Ford Keys to the Game: Celtics at 76ers

Celtics 96, 76ers 86

Game Highlights

Photo of the Game

Glen Davis takes a soft "baby" hook shot over his defender, Lou Williams.
Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images

By Marc D'Amico
Celtics.com

Key Moment

The Celtics got their third win in a row tonight, and much of that result can be associated with Rajon Rondo's 14-point third quarter that sparked the C's in the second half.

But after Rondo and his teammates opened up a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, the Sixers wouldn't quit. Boston didn't help themselves, either, as they didn't hit a field goal over the final 5:45 of the game.

The lead was trimmed to five after Andre Iguodala drained two free throws for Philadelphia at the 2:32 mark, but neither team could muster any points from there until less than a minute remained in the game. Why, you might ask? Well, ask Kendrick Perkins.

The Sixers had possession with less than two minutes remaining and Lou Williams, one of Philadelphia's best playmakers, decided that he would attack the rim. He did so very effectively and pranced down the lane for what looked to be a shot that would make this a one-possession game. Instead, the Celtics' enforcer in the paint, Perkins, rose up to play his role and swatted the shot away toward the other end of the court. Paul Pierce grabbed the ball and took it down court, and after missing a jumper that was followed by a Kevin Garnett offensive board, Pierce was fouled and drilled two free throws to make it a seven-point advantage. Pierce and Garnett combined to hit four more free throws to ice the game, and Boston had its third straight win in the bag.

Perkins' block resulted in a four-point swing that essentially locked the game up for the C's. Had he not been perched in the paint to record Boston's seventh block of the game, the Sixers may have had a shot at tying this game in the final 90 seconds.

Key Box Score Line

Rajon Rondo flirted with a triple-double again tonight, but it's nearly impossible to overlook Kevin Garnett's ridiculously effective night. Not only did KG drill eight of his 11 field goals and all six of his free throws, he finished with eight boards and four assists, too. Oh, and he led the game with three steals. All of that in 32 minutes tells us that the vintage KG is yearning to break out down the stretch run.

Box Score Nuggets

• Rajon Rondo returned to his double-double ways with 16 points and 11 assists.
• Fourteen of Rondo's points came in the third quarter.
• Boston's bench outscored Philadelphia's 29-18.
• Glen Davis scored 12 points to go along with six rebounds off the bench.
• Philadelphia shot only 4-of-16 from 3-point range.
• Boston outrebounded Philadelphia 41-30.
• The C's finished with seven steals and seven blocks.
• Lou Williams tied with Kevin Garnett for the game-high in points with 22.
• The 76ers took only 12 free throws in the game, compared to 27 for the Celtics.
• Philadelphia blocked only three shots.
• Rondo was the only Celtic starter to play more than 32 minutes.
• Boston made 22 of its 27 free throws.
• Every Philadelphia reserve had a negative plus/minus rating, while every Celtic reserve had a positive plus/minus rating.
• Andre Iguodala recorded a team-high nine assists for the Sixers.
• Five Celtics grabbed at least five rebounds.

Quote of the Night

Doc Rivers on the starters, and Paul Pierce in particular: "The starting unit is starting to grow again. You can see Paul (Pierce) starting to assert himself again. We have to re-establish him as our go-to guy and I think that he is getting healthy enough for us to do that."