Pierce & Garnett Push Celtics Over Hawks 98-88

Paul Pierce scored a game high 30 points Sunday and teammates Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins both recorded a double-double as the Boston Celtics won their fifth straight game defeating the Atlanta Hawks 98-88 at the “New Garden” in Boston. Pierce scored 17 of his 30 points in the third quarter, as Boston came back from a halftime deficit. The Celtics had four of their five starters in double figures.

Boston took a lead at the end of the first quarter as they were up 26-22 at the end of the period. Atlanta though came back in the second quarter to wrest the lead away and take a 44-41 lead as the two teams went to their respective locker rooms at the half. The Celtics would early on go on a 13-2 run to take a 54-46 lead when Pierce hit a trey with 8:56 left in the quarter, but the Hawks got back into the contest as the quarter drew to a close and Boston’s lead was down to just 3 points, at 70-67. However after the opening minutes, Atlanta could pull no closer than 5 points for the rest of the game.

Pierce scored 30 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 1 assist in the victory. Kevin Garnett scored 20 points, grabbed a game high 16 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals, Ray Allen scored 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist, 1 block. Kendrick Perkins scored 11 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 blocks, in an impressive performance.

Josh Smith paced Atlanta with 22 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 assist. Al Horford had yet another double-double as he scored 14 points, 11 boards, 2 blocks, 1 steal, Mike Bibby may have had his best game in a Hawks uniform as he scored 14 points, dished off 9 assists, 4 rebounds. Josh Childress scored 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, in the loss. Boston now has an Association best record of 46-12, Atlanta is 24-33.