Garnett, Rondo and Celtics Dismantle Slumping 76ers

By Nathan in Celtics, Featured, Teams, Top Story ⋅ April 9, 2012 at 12:02am ⋅ Post a comment

Kevin Garnett scored a game high 20 points, and Rajon Rondo dished out 15 assists, as the Boston Celtics improved their Atlantic division lead to three games in a 103-79 victory over the reeling Philadelphia 76ers.

Rondo’s Assist Streak Continues

Rondo recorded double-digit assists for a 17th straight game. Rondo got all his teammates involved, as Brandon Bass and Avery Bradley finished the game with 18 points apiece and Paul Pierce added 17.

Rookie center Nikola Vucevic led Philadelphia with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Andre Iguodala added 13 points for the Sixers, who shot a mere 38 percent from the field.

Celtics’ Defense in Second, Run in Third, Put Game Away

The Celtics won the game with their defense in the second quarter. The Celtics held the Sixers to just 14 points in the second, forcing them to commit 6 turnovers. Greg Stiemsma and Sasha Pavlovic both blocked shots in the quarter’s opening moments, setting the tone until halftime.

The Celtics led 50-36 at the half. Led by Garnett, the Celtics rattled off a quick 10-2 run to start the third quarter that would ultimately be the knockout punch that would bury the Sixers.

Sixers In Fight For Playoffs; Pietrus Passes Concussion Test

Sunday’s contest had huge playoff implications in the Eastern Conference. Aside from the modest divisional lead the Celtics have built, the Sixers now find themselves in a battle to make the playoffs. They’ve now lost 12 of 14 games and are tied with New York Knicks for the seventh seed in the playoffs. The ninth-seeded Milwaukee Bucks trail the Knicks and Sixers by just one game, having won seven of eight games

The last time the Celtics and Sixers met, Mickael Pietrus left the game on a stretcher with a concussion in the second quarter. Pietrus passed the first in a series of concussion tests before Sunday’s game.

The Celtics travel to South Beach on Tuesday to pay a visit to the Miami Heat in what will be the first in a stretch of five games in six nights.

Tags: Andre Iguodala, atlantic division, Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics, Brandon Bass, Kevin Garnett, Mickael Pietrus, New York Knicks, Paul Pierce, Philadelphia 76ers, Rajon Rondo