Frustrated after Celtics won five defensive charges, Denver’s Chauncey Billups was slapped with a technical foul with 1:58 left in the second quarter. Boston’s Ray Allen nailed a technical free throw to push his team ahead 52-36. With 34 seconds left, Denver’s Kenyon Martin flagrantly fouled Allen on a lay-in attempt. Allen made both free throws to give Boston a 20-point lead, 60-37. Boston entered halftime with a 59-36 lead after holding Denver to a season-low intermission points.
The Celtics nailed 7-of-12 3-pointers in the first half, earned 14 second-chance points and grabbed 8 offensive rebounds. Denver shot 30.6 percent from the field in the first half, had just 2 second-chance points and was out-rebounded 29-16. Allen had a game-high 16 points at half.