Hawks Hammered In Game 7

BOSTON (AP) - Kevin Garnett had 18 points and 11 rebounds and

Paul Pierce scored 22 points in Boston's 99-65 romp over Atlanta in

the decisive seventh game of their NBA playoff series. The Celtics

earn a second-round matchup with LeBron James and the Cleveland

Cavaliers. That best-of-seven series begins Tuesday night in the

Hub.

After missing a potential game-tying 3-pointer in the Game 6

loss that forced the series back to Boston, Rajon Rondo (RAH'-zhahn

RAHN'-doh) had 10 points and six assists. And Kendrick Perkins had

10 points and 10 rebounds before joining the rest of the starters

on the bench for the formality of a fourth quarter.

The Celtics avoid one of the biggest postseason upsets of all

time with the victory. Boston went a league-best 66-and-16 during

the regular season. That's 29 games better than the young Hawks

team that earned the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.