The Boston Celtics were able to rest Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen for the final quarter as they cruised to a convincing 122-103 win over the Indiana Pacers.
Pierce led the Celtics with 20 points, while Rajon Rondo had a double-double, scoring 16 points and 11 assists, before coming off late in the third quarter.
“We played like a team on a mission,” Pierce told reporters. “Hopefully, that will carry over for the rest of the season.”
Replacements Glen Davis and Nate Robinson came off the bench and each contributed 15 points for the Celtics, who were playing their third game in four nights.
“When they [Davis and Robinson] play like that, the tone of the game changes,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “We’ve just got to keep him [Robinson] aggressive.”
Kevin Garnett was the only Celtic starter not to reach double figures in scoring, leaving the game with nine points late in the third quarter. None of the Boston starters played more than 29 minutes in the victory.
The Atlantic Division’s top team led by six points at the end of the first quarter and stretched it to 20 at halftime, sparked by three consecutive three-pointers by Robinson.
The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for the Celtics, who were booed by their own fans after suffering a 20-point loss at home to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.
“We really had a heart-to-heart this morning,” Pierce said.
“It really left a bad taste in our mouth, the way we played our last game. Nobody wants to be booed at home by the home crowd,” he said.
Roy Hibbert led the Pacers with 23 points and Danny Granger, back in the lineup after serving a one-game suspension for fighting, scored 16 points.
“We are playing a wounded tiger,” Pacers coach Jim O’Brien said.
■CAVALIERS 100, 76ERS 95
AFP, PHILADELPHIA
LeBron James scored 23 points and added 10 assists plus six rebounds in his first NBA game after a six-day layoff, sparking Cleveland past Philadelphia 100-95 on Friday.
The Cavaliers, who improved the NBA’s best record to 51-15, captured their 14th road victory in their past 19 starts and their seventh victory in a row at the home arena of the 76ers.
The NBA’s leading scorer, James, who sat out two games as a rest and precaution after a minor right ankle injury, hit seven-of-18 from the field and half of his 12 free-throws, complaining that he lacked his usual form.
“King James” averages 30.0 points, 8.5 assists and 7.2 rebounds, but showed off his skills with slam dunks and tenacious defense to power Cleveland’s victory.
“Defensively in the second half, LeBron had some big plays for us on the weak side,” Cleveland coach Mike Brown said. “He definitely made some spectacular plays.”
Mo Williams scored 21 points for the Cavs, while Delonte West added 17 points and Anderson Varejao contributed 12.
Andre Iguodala scored a game-high 30 points for the 76ers, while Elton Brand added 24 points and Samuel Dalembert pulled down a dozen rebounds for the hosts, who have lost 21 of 31 home games.
Friday’s other results:
• Lakers 102, Suns 96
• Bucks 95, Jazz 87
• Nuggets 102, Hornets 95
• Heat 108, Bulls 95
• Trail Blazers 110, Kings 94
• Bobcats 106, Clippers 98
• Grizzlies 119, Knicks 112
• Spurs 103, Timberwolves 85
• Thunder 104, Nets 102
• Pistons 101, Wizards 87
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