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.
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