Boston Celtics

Celtics, 81-64 (3)

By Gary Dzen

1 minute to read

James Posey nailed a three-pointer just before the buzzer as the Celtics have opened up a 17-point lead heading into the fourth.

The Hawks made a run to start the quarter, but the Celtics answered with a run of their own.

The Hawks closed the gap to 60-50 at the 7:29 mark in the third. They got it down to 62-54 with 5:35 remaining before Ray Allen pushed the lead back to 11 with a three-pointer. Paul Pierce pushed it to 13 with a driving layup on Boston’s next possession. Allen made it 16 with a three-pointer shortly after.

After that things got chippy, with Joe Johnson and Kevin Garnett both picking up technicals. The crowd was very vocal about a couple of foul calls that went against the Celtics. Despite the lead, the mood is pretty tense here in the building.

  • The crowd cheered when a clip of the Red Sox beating Toronto 2-1 in the ninth inning was shown on the Jumbotron. Then they broke into a chorus of “Sweet Caroline.” Sox owner John Henry is in the house.

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