No Rondo, no problem for Celtics

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Friday, December 17, 2010

GoLocalProv Sports Team

Just imagine how good this team will be when it’s finally healthy.

Even without their point guard, Rajon Rondo, who will more than likely miss a couple weeks with a sprained ankle, the Boston Celtics remained the hottest team in the league Thursday, crushing Atlanta, 102-90, at the TD Garden to extend their win streak to 12 games.

Six players scored in double figures for Boston (21-4), which erased a one-point halftime by outscoring Atlanta (16-11), 31-26, in the third quarter and breaking the game open in the fourth.

Ray Allen and Glen Davis led the balanced scoring attack with 18 points apiece while Kevin Garnett chipped in with 17 points on 8-for-10 shooting in addition to 14 rebounds – another strong performance on the boards in the aftermath of his late-game heroics Wednesday against the Knicks.

Rondo, who sprained his left ankle in the second half of the aforementioned victory over New York, will miss at least one week – maybe two – according to head coach Doc Rivers. Shaquille O’Neal also missed Thursday’s game with a sore right calf. Through it all, the Celtics are cohesive as ever; Nate Robinson started in place of Rondo on Thursday and finished with 14 points and five assists in 41 minutes.

The Celtics haven’t lost in the month of December and haven’t lost a game since Nov. 21 in Toronto – the back end of two consecutive losses on a brief road trip. Overall, Boston leads New York by 5 ½ games in the Atlantic Division and is 11-1 at home.

Marvin Williams led Atlanta with 26 points while Jeff Teague scored 18 off the bench. The Hawks have lost back-to-back games and three of four overall. Atlanta will return to action at home tonight against Charlotte while Boston will host Indiana on Sunday at 1 p.m.