Celtics, 105-74
The Celtics expected their defense to be tested by the Philadelphia 76ers Tuesday night. Instead, the game turned into another rout, the Celtics taking a 105-74 victory.
The Sixers, who entered the game with a league-leading .526 shooting percentage, shot 36.1 percent, the fourth Celtic opponent to fail to hit the 40 percent shooting mark. The Celtics, who visit Minnesota today, have a 5-0 record and are outscoring opponents by an average of 22 points per game.
Fourth quarter
7:23: CELTICS, 85-58. The Celtics' second unit stretched the advantage over Philadelphia in the fourth quarter. Marquis Daniels started a 13-4 run over the first 4:04 with a left-hander with :05 on the shot clock. Shelden Williams scored seven points in a 2:23 span. And Rasheed Wallace and Eddie House added three-pointers, House's shot upping the lead to 27 points.
The Celtics went on two impressive runs in taking command against the Philadelphia 76ers Tuesday night. After a slow start, the Celtics converted nine successive field goal attempts in the second quarter, leading, 44-36, at halftime. The Celtics scored on six of their first seven possessions to begin the second half, a Rajon Rondo three-point play upping the lead to 60-40 with 7:03 remaining in the third quarter.
The final minute of the quarter was eventful, thanks to a Rasheed Wallace dispute with official Haywoode Workman.
Wallace was fouled by Jason Kapono with 38 seconds left in the quarter, the Celtics receiving a side out, Wallace contending he was shooting when he was hit about eight feet from the basket on the low post. With 4.5 seconds left, Paul Pierce drew a shooting foul, and Wallace received a technical. After Kapono missed the technical shot, Pierce sank two free throws for a 69-53 lead, Wallace leaving the ball on the foul line while eyeing Workman. Andre Iguodala then attempted an off-balance, left-handed 17-footer, drawing a foul from Shelden Williams just before the buzzer. Iguodala pulled his shirt up to mask his laughter before hitting one of two free throws.
- Gary Washburn, NBA writer
- Baxter Holmes, Celtics beat writer
- Gary Dzen, Boston.com senior sports producer