Celtics hop right back on track

Celtics hop right back on track

So much for the possibility of a losing streak. The Celtics are right back on track.

Even with point guard Rajon Rondo missing his fifth consecutive game due to injury, Boston rallied to beat the Pacers, 95-83, thanks in large part to a strong fourth-quarter finish Tuesday in Indianapolis.
Paul Pierce finished with 21 points and Ray Allen chipped in with 19 as the Celtics outscored the Pacers, 29-16, in the fourth to erase a one-point deficit and get back in the win column following a loss to Orlando on Christmas that snapped their 14-game winning streak.

The Celtics improved to 4-1 without Rondo and maintained their edge as the best team in the Eastern Conference with a 24-5 record. Boston’s reserves played a key role in sparking the second-half comeback. Marquis Daniels finished with 12 points off the bench in addition to five rebounds and four assists while Glen Davis added 14 points. Kevin Garnett contributed with a double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.

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Boston opened the fourth on an 11-0 run, starting with a jumper by Daniels. Davis and Allen combined for seven points during that stretch, including a free throw by Allen after Pacers head coach Jim O’Brien got whistled for a technical foul. Allen’s jumper at the 8:39 mark gave the Celtics an insurmountable 77-66 lead. The Pacers (13-16) pulled to within seven points with 1:10 remaining, but Pierce finished the game with a transition dunk and a 3-pointer with 16.7 seconds to go.

Brandon Rush led the Pacers with 17 points and seven rebounds. The Celtics will look to start a new win streak tonight in Detroit against the struggling Pistons, who’ve lost two in a row and are 10-21 on the season.