Playoff Bound Celtics Take Bulls By The Horns Slam Chicago 116-93

Paul Pierce scored a game high 22 points, leading six Boston Celtics in double figures as they one of their easier victories in a while, beating?up the Chicago Bulls Friday night on national television 116-93. It was Boston’s seventh consecutive win, earlier this week they clinched a playoff spot with a win over the Detroit Pistons.

Boston never trailed in this game and were tied with Chicago just twice, at 2-2, and 4-4. After that it was the Celtics game from that moment on. Boston led at the end of the first quarter by a 32-20 advantage, and the rout was basically on. By the time the two teams got to the half, Boston’s lead had grown to a rather dominant 63-43. Chicago interim head coach Jim Boylan decided to bring his team back out on the floor for more fun and frivolity in the second half. (Wouldn’t you like to see just once?a NBA coach that had the guts, to just not allow his team back on the floor for the second half? And then for him to admit to the media, his team played so poorly in the first half, they did not deserve to come out for the second half? It would never happen but I promise you that team would play full bore for the?rest of the season!) The Green Team had the lead up to 95-73 at the end of the third period. Not one Celtics starter left the bench during the fourth quarter.

Pierce scored 22 points, 5 assists,?2 rebounds, 1 steal in the victory for Boston. Kevin Garnett scored 16 points, 8 rebounds, Rajon Rondo also scored 16 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal. Kendrick Perkins had another big game as he recorded a double-double, he scored 14 points, grabbed 11 boards, 3 blocks, 1 assist, Ray Allen scored 11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block. Boston’s new diamond in the rough Leon Powe came off the bench and scored 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks, veteran P.J. Brown played just six minutes and scored just 3 points, but he grabbed 6 rebounds, and had 1 steal.

The Bulls were led by Ben Gordon who came off the bench and scored 20 points, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block. Larry Hughes scored 16 points, 5 steals, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, Luol Deng scored 13 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal. Chris Duhon came off the bench and scored 11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist, Joakim Noah scored 10 points, 7 boards, 2 assists. With the win Boston is now an Association best 48-12, Chicago is 25-37.