Boston ends road trip with big win over Atlanta

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Tuesday, November 23, 2010

GoLocalProv Sports Team

The plane ride home is a lot more enjoyable after a game like this.

Boston ended its brief road trip with a laugher Monday, crushing the Atlanta Hawks, 99-76, at Phillips Arena to snap a two-game losing streak.

The Celtics raced out to a 26-point lead in the first quarter and never looked back. Nate Robinson – starting his second consecutive game at point guard in place of the injured Rajon Rondo – led the surge with 16 points and 10 assists while Kevin Garnett chipped in with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Boston hit 18 of its first 25 shots and led, 39-13, at the end of the opening quarter. Paul Pierce and Shaquille O’Neal finished with 13 points apiece. With the Celtics leading by 29 at the end of the third, Boston’s reserves played the majority of the fourth quarter, specifically Glen Davis and Marquis Daniels, who finished with seven and four points, respectively.

Monday’s win followed a deflating loss in Toronto on Sunday in which the Celtics (10-4) coughed up a three-point lead in the closing seconds. Atlanta is heading in the opposite direction; the Hawks have lost six of their last eight games after starting the season 6-0.

The Celtics will close out the week at home with an Atlantic Division showdown against New Jersey on Wednesday and a rematch against the Raptors on Friday night.