after E'Twaun Moore (pictured right), their second-round pick, agreed to a one-year deal with Benetton Treviso in Italy. The deal has an NBA-out clause and gives Moore, who was taken 55th overall, an opportunity to get some professional experience as the lockout continues.

"We couldn't be happier about it," agent Mark Bartelstein said today. "It's just a great situation for him. Treviso is one of the premier organizations in Europe. They have been that way for a long time. It's a great place to live. I'm very, very appreciative that they were able to give him the flexibility of still pursuing his dream of playing in the NBA."

Moore had a solid chance of cracking the Celtics roster and could make a contribution this season if he returns to the team after the lockout. Bartelstein said that he was pursuing opportunities for his client because he had to earn a living.

Moore is the second Celtics to join a team in Europe. Nenad Krstic, a free agent, signed with CSKA Moscow shortly after the NBA Finals.

"We are very satisfied that E'Twaun Moore have signed for (our team), Benetton general manager Claudio Coldebella said in a statement.

By Gary Washburn, Globe staff

In the first sign that NBA players and owners want to avoid a long lockout, the two sides have agreed to meet Monday in New York, according to an NBA source.

It will be the first official negotiating session since the owners instituted the lockout on July 1 and it's a positive sign considering the two sides waited 46 days to meet during the previous lockout in 1998. Does the NFL settlement have anything to do with the NBA suddenly deciding to meet? Who knows? But it is an indication that the two sides realize the seriousness of the situation.

The NBA preseason does not begin for about 10 weeks, giving the two sides plenty of time to talk and they will likely need it because they are far apart on several key issues, including a hard salary cap, revenue sharing and percentage of Basketball Related Income.

Commissioner David Stern, expected to attend Monday's meeting, said 22 teams lost money last season while the players association disputes that claim. The owners want to completely reshape the financial framework of the league while the players want to make adjustments.

It is believed that several struggling owners are willing to cancel the season because they would lose less money than if the season continued with the current collective bargaining agreement.

By Gary Washburn, Globe staff

Although the NBA is shut down by a lockout that could last into the regular season, the league released its 2011-12 schedule and the Celtics open their season against Kyrie Irving at the new-look Cleveland Cavaliers on Nov. 2 at TD Garden.

Cleveland drafted Irving first overall and also added Texas forward Tristan Thompson as they move on from the LeBron James era. The Celtics hit the road on Nov. 4 with their first back-to-back road series against Atlanta and Indiana.

The Celtics only travel to face the defending Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat on Nov. 16 at AmericanAirlines Arena. Boston plays 12 of its first 19 games on the road. The Celtics also play the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Christmas Day, conjuring up memories of the 1970s and 80s.

Other notable games are:

vs. Miami, Dec. 1 at TD Garden
vs. Dallas, Jan 11 at TD Garden
vs. Los Angeles Lakers, Feb. 9 at TD Garden
vs. Chicago , Feb. 12 at TD Garden
at Los Angeles Lakers, March 11
at Chicago, April 5
at New York, April 17

OK folks, we know there's a lockout but that doesn't mean they still couldn't settle it before the regular season begins. Here is the complete Celtics' regular season schedule with only one visit to Miami.

November

Wed 02 vs Cleveland 7:30pm
Fri 04 @ Atlanta 8:00pm
Sat 05 @ Indiana 8:00pm
Wed 09 vs Charlotte 7:30pm
Fri 11 vs LA Clippers 7:30pm
Sat 12 @ Cleveland 7:30pm
Wed 16 @ Miami 8:00pm
Thu 17 @ Orlando 8:00pm
Sun 20 vs Golden State 3:30pm
Tue 22 @ Washington 7:00pm
Wed 23 vs Toronto 7:30pm
Fri 25 vs Milwaukee 7:30pm
Sun 27 @ Detroit 1:30pm
Tue 29 @ Toronto 7:00pm

December

Thu 01 vs Miami 8:00pm
Sat 03 @ Milwaukee 8:30pm
Mon 05 @ LA Clippers 10:30pm
Thu 08 @ Portland 10:30pm
Fri 09 @ Utah 9:00pm
Sun 11 vs Atlanta 6:00pm
Fri 16 vs New Jersey 7:30pm
Sun 18 vs Philadelphia 1:00pm
Wed 21 @ New Jersey 7:30pm
Thu 22 vs New York 8:00pm
Sun 25 @ New York 12:00pm
Tue 27 @ Memphis 8:00pm
Wed 28 @ New Orleans 8:00pm
Fri 30 vs Detroit 7:30pm

January

Mon 02 @ Orlando 7:00pm
Wed 04 vs Charlotte 7:30pm
Fri 06 vs Indiana 7:30pm
Sat 07 @ Detroit 7:30pm
Mon 09 vs Atlanta 7:30pm
Wed 11 vs Dallas 8:00pm
Fri 13 vs Sacramento 7:30pm
Sat 14 @ Charlotte 7:00pm
Mon 16 vs Oklahoma City 8:00pm
Wed 18 vs Denver 7:30pm
Fri 20 vs Phoenix 8:00pm
Mon 23 vs Orlando 7:30pm
Wed 25 vs Minnesota 7:30pm
Fri 27 vs Indiana 7:30pm
Sun 29 @ New Jersey 6:00pm
Tue 31 @ Indiana 7:00pm

February

Wed 01 vs Toronto 7:30pm
Fri 03 vs Cleveland 7:30pm
Sun 05 vs Memphis 12:00pm
Tue 07 @ Milwaukee 8:00pm
Thu 09 vs LA Lakers 8:00pm
Fri 10 @ Philadelphia 7:00pm
Sun 12 vs Chicago 3:30pm
Wed 15 vs Detroit 7:30pm
Thu 16 @ Chicago 8:00pm
Sun 19 @ Houston 7:00pm
Mon 20 @ Dallas 8:00pm
Wed 22 @ Oklahoma City 8:00pm
Wed 29 vs Milwaukee 7:30pm

March

Fri 02 vs Washington 7:30pm
Sun 04 vs New York 1:00pm
Tue 06 vs Houston 7:30pm
Wed 07 @ Philadelphia 7:00pm
Fri 09 vs Portland 7:30pm
Sun 11 @ LA Lakers 3:30pm
Mon 12 @ Phoenix 10:30pm
Wed 14 @ Golden State 10:30pm
Fri 16 @ Sacramento 10:00pm
Sat 17 @ Denver 9:00pm
Tue 20 vs New Orleans 7:30pm
Wed 21 @ Toronto 7:00pm
Fri 23 @ Atlanta 7:30pm
Sun 25 @ San Antonio 8:00pm
Wed 28 vs Utah 7:30pm
Fri 30 @ Minnesota 8:00pm

April

Sun 01 vs Miami 3:30pm
Wed 04 vs San Antonio 7:00pm
Thu 05 @ Chicago 9:30pm
Sun 08 vs Philadelphia 6:00pm
Wed 11 vs New Jersey 7:30pm
Sat 14 @ Washington 7:00pm
Sun 15 @ Charlotte 6:00pm
Tue 17 @ New York 8:00pm
Wed 18 vs Orlando 8:00pm

By Gary Washburn, Globe staff

BRIGHTON -- Celtics president Danny Ainge said today the club will make a qualifying contract offer to Jeff Green, meaning it will have the right to match any offer made to the restricted free agent.

The Celtics have until Thursday to make the move and Ainge said, "it will happen this week."

Green came to the Celtics in the controversial February trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder that involved Kendrick Perkins. The Celtics acquired Green and Nenad Krstic but Krstic has agreed to a contract with CSKA Moscow that will become official next week. The Celtics plan for Green to play a bigger role next season after he struggled to get untracked coming off the bench.

Green, 24, averaged 9.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in 22 minutes per game for Boston. He averaged 8.4 points in the playoff loss to the Heat but made two critical turnovers in the Game 5 finale.

End of third quarter: Mavericks 81, Heat 72: Dallas used pinpoint shooting and good defense to create some distance. Dirk Nowitzki is struggling but he gave the Mavericks a 71-65 lead with a 3-pointer. LeBron James, after 9 early points, has scored just 5 and also have five turnovers.

Halftime: Mavericks 53, Heat 51: If the Mavericks were told that Dirk Nowitzki would go 1 for 12 from the field and they would lead by 2, they would take it. And that's the case as Nowitzki has missed a slew of open looks but Jason Terry (19 points) has picked up the slack. The Heat responded from a 12-point deficit with a 14-0 run, keyed by former Celtic Eddie House, who is playing his best game of the season. He has 9 points off the bench. LeBron James has 11, but just 2 in the second quarter.

End of first quarter: Mavericks 32, Heat 27: Miami started out strong, racing to a 20-11 lead and looking like it was ready to blow the Mavericks out of the water. But Dallas withstood the charge and make a 21-4 run behind pinpoint shooting. Dirk Nowitzki scored just 2 points in the quarter but Jason Terry scored 9. LeBron James started off with 9 quick points but Miami couldn't stop Dallas and only a Eddie House 3-pointer prevented an 8-point hole.

Well the stage is set folks, the Heat need to win two games to win the title that nobody in Boston wants to see happen. The Mavericks are in the same position as the Celtics last year when they needed to win one of two games on the road to seal the title. The Celtics fell short, let's see what Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks do.

LeBron James, for all his promises, did produce a triple double but he scored 2 points in the fourth quarter.

End of third quarter, Mavericks 84-79: The Mavericks led by as many as 9, which is a ton of points in this series, but the Heat used a runner by Dwyane Wade and free throws from Mario Chalmers to cut it to 5. LeBron James, the focal point of tonight's game, has 15 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists and has attempted just two free throws. Dirk Nowitzki leads Dallas with 21 points.

Halftime, Mavericks 60-57: Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 points in Game 4 but he already has 16 tonight on 6-for-9 shooting with four rebounds. Tyson Chandler has added 11 but just three rebounds in 18 minutes while Chris Bosh and Mario Chalmers led Miami with 13 each. Dwyane Wade, fighting a left hip contusion, has 11 while LeBron James has 9 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.

Second quarter, 4:34, Heat 50-46: Miami has played remarkably well considering Dwyane Wade left the game briefly with a left hip contusion. He has 11 points and Chris Bosh has 13 as the Heat are shooting 56 percent and are out-rebounding Dallas 17-8. Nine Mavericks have scored and they are shooting 60.7 percent but they have no second-chance points.

In one of the more anticipated NBA Finals games in recent memory, the Mavericks host the Heat in the pivotal Game 5. LeBrom James has promosed to be more aggressive after his 8-point outing in Game 4 while Dirk Nowitzki should be healthier after laboring through Game 4 with a 101-degree fever.

LeBron James will be sure to hear from his critics after an 8-point performance. He did not score in the fourth quarter.

End of third quarter: Heat 69-65: The duo of Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry are a combined 6-for-21 shooting for 20 points. The Mavericks are being saved by Shawn Marion, who has 16 points and Tyson Chandler, who has 10 and 11 rebounds. Dwayne Wade has been stellar with 25 points on 10-for-15 shooting and Chris Bosh has added 22.

Halftime: Heat 47-45: The Heat scored the first 7 points of the second quarter and also led 34-29 before the Mavericks responded with a 9-0 run. The surprising contributor as DeShawn Stevenson, who saved Dallaas with three 3-pointers in a 4-minute span. The teams then traded baskets for the rest of the half with Miami taking the lead on a late runner by Mario Chalmers.

End of first quarter, Tied at 21: The Heat are shooting just 29 percent (7 of 24) but have attempted nine free throws and pulled down a whopping nine offensive rebounds. Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade each have 6 points while Dirk Nowitzki has 6 for the Mavericks.

Good news for Northeastern fans. The Huskies will have a starter in the NBA Finals as Dallas coach Rick Carlisle instered J.J. Barea into the starting lineup to replace DeShawn Stevenson. The Mavericks have been plagued by slow starts and Carlisle is hoping a quicker backcourt can generate more early points.

End of third quarter: Heat 67-64: The theme has been established here. The Heat made runs to go ahead double digits and the Mavericks rally to come close. Miami began the third with an 8-0 run for a 55-42 lead only to watch Dallas storm back with a 17-3 run for a 59-58 lead. The two teams then went back and fourth, with Nowitzki scoring 9 points in the period.

Halftime: Heat 47-42: Miami actually led, 45-31, after a LeBron James free throw with 3:03 left, but Dallas ended the half on an 11-2 run and likely saved its chances of actually pulling out this game. The Mavericks shot just 39 percent in the first half and its struggling bench was just 4 of 12. Wade has 19 points on 8-for-13 shooting while James has 10 points. Bosh is faltering in his return home, scoring 7 points on 2-for-9 shooting with two turnovers.

End of first quarter: Heat 29-22: Miami is playing inspired ball and ended the quarter on a 16-6 run, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Mario Chalmers. Wade and James are making it a priority to drive to the basket instead of settling for jumpers. Miami attempted four 3-pointers in the quarter while James and Wade combined for 16 points.

The Heat are wearing their red uniforms and looking mighty fired up while the American Airlines Center is packed and raucous for the city's first NBA Finals game in five years. Brendan Haywood is out with a strained right hip flexor and little-used Ian Mahinmi could get action.

Final: Mavericks 95-93 Let's hope you didn't turn this game off early thinking Miami was one stop closer to an NBA title because the Heat were stunned by one of the more improbable comebacks in NBA Finals history as Dallas rallied from an 88-73 deficit with 6:19 left with a game-ending 22-5 run behind sparkling play from Dirk Nowitzki.

Nowitzki scored the go-ahead 3-pointer with 26.7 left and then the go-ahead layup with 3.6 left to stun the Heat, who scored 7 points in the final 7 minutes. Dwyane Wade led Miami with 36 points but none in the final minutes.

"Well, you know, I think in this league you have to play till the end," Nowitzki said. "Especially this is the Finals. You can be down 20. You have to keep plugging. You never know what's going to happen in this league. And we kept on fighting. And we got some lucky bounces there. LeBron went down the middle, had a wide open lay up, I thought. Short armed it a little bit. We were able to get that rebound and go.

"So you have to be a little lucky, but we kept on plugging. And look, I said it all playoffs long, we're a veteran team. We don't get too high with the highs and too low with the lows. That was definitely a little hole we got ourselves in, but we kept believing, kept playing off each other, and that was big."

End of third quarter: Heat 75-71 Miami goes on 29-10 run after trailing by 9 points and then the Mavericks respond with a mini-run to make it interesting. Dwyane Wade has 27 points on 11-for-15 shooting while LeBron James has 18 and Mike Bibby has added 14 on four 3-pointers. Dirk Nowitzki continues his offensive struggles with just 15 points on 6-for-15 shooting. He is now 13 for 33 in the series.

Halftime: Tied at 51: Believe it or not, the Mavericks were ahead 51-42 with 3:01 left in the half and we are finding out the Celtics aren't the only team who had trouble finishing out quarters against Miami. The Heat ended the break on a 9-0 run with LeBron James on the bench, thanks to 5 points from Dwyane Wade, including the tying 3-pointer with 25.1 left. Wade has 21 points while James has 13 despite three fouls.

Dirk Nowitzki has 9 points on 3-for-10 shooting as but Dallas received 9 points apiece from Tyson Chandler and DeShawn Stevenson. Jason Kidd has 3 points and 4 assists.

End of first quarter: Tied at 28: LeBron James is starting to get scary with this 3-point barrage. He canned two in the first quarter and Mike Bibby added two more as both offenses opened up. Shawn Marion leads Dallas with 6 points while Dirk Nowitzki, bad finger and all, has 4. Dwyane Wade and James each have 8 while Chris Bosh has 4. Former Northeastern standout J.J. Barea hit his first shot, a good sign after his 1-for-8 performance in Game 1.

Final, Heat 92-84: Folks we have seen this result before. The Heat beat the Mavericks the same way they beat the Celtics. They were particularly impressive in the first three quarters, hung around, and then captured the game with a fourth-quarter run and strong defense. It's the same way they beat the Celtics and it is beginning to look like no one has the answer for Miami.

Dirk Nowitzki finished with 27 points but on just 7-for-18 shooting and one 3-pointer. The rest of the Mavericks were putrid, combining to go 18 for 49 from the field (36.7 percent) for just 57 points. Shawn Marion helped out with 16 points but Jason Terry was nonexistent in the second half, going scoreless.

The Miami Big Three scored 65 of the 92 points but LeBron James won another game with his 3-point shooting. He was 4 of 5 from beyond the arc and hit three late in the third quarter to give Miami the edge for good.

End of third quarter: Heat 65-61: Miami ended the quarter on a 22-10 run after the Mavericks scored the first 7 points to race to a 51-43 lead. LeBron James was the story here with three 3-pointers in the quarter, including a fadeaway 26-footer at the buzzer that sent the crowd into a frenzy. James had 19 points after three quarters while Dirk Nowitzki had 17 on 5-for-14 shooting.

Halftime: Mavs 44-43: A brutal and physical defensive game as both teams are shooting under 40 percent. Mario Chalmers has been the biggest surprise with 10 points off the bench, 9 on 3-pointers. Dirk Nowitzki is working hard for his 13 points on 4-for-9 shooting as Miami is sending two and three defenders at him. LeBron James has 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting while Dwyane Wade has 10, going 3 of 10 from the field.

End of first quarter: Mavs 17-16: It was an ugly quarter for both teams but the Mavericks played a brilliant defensive quarter, forcing Miami's Big Three into some difficult shots. Miami dominated the boards and received 6 points and 5 rebounds from Dallas native Chris Bosh. Dirk Nowitzki was limited to 3 points on 1-for-3 shooting.

By Gary Washburn, Globe Staff

MIAMI -- Doc Rivers offered more specifics on his potential return next season and said he actually decided to come back during the first game of the Miami series. Rivers, who lives in Orlando, has long said spending more time with his family would be one of the reasons he would step down as coach.

But with son Jeremiah finished with his basketball career at Indiana University and his daughter Callie now playing professional volleyball in Puerto Rico and done at the University of Florida, Doc said he only has to travel to watch son Austin play basketball at Duke and youngest son Spencer play his first varsity season at Winter Park High School.

"Listen, there’s been a contract for basically three months there. (Team president) Danny (Ainge) and (co-owner) Wyc Grousbeck have been on the other side of patient," he said after announcing he was leaning toward returning. "It gave us a long time to talk about it as a family. I haven’t signed anything or done anything but it’s there and I probably will sign it."

Rivers coming back gives Celtics fans a less anxious summer and means the Big Three along with some new parts will return for one more run.

"We only got one (child) left at the house and he basically told me he didn't want me home," Rivers said laughing. "It will be easier and that's one of the things for my family because it's only Austin playing and Spencer. The other two are graduated from college. And it will be less travel in a lot of ways and they can come see me more because my wife only has one kid in the house. So that's big for us. I told (Wyc) before one of the games here, whatever you figure out with (my agent), I'll probably do it."

MIAMI -- Celtics coach Doc Rivers said after tonight's game that he plans to return as coach of the team next season, though he has not made his final decision.

"I'm leaning heavily toward coming back," said Rivers. "I haven't made that decision, but I can tell you, I probably will. I've kind of come to that over the last couple of weeks. You know I'm a Celtic and I love our guys. And I want to win again here. I'm competitive as hell and I have a competitive group."

Celtics players urged Rivers to stay last offseason, when the team had even more uncertainty with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce not yet signed to long-term deals. Pierce said after the game that RIvers is a huge part of anything the Celtics do going forward. Celtics guard Rajon Rondo said it's imperative Rivers comes back.

"I don't even want to imagine [not playing for Rivers]" said Rondo. "I really want him to come back ...I'm going to put this on record. Doc already committed, said he's coming back. He can't go back on his word."

In other words, on a team with as many big personalities as players, Rivers's value is not lost on the players. The Celtics have the same core group of players signed through next season, with veterans Shaquille O'Neal and Jermaine O'Neal candidates to return or to retire. Jeff Green, Delonte West, and Glen Davis are free agents. Rivers is the only other wild card. Both Rivers and Rondo said they like the Celtics' chances again next season if the team adds a couple of other pieces.

"We probably look at it as a failure that we didn't win a championship, but the core will be here," said Rondo. "We'll be fine."

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

MIAMI -- In 72 playoff games since 2007-08, the Celtics had never faced an elimination game prior to Game 7. Against a younger, more athletic, more talented Miami Heat team in Game 5 at American Airlines Arena Wednesday night, the Celtics couldn't hold it off any longer.

The Celtics led for the majority of the first three quarters and led 87-81 with 4:29 remaining in the fourth, but the Heat ended the game on a 16-0 run and eliminated the Celtics in five games with a 97-87 win. Miami advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, while the Celtics are left to ponder the future of their coach and their aging core.

"It's not the way you want to end a game or season," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers.

Miami's offense wouldn't stay bogged down for long. Led by Dwyane Wade, the Heat shot 50 percent in the second quarter. The Heat scored on 7 of 8 possessions near the end of the second. Wade had 12 points in the second and 23 points by halftime.

Wade and Garnett got tangled at the 5:03 mark of the second when Garnett tried to set a screen to free up teammate Ray Allen. Both players fought through it too aggressively and were called for personal fouls, and Allen hit a 3-pointer that counted despite the fouls. Paul Pierce picked up his third personal foul with 1:44 remaining in the quarter and went to the bench.

Pierce's foul proved to be crucial, because he picked up his fourth at the 8:40 mark of the third quarter. The Celtics stole a few minutes with Pierce on the floor and got their lead up to six, but the Heat fought back with Pierce off the floor and took their first lead since they led 4-2 less than three minutes into the game. But the Celtics fought back to take a 73-71 lead after three, getting big minutes off the bench from Nenad Krstic (eight points).

The Celtics started the fourth with a 6-1 run and put pressure on the home team to come back for the first time in three games in Miami. But as they have all series, the Heat found a way to score easily when it mattered. The Celtics led 87-81 with 4:29 remaining, but saw the Heat go on a 16-0 run to close the game. James, who had been relatively quiet (for him), hit the first of two huge 3-pointers with 2:10 left, and hit another with 40 seconds left to put the Heat up by six. It was an awesome display of individual dominance from a player who came to Miami to win his first team championship.

James finished with 33 points, and Wade had 34. Allen led the Celtics with 18. Rondo played 30 minutes, but was not on the floor to close the game.

Final: Heat 97, Celtics 87: Amazing how quickly that got out of hand. Miami ends the game on a 12-0 run. Heat players celebrating on the court like they've won something big. They have.

40.4 4th quarter, Heat 93-87: Another 3-pointer from LeBron after a pass sails through Jeff Green's hands out of bounds. That one's the killer.

2:10 4th quarter, Heat 90-87: LeBron hits a 3-pointer from just about the same spot, at just about the same time, as he did in Game 4. Dagger. Celtics need an answer.

3:43 4th quarter, Celtics 87-85: James Jones picked a good time to hit his first 3-pointer of the game. Great play by LeBron finding Jones open on the break.

4:59 4th quarter, Celtics 85-81: Pierce picks up his fifth foul.

6:05 4th quarter, Celtics 83-79: Garnett is back in alongside Krstic. West running the point in place of Rondo.

8:46 4th quarter, Celtics 81-74: Both Rondo and O'Neal having their backs attended to on the sideline. Garnett's been out since the 1:39 mark of the third.

9:52 4th quarter, Celtics 79-72: What a start to the fourth quarter for the Celtics, and they're doing it with a lineup of Pierce, Allen, Green, Krstic, and West.

End 3d quarter, Celtics 73-71: The Heat took their first lead since leading 4-2 at the 9:33 mark of the first quarter, but the Celtics maintain the leading going into the fourth. Nenad Krstic is giving the Celtics big minutes off the bench to spell Kevin Garnett. He hit a jump shot from the corner with the shot clock winding down and got a block inside on Juwan Howard.

3:23 3d quarter, Tied at 65: Paul Pierce is on the bench and the Celtics are struggling. For the first time all game the crowd is into it.

6:01 3d quarter, Celtics 63-58: The Celtics obviously need Pierce on the floor. He's got seven points this quarter so far.

8:40 3d quarter, Celtics 54-49: Paul Pierce picks up his fourth foul on the rebounding action. Big call.

10:01 3d quarter, Celtics 51-49: Celtics force a shot-clock violation with good defense. Both teams feeling each other out to start the second half.
Halftime, Celtics 49-47: It's big for their confidence that the Celtics are leading at the break, even if it's only by two points. It would help if they led after the third quarter, too.

Dwyane Wade has taken over for Miami to the tune of 23 points. Ray Allen picked up where Kevin Garnett left off, scoring nine points in the second.

1:52 2d quarter, Celtics 45-41: Ray Allen nails his third 3-pointer as a helpless Wade falls into the Celtics bench. Both Allen and Garnett are scoring, and that's a great soign for the Celtics.

5:03 2d quarter, Celtics 39-31: Very strange play as Kevin Garnett and Dwyane Wade both get called for personal fouls as Garnett tried to pick off Wade for a Ray Allen 3-pointer. Officials counted the shot. Never seen that.

9:10 2d quarter, Celtics 26-23: Jermaine O'Neal is in the locker room with an undisclosed injury. Nenad Krstic at center for the Celtics.

The Heat start the second on a 7-2 run. They score points so easily sometimes, while the Celtics scratch and claw for every point.

End 1st quarter, Celtics 24-16: Think Kevin Garnett took offense to the criticism following his 1-for-10 performance in Game 4? He's 5 of 7 for 12 points so far. Meanwhile the Heat are shooting 31 percent. LeBron James has one point.

2:47 1st quarter, Celtics 16-12: Glen Davis takes a charge on Dwyane Huge play for his confidence and for the team.

5:32 1st quarter, Celtics 11-7: Jermaine O'Neal (two blocks) has been very active at the rim on the defensive end. He's playing great. Bad news for the Celtics as Paul Pierce picked up his second personal foul. The Celtics can't afford to sit him.

6:57 1st quarter, Celtics 9-4: Garnett puts back a missed shot by O'Neal as the Celtics are leading despite turnovers. Rajon Rondo looks very, very stiff. It looks like both his back and his elbow are bothering him.

10:31 1st quarter, Tied at 2: The Celtics have turned the ball over twice already in careless fashion. Both bad passes were preventable.

Pregame: The PA announcer is urging fans to put on their white "Beat Boston" shirts. Late arriving crowd, but it's an early game, and these fans can get very loud when their team has a lead. Celtics need to come out strong.

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

MIAMI -- Rajon Rondo will get the start for the Celtics tonight in Game 5, while Shaquille O'Neal is out as expected. Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Rondo's dislocated left elbow hasn't gotten any better.

"In some ways he's actually in more pain than he was before Game 4," said Rivers. "But I think he at least has an idea on how to deal with it more. We're hoping that he can give us something. And if he can't then we'll have to make a decision on the floor."

Rivers admitted that Rondo's injury affected his ability to play perimeter defense in Game 4, opening up driving lanes for the Heat.

"We can't afford that," said Rivers. "We have to keep him out of those positions if possible, or he just has to do it. If not then we have to make a decision."

Rivers heaped praise on Delonte West's performance in Game 4, and given his quotes about Rondo, it might be fair to guess that West will play a bigger role tonight.

"He's had a lot of highs and lows in his life," said Rivers. "But the one thing that we knew about him, and we knew it the day we signed him, is that if it came to tenacity and toughness then he would be the guy who was still standing."

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

MIAMI -- Welcome to AmericanAirlines Arena, where the Celtics will take on the Miami Heat at 7 p.m. The Heat lead the best-of-seven series, 3-1.

The second team bus carrying most of the Celtics players just arrived here at the arena. Carlos Arroyo -- who used to play with the Heat -- was greeted like a visiting head of state by various staff members here. The rest of the Celtics, however, will not be greeted so warmly tonight. There are shirts on every seat reading "Beat Boston". It's flattering, I guess, in the way that "Beat LA" is flattering to the Lakers because it signifies them as a rival.

Plenty of storylines tonight, with possible outcomes including the end of an era, a suddenly exciting 3-2 series, or something in between. Back with more updates in a bit.

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

MIAMI -- Reserve center Shaquille O'Neal is doubtful for tonight's Game 5 vs. the Miami Heat with the same Achilles injury that's kept him out for most of the latter part of the season.

"I will say I doubt it," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said when asked if Shaq would play. "I don't know yet today. That little stretch of the game it got worse."

O'Neal has only managed to play in little stretches in two playoff games for the Celtics, so it's not like much will change. The Celtics have been and will continue to operate largely without Shaq. O'Neal played just four minutes in Game 4 after playing eight minutes in Game 3. Nenad Krstic did not play for the Celtics in Game 4, so it's possible he'll get some time tonight unless Rivers decides to stick with Jermaine O'Neal or go small.

On Rajon Rondo, well it's not as if his left elbow injury has had time to get a heck of a lot better.

"He is what he is," said Rivers. "I don't know how much better he's going to be."

The Celtics face elimination tonight. O'Neal, who has a player option for next season, might also have played the last game of his 18-year NBA career. He has a player option for next season but played just 37 regular season games and turns 40 next March.

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

MIAMI --

Tip-off: 7 p.m.
Series: Miami leads, 3-1
Broadcast info: TNT, WEEI
Probable starters:

Celtics:
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Ray Allen
SF: Paul Pierce
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Jermaine O'Neal

Heat:
PG: Mike Bibby
SG: Dwyane Wade
SF: LeBron James
PF: Chris Bosh
C: Joel Anthony

Storylines:

This could be it: Tonight's game could be the end of the Celtics' season and potentially the end of the New Big Three era. If these Celtics lose in five games in the second round, what's going to propel the same group of players to go further when they're all a year older? With so many big contracts, there aren't many minor tweaks that can be made to this roster. If this is the last game, it's been quite a run ...

Not done yet: ... That being said, the Celtics aren't done yet. Two games in Boston should give Celtics fans faith that their team can play with the Heat. The Celtics need to get off to a good start like they did in both games at home to avoid Miami running away with the momentum. The Celtics have played championship level defense. If they can find their offense, they can win Game 5 and force a very interesting Game 6 Friday in Boston.

Bench needs to step up: Delonte West was a monster in Game 4, pressuring Dwyane Wade end to end and making it difficult for the Heat guard to even catch the ball. West and Jeff Green formed an effective second unit in Game 4, actually increasing the lead in the second quarter. They'll need to do that again for the Celtics to win.