The Celtic's 2008/09 thread
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MC KAos
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Nors;2411627 said:I know - that circus/rodeo thing. my bad going there - Spurs are down and probably didn't need to go there but the Westies are not what all thought they were a year ago.
THE EAST HAS THE DOMINANT TEAM.
thank you. boston is head and shoulders above everyone right now but anything can happen, injuries, trades, etc. boston will be there year round though
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10-2
No Garnett nice win. Powe, Rondo, Perkins, Big Daddy stepping up.
No Garnett, but Celtics still beat Knicks
By JIMMY GOLEN,
AP Sports Writer
BOSTON (AP) Brian Scalabrine, who earned a spot in the starting lineup while Kevin Garnett served a one-game suspension, hit a 3-pointer with 1:14 left after the Knicks cut a 15-point second-half lead to four and the Boston Celtics beat New York 110-101 on Tuesday night.
Paul Pierce scored 22, Kendrick Perkins had 16 points and eight rebounds and Rajon Rondo had 15 points, eight boards and seven assists for the Celtics, who were playing without Garnett for the first time this season.
No Garnett nice win. Powe, Rondo, Perkins, Big Daddy stepping up.
No Garnett, but Celtics still beat Knicks
By JIMMY GOLEN,
AP Sports Writer
BOSTON (AP) Brian Scalabrine, who earned a spot in the starting lineup while Kevin Garnett served a one-game suspension, hit a 3-pointer with 1:14 left after the Knicks cut a 15-point second-half lead to four and the Boston Celtics beat New York 110-101 on Tuesday night.
Paul Pierce scored 22, Kendrick Perkins had 16 points and eight rebounds and Rajon Rondo had 15 points, eight boards and seven assists for the Celtics, who were playing without Garnett for the first time this season.
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Another win against a hot team in Detroit that punked LA - note our starters all played less than 30 minutes - sweet
Boston
Player Pos Min FGM-FGA FTM-FTA 3M-3A +/- OR Reb A Blk Stl TO PF Pts
P. Pierce F 27:57 2-9 4-4 1-3 +12 1 4 3 0 1 1 2 9
K. Garnett F 25:01 6-10 3-4 0-0 +16 2 4 2 0 3 0 0 15
K. Perkins C 26:10 1-2 0-0 0-0 +10 1 10 1 0 0 1 2 2
R. Rondo G 26:21 7-11 3-4 1-1 +10 0 1 8 0 3 2 4 18
R. Allen G 24:28 3-7 5-6 1-3 +6 0 1 2 0 0 2 2 12
T. Allen 27:36 6-7 1-2 0-0 +14 2 6 1 2 3 2 1 13
G. Davis 20:18 1-6 0-0 0-0 -1 1 4 2 1 0 0 4 2
L. Powe 17:57 2-4 3-7 0-0 +20 3 7 0 1 0 1 0 7
E. House 14:54 4-7 0-1 3-4 +17 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 11
G. Pruitt 12:00 1-4 0-0 0-1 -2 0 2 1 0 0 2 2 2
B. Scalabrine 11:16 1-3 0-0 1-2 -3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 3
P. O'Bryant 6:02 2-3 0-0 0-0 -9 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4
Boston
Player Pos Min FGM-FGA FTM-FTA 3M-3A +/- OR Reb A Blk Stl TO PF Pts
P. Pierce F 27:57 2-9 4-4 1-3 +12 1 4 3 0 1 1 2 9
K. Garnett F 25:01 6-10 3-4 0-0 +16 2 4 2 0 3 0 0 15
K. Perkins C 26:10 1-2 0-0 0-0 +10 1 10 1 0 0 1 2 2
R. Rondo G 26:21 7-11 3-4 1-1 +10 0 1 8 0 3 2 4 18
R. Allen G 24:28 3-7 5-6 1-3 +6 0 1 2 0 0 2 2 12
T. Allen 27:36 6-7 1-2 0-0 +14 2 6 1 2 3 2 1 13
G. Davis 20:18 1-6 0-0 0-0 -1 1 4 2 1 0 0 4 2
L. Powe 17:57 2-4 3-7 0-0 +20 3 7 0 1 0 1 0 7
E. House 14:54 4-7 0-1 3-4 +17 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 11
G. Pruitt 12:00 1-4 0-0 0-1 -2 0 2 1 0 0 2 2 2
B. Scalabrine 11:16 1-3 0-0 1-2 -3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 3
P. O'Bryant 6:02 2-3 0-0 0-0 -9 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4
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12-2 and moving along
Ray Allen is hitting 3's again,,,,,,tough to Beat Boston when he's hitting
Celtics win 5th straight, beat Raptors 118-103
Boston Celtics' Rajon Rondo,right, is pressured by Toronto Raptors' Chris Bosh during first quarter NBA action in Toronto, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008. Boston Celtics' Rajon Rondo,right, is pressured by Toronto Raptors' Chris Bosh during first quarter NBA action in Toronto, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Young,The Canadian Press)
November 23, 2008
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TORONTO—Ray Allen scored 21 points and the Boston Celtics led from the start in winning their fifth straight game, 118-103 over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo and Tony Allen each scored 15 points for the Celtics, who have won 11 of 12 since a Nov. 1 loss to Indiana.
Ray Allen is hitting 3's again,,,,,,tough to Beat Boston when he's hitting
Celtics win 5th straight, beat Raptors 118-103
Boston Celtics' Rajon Rondo,right, is pressured by Toronto Raptors' Chris Bosh during first quarter NBA action in Toronto, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008. Boston Celtics' Rajon Rondo,right, is pressured by Toronto Raptors' Chris Bosh during first quarter NBA action in Toronto, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Young,The Canadian Press)
November 23, 2008
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TORONTO—Ray Allen scored 21 points and the Boston Celtics led from the start in winning their fifth straight game, 118-103 over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo and Tony Allen each scored 15 points for the Celtics, who have won 11 of 12 since a Nov. 1 loss to Indiana.
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http://www.nba.com/games/20081126/GSWBOS/gameinfo.html?ls=gt1hp0020800213
14-2
Can't Silence the truth - Celtics dominant again in face of supression of free speach so to speak they are rocking - pre rodeo.
Ray Allen goes 25 and Rondo 22
14-2
Can't Silence the truth - Celtics dominant again in face of supression of free speach so to speak they are rocking - pre rodeo.
Ray Allen goes 25 and Rondo 22
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Preview | Box | Play-by-Play | H2H | Recap
Final Boxscore
(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Rondo leads way in comeback win over Warriors
BOSTON (AP) When Rajon Rondo is playing well, the Boston Celtics become even harder to stop.
Rondo, a 6-foot-1 point guard, scored a season-high 22 points, grabbed eight rebounds and added seven assists, led Boston to a 119-111 comeback win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.
"I think when he's on like he's on tonight, we're unbeatable," Paul Pierce said. "With me, Kevin (Garnett) and Ray (Allen) on a night in, night out basis, Rajon is now starting to develop that consistency as a player."
Ray Allen scored 25 points, Pierce 21 and Garnett 21 with 13 rebounds as the Celtics overcame a 14-point, third-quarter deficit for their sixth straight win.
"We know the kid has a lot of toughness in him," Garnett said of Rondo. "He plays very, very hard. Like Paul said, we rode him the whole second half. He started it and we just fed off it."
Corey Maggette paced the Warriors with a season-high 32 points and Stephen Jackson had 30. Golden State lost its fourth straight.
It didn't figure to be much of a matchup after the Warriors, who lost by 24 points at struggling Washington on Tuesday, fell behind by 10 points early.
"We had them on their heels and weren't able to close it out," Jackson said. "The key to them winning this game was Rondo."
The game featured the NBA's leading defensive team, Boston, against one of the league's highest-scoring offenses.
"We played about as well as we could play. We just didn't have enough for them," Warriors coach Don Nelson said. "It was a good night for everybody. They turned the pressure up and made it very difficult for use to score."
The lead changed hands seven times in the final quarter before Boston took it for good on Tony Allen's three-point play, making it 103-102 with 6:43 remaining. Allen collected Garnett's airball in the lane, scored on a layup and was fouled.
After Maggette missed a jumper on the other end, Garnett converted a three-point play on Boston's next possession to increase it to 106-102.
Rondo's follow pushed Boston's lead to six and Ray Allen nailed a 3-pointer from in front of the Warriors' bench, making it 113-104 with 3 1/2 minutes left.
Boston, which trailed 67-54 at halftime, opened the second half with a 22-10 run to climb back into it. Pierce's turnaround jumper in the lane gave the Celtics an 84-83 edge, their first lead since midway into the second quarter, and they led 86-83 after three.
Rondo scored 16 in the third, sparking the offense with his defense and turning it into transition baskets.
"I tried to use my speed to my advantage and get in the paint and create shots," Rondo said.
"We won the game, and we'll take it, but it's a good lesson for us," Boston coach Doc Rivers said.
Boston started as if it was going to be a blowout win, grabbing a 30-20 lead nearly eight minutes into the game, before the Warriors got rolling.
Trailing 40-30 early in the second, Golden State, which entered as the league's third-best scoring team at 103.3 points per game, outscored Boston 28-8 over a 6:18 stretch en route to its 13-point lead at intermission. Maggette scored 13 in the run.
Notes: Boston's previous season high was 118 in a victory at Toronto on Sunday. ... The Celtics had a moment of silence for Helen Heinsohn, wife of Hall of Famer and team broadcaster Tommy Heinsohn, before the game. She passed away Monday after a battle with cancer. ... Boston had its highest-scoring first quarter of the season (35). ... The Warriors then held the Celtics to just 19 in the second, the fewest Golden State has given up this season. ... Rivers was whistled for a technical in the final minutes of the second.
Final Boxscore
(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Rondo leads way in comeback win over Warriors
BOSTON (AP) When Rajon Rondo is playing well, the Boston Celtics become even harder to stop.
Rondo, a 6-foot-1 point guard, scored a season-high 22 points, grabbed eight rebounds and added seven assists, led Boston to a 119-111 comeback win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.
"I think when he's on like he's on tonight, we're unbeatable," Paul Pierce said. "With me, Kevin (Garnett) and Ray (Allen) on a night in, night out basis, Rajon is now starting to develop that consistency as a player."
Ray Allen scored 25 points, Pierce 21 and Garnett 21 with 13 rebounds as the Celtics overcame a 14-point, third-quarter deficit for their sixth straight win.
"We know the kid has a lot of toughness in him," Garnett said of Rondo. "He plays very, very hard. Like Paul said, we rode him the whole second half. He started it and we just fed off it."
Corey Maggette paced the Warriors with a season-high 32 points and Stephen Jackson had 30. Golden State lost its fourth straight.
It didn't figure to be much of a matchup after the Warriors, who lost by 24 points at struggling Washington on Tuesday, fell behind by 10 points early.
"We had them on their heels and weren't able to close it out," Jackson said. "The key to them winning this game was Rondo."
The game featured the NBA's leading defensive team, Boston, against one of the league's highest-scoring offenses.
"We played about as well as we could play. We just didn't have enough for them," Warriors coach Don Nelson said. "It was a good night for everybody. They turned the pressure up and made it very difficult for use to score."
The lead changed hands seven times in the final quarter before Boston took it for good on Tony Allen's three-point play, making it 103-102 with 6:43 remaining. Allen collected Garnett's airball in the lane, scored on a layup and was fouled.
After Maggette missed a jumper on the other end, Garnett converted a three-point play on Boston's next possession to increase it to 106-102.
Rondo's follow pushed Boston's lead to six and Ray Allen nailed a 3-pointer from in front of the Warriors' bench, making it 113-104 with 3 1/2 minutes left.
Boston, which trailed 67-54 at halftime, opened the second half with a 22-10 run to climb back into it. Pierce's turnaround jumper in the lane gave the Celtics an 84-83 edge, their first lead since midway into the second quarter, and they led 86-83 after three.
Rondo scored 16 in the third, sparking the offense with his defense and turning it into transition baskets.
"I tried to use my speed to my advantage and get in the paint and create shots," Rondo said.
"We won the game, and we'll take it, but it's a good lesson for us," Boston coach Doc Rivers said.
Boston started as if it was going to be a blowout win, grabbing a 30-20 lead nearly eight minutes into the game, before the Warriors got rolling.
Trailing 40-30 early in the second, Golden State, which entered as the league's third-best scoring team at 103.3 points per game, outscored Boston 28-8 over a 6:18 stretch en route to its 13-point lead at intermission. Maggette scored 13 in the run.
Notes: Boston's previous season high was 118 in a victory at Toronto on Sunday. ... The Celtics had a moment of silence for Helen Heinsohn, wife of Hall of Famer and team broadcaster Tommy Heinsohn, before the game. She passed away Monday after a battle with cancer. ... Boston had its highest-scoring first quarter of the season (35). ... The Warriors then held the Celtics to just 19 in the second, the fewest Golden State has given up this season. ... Rivers was whistled for a technical in the final minutes of the second.
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17-2
This years Celtic team is better than last years team. Ray Allen's ankles are healed and he is just nailing shots.... Rondo a 16-12 double is an emerging All Star. Pierce can still dominate a game and oh yeagh, we have a 7 footer named Garnett.
And scary is Tony Allen, Leon Powe, Big Daddy, House are teaming with Pierce and Allen to be a formidable 2nd team.
Pierce's 17 points in 3rd helps Boston pull away.
Boston Celtics center Kendrick Perkins (43) dunks against the Orlando Magic in the first half of their NBA basketball game in Boston, Monday Dec. 1, 2008. Boston Celtics center Kendrick Perkins (43) dunks against the Orlando Magic in the first half of their NBA basketball game in Boston, Monday Dec. 1, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
December 1, 2008
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BOSTON—Paul Pierce scored 17 of his 24 points in the third quarter to lead the Boston Celtics to their ninth straight win, 107-88 over the Orlando Magic on Monday night.
Ray Allen added 21 points, Rajon Rondo had 16 points with 12 assists and Kevin Garnett scored 15 points for the Celtics (17-2) in a win over a top Eastern Conference rival.
Rashard Lewis paced Orlando (13-5) with 30 points, Hedo Turkoglu 19 and Dwight Howard, the league's rebounding leader, had 14 points with 15 boards.
The Magic had their four-game winning streak snapped. Orlando had won six straight road games, one short of its club record set at the start of last season.
Pierce, who scored just five points in the opening half, carried the Celtics from a 2-point halftime edge to a 12-point lead entering the final quarter.
Similar to the opening minutes of the game, when Boston broke ahead by 10 points, the Celtics controlled the tempo and appeared to run whatever they wanted on offense.
Pierce, isolating against Turkoglu on a number of trips, scored 15 of Boston's 20 points as the Celtics pulled ahead 68-57.
When Pierce was contained driving the lane, he fired a pass to Ray Allen, who nailed a 3-pointer from the top, making it 71-57.
Boston, which held Orlando to 39 percent shooting in the first three quarters, led 77-65 at the break.
Eddie House's 3-pointer made it 92-75 with 6:50 to play, and Boston cruised the rest of the way, mixing starters with reserves.
In the opening half, the Celtics shot 60 percent and led 28-18 after one. They opened it to 37-22 on Glen Davis' jumper before the Magic scored 10 straight points to get back into it.
The Magic were without their starting backcourt for the second consecutive game. Jameer Nelson was sidelined for his fourth straight with a hip flexor and Mickael Pietrus is on injured reserve with a torn right thumb ligament.
Notes Referee Bob Delaney called four technicals in the first half, whistling them on Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy, Boston G Rondo, and two and an ejection against Celtics G Sam Cassell. There were eight called overall. ... Boston coach Doc Rivers was named Eastern Conference's coach of the month for the season's first month, making him just the third to win the conference's award for three straight months. He won the last two at the end of last season. The other two were: Flip Saunders with Detroit in 2005-06 and Larry Brown with Philadelphia in 2002-03. "It just means a lot of people did a lot of good things and a lot of your players are hitting their jump shots," he said before the game.
This years Celtic team is better than last years team. Ray Allen's ankles are healed and he is just nailing shots.... Rondo a 16-12 double is an emerging All Star. Pierce can still dominate a game and oh yeagh, we have a 7 footer named Garnett.
And scary is Tony Allen, Leon Powe, Big Daddy, House are teaming with Pierce and Allen to be a formidable 2nd team.
Pierce's 17 points in 3rd helps Boston pull away.
Boston Celtics center Kendrick Perkins (43) dunks against the Orlando Magic in the first half of their NBA basketball game in Boston, Monday Dec. 1, 2008. Boston Celtics center Kendrick Perkins (43) dunks against the Orlando Magic in the first half of their NBA basketball game in Boston, Monday Dec. 1, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
December 1, 2008
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BOSTON—Paul Pierce scored 17 of his 24 points in the third quarter to lead the Boston Celtics to their ninth straight win, 107-88 over the Orlando Magic on Monday night.
Ray Allen added 21 points, Rajon Rondo had 16 points with 12 assists and Kevin Garnett scored 15 points for the Celtics (17-2) in a win over a top Eastern Conference rival.
Rashard Lewis paced Orlando (13-5) with 30 points, Hedo Turkoglu 19 and Dwight Howard, the league's rebounding leader, had 14 points with 15 boards.
The Magic had their four-game winning streak snapped. Orlando had won six straight road games, one short of its club record set at the start of last season.
Pierce, who scored just five points in the opening half, carried the Celtics from a 2-point halftime edge to a 12-point lead entering the final quarter.
Similar to the opening minutes of the game, when Boston broke ahead by 10 points, the Celtics controlled the tempo and appeared to run whatever they wanted on offense.
Pierce, isolating against Turkoglu on a number of trips, scored 15 of Boston's 20 points as the Celtics pulled ahead 68-57.
When Pierce was contained driving the lane, he fired a pass to Ray Allen, who nailed a 3-pointer from the top, making it 71-57.
Boston, which held Orlando to 39 percent shooting in the first three quarters, led 77-65 at the break.
Eddie House's 3-pointer made it 92-75 with 6:50 to play, and Boston cruised the rest of the way, mixing starters with reserves.
In the opening half, the Celtics shot 60 percent and led 28-18 after one. They opened it to 37-22 on Glen Davis' jumper before the Magic scored 10 straight points to get back into it.
The Magic were without their starting backcourt for the second consecutive game. Jameer Nelson was sidelined for his fourth straight with a hip flexor and Mickael Pietrus is on injured reserve with a torn right thumb ligament.
Notes
Referee Bob Delaney called four technicals in the first half, whistling them on Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy, Boston G Rondo, and two and an ejection against Celtics G Sam Cassell. There were eight called overall. ... Boston coach Doc Rivers was named Eastern Conference's coach of the month for the season's first month, making him just the third to win the conference's award for three straight months. He won the last two at the end of last season. The other two were: Flip Saunders with Detroit in 2005-06 and Larry Brown with Philadelphia in 2002-03. "It just means a lot of people did a lot of good things and a lot of your players are hitting their jump shots," he said before the game.Nors
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Ray Allen nails 6, 3's and puts up 31
Rondo 16 points 17 assists 13 rebounds
Garnett 26 - 14
record now 18-2
Final 1 2 3 4 Tot
Indiana 27 24 22 23 96
Boston 28 29 31 26 114
114
Preview | Box | Play-by-Play | H2H | Recap
Final Boxscore
(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Rondo has triple-double, Boston wins 10th in a row
BOSTON (AP) Rajon Rondo notched his first career triple-double and Ray Allen scored 31 points, leading the Boston Celtics over the Indiana Pacers, 114-96 on Wednesday night for their 10th straight victory.
Rondo scored 16 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and handed out a career-high 17 assists. Kevin Garnett added 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Celtics, who matched their longest winning streak since their 2007-08 championship season, a 10-game run from Feb. 24-March 12.
Boston broke open the game in the third quarter with a 26-8 run over the first nine minutes, with Garnett and Allen combining for 14.
Danny Granger led the Pacers with 20 points, while Troy Murphy chipped in with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Rondo, who also added three steals, secured his triple-double with 10:32 remaining in the third quarter after he grabbed two offensive rebounds and followed with a nifty pass to Garnett for an easy layup.
The Pacers chipped away at an 85-61 deficit with 2:44 remaining in the third quarter after Granger nailed a pair of 3-pointers and Murphy completed a three-point play to cap off a 21-5 run, cutting the lead to 90-82 with 8:54 remaining in the fourth.
Boston responded with a 10-0 run to put the game out of reach as Indiana failed to post consecutive victories over the NBA's top two teams. The Pacers edged the Los Angeles Lakers 118-117 Tuesday.
The Pacers beat the Celtics on Nov. 1, handing Boston one of its two losses while forcing the Celtics into a season-low 34.6 percent shooting and a season-high 24 turnovers. The Celtics' only other loss since then came at home to Denver on Nov. 14.
Rondo did the majority of his damage in the first half with 10 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, leading Boston to a 57-51 halftime lead.
Trailing by seven, Boston closed the first quarter with a 7-0 run for a 28-27 lead. The Celtics beat Indiana for the sixth time in seven home games.
Boston hosts Portland on Friday. The Trail Blazers come in with a six-game winning streak.
Indiana, which has dropped eight of 11, travels to Cleveland on Friday before a rematch with the Celtics on Sunday ,finishing what appears to be its toughest stretch of the season.
Notes: Tony Allen missed the game for Boston with a sprained ankle. ... Indiana's opponents have averaged 114 points over the last four games. ... Mike Dunleavy has missed 17 games already this season, which is more than his previous six years combined. ... Celtics starters had 53 of 57 points in the first half.
Rondo 16 points 17 assists 13 rebounds
Garnett 26 - 14
record now 18-2
Final 1 2 3 4 Tot
Indiana 27 24 22 23 96
Boston 28 29 31 26 114
114
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Final Boxscore
(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Rondo has triple-double, Boston wins 10th in a row
BOSTON (AP) Rajon Rondo notched his first career triple-double and Ray Allen scored 31 points, leading the Boston Celtics over the Indiana Pacers, 114-96 on Wednesday night for their 10th straight victory.
Rondo scored 16 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and handed out a career-high 17 assists. Kevin Garnett added 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Celtics, who matched their longest winning streak since their 2007-08 championship season, a 10-game run from Feb. 24-March 12.
Boston broke open the game in the third quarter with a 26-8 run over the first nine minutes, with Garnett and Allen combining for 14.
Danny Granger led the Pacers with 20 points, while Troy Murphy chipped in with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Rondo, who also added three steals, secured his triple-double with 10:32 remaining in the third quarter after he grabbed two offensive rebounds and followed with a nifty pass to Garnett for an easy layup.
The Pacers chipped away at an 85-61 deficit with 2:44 remaining in the third quarter after Granger nailed a pair of 3-pointers and Murphy completed a three-point play to cap off a 21-5 run, cutting the lead to 90-82 with 8:54 remaining in the fourth.
Boston responded with a 10-0 run to put the game out of reach as Indiana failed to post consecutive victories over the NBA's top two teams. The Pacers edged the Los Angeles Lakers 118-117 Tuesday.
The Pacers beat the Celtics on Nov. 1, handing Boston one of its two losses while forcing the Celtics into a season-low 34.6 percent shooting and a season-high 24 turnovers. The Celtics' only other loss since then came at home to Denver on Nov. 14.
Rondo did the majority of his damage in the first half with 10 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, leading Boston to a 57-51 halftime lead.
Trailing by seven, Boston closed the first quarter with a 7-0 run for a 28-27 lead. The Celtics beat Indiana for the sixth time in seven home games.
Boston hosts Portland on Friday. The Trail Blazers come in with a six-game winning streak.
Indiana, which has dropped eight of 11, travels to Cleveland on Friday before a rematch with the Celtics on Sunday ,finishing what appears to be its toughest stretch of the season.
Notes: Tony Allen missed the game for Boston with a sprained ankle. ... Indiana's opponents have averaged 114 points over the last four games. ... Mike Dunleavy has missed 17 games already this season, which is more than his previous six years combined. ... Celtics starters had 53 of 57 points in the first half.