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Kevin Garnett powers Celtics past Raptors 02.06.13 at 9:34 pm ET
By
Kevin Garnett. (AP)

Kevin Garnett had 27 points in the Celtics’ win. (AP)

Kevin Garnett led all five Celtics starters in double-figure scoring with a season-high 27 points and powered a key run at the start of the fourth quarter as the Celtics outlasted the Raptors, 99-93, Wednesday night at Air Canada Centre in Toronto. His turnaround jumper with 46.6 seconds left put Boston up 96-91.

Garnett’s three-point play with 8:46 remaining capped a 10-0 run at the start of the final period as the Celtics overcame a sloppy third quarter to win their fifth straight game and improve to 25-23 on the season. Garnett was 11-of-18 from the field and added 10 rebounds in the win.

Paul Pierce had 12 points and 11 rebounds while former Raptor Leandro Barbosa chipped in 14 points off the Boston bench. Courtney Lee (15), Avery Bradley (11) and Brandon Bass (10) also scored in double figures. After dominating the previous four games, the Celtics bench was not a major factor Wednesday but still outscored Toronto’s reserves, 24-20.

The Celtics finished the first half on an 11-6 run to take a 50-45 lead. The Celtics scored first in the third quarter to increase their lead to seven, but Rudy Gay then came alive. Gay, who was 8-of-22 from the field, scored 13 of his team-leading 25 in the third.

The Raptors appeared ready to steal the game with a 17-4 run late in the third quarter. The Raptors would outscore the Celtics 34-19 to take a 79-69 lead heading into the final 12 minutes. The Raptors had five of their 11 steals in the quarter as Toronto took command.

But Garnett led a Celtics charge that saw Boston outscore Toronto 30-16 in the final 12 minutes to wrap up a fifth straight win. Barbosa had 12 of his 14 in the final period to help Garnett and the Celtics put the game away.

The Celtics will have little time to rest as they fly back to Boston and take on Kobe Bryant and the Lakers on Thursday at 8 p.m. at TD Garden. The Lakers will not have the services of Pau Gasol, as the Lakers big man was diagnosed with a torn plantar fascia.

For more, visit the Celtics team page at weei.com/celtics.

Read More: Boston Celtics, Kevin Garnett, KG, Leandro Barbosa Print  |  Email  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • NE1935

    Comeback win. Terrible 3rd QTR team. Something happens in locker room at half. Maybe bad gatorade. The bottom line a win.

  • Titletown1

    Rajon who?

    • RC23

      Rondo

  • Baker

    Titletown please do not post the same damn thing once again. It isn’t clever, it’s annoying.

    • Titletown1

      That’s why I posted what I did….you know they haven’t lost since Rondo went down….so I won’t mention it…..really….but I’m just sayin’.

      • Baker

        Whats that? They haven’t lost since Sully went down? Who have they beaten, and don’t say the Heat, they didn’t know that they had lost Rondo by that point… Whats that? The Clippers? Oh, you mean that team that just lost to the Wizards by 10… yeah, thats a quality win.

        • Titletown1

          All I know is that the Celts were three games under .500 with Rondo and they are now 2 games over. It’s all about winning isn’t it? Seems to me that the Celts were losing their fair share of games against tomato cans with Rondo, now they’re kicking them over. Small steps at first….

          And as for the game against the Heat, the bottom line is that they WON WITHOUT RONDO. So, by your skewed logic, that doesn’t count since the team didn’t know they’d be without him before the game?  Truly hilarious….no, really.

  • Pete

    Celtics may end up being a better regular season team without Rondo. But they will miss him dearly in the playoffs when the game slows down

  • JimVT

    “Just Sayin” is something that pink that soccer moms who wear capri’s, flip flops, and Youuuuuk jerseys say.  Go sip an ice coffee super latte mocha dingleberry and head back to the sorority.

    • JimVT

      hat…pink hat…..

    • Uncle Buck

      Classic.  …..mocha dingleberry….hahahah

  • Titletown1

    I see that the “Celtics can’t win without Rondo” stooges are here tonight….

  • BillC

    wow, they beat a 17-32 team. as monica would say “light a cigar”.

  • Superdad1946

    Hey Rajon, want to get away?

  • Fab4ever

    Gentlemen…this debate about Rondo is really moot…5 games is hardly anything to start placing bets on the house…I’m not suggesting they can’t win without Rajon but let it play out…trolls ridicule Boston fans all day long on these pages because of this “jumping to a conclusion” mentality …last summer the fan base was ready to induct Daniel Nava to the Hall of Fame after a good spring…Let the Celtics play good teams, on the road…that’s the drama that needs to unfold…until then, just watch and enjoy the ride….

  • Cfn

    Knock Knock.
    DA: “Come in…..Hi Doc”
    DR: (whispering) “The guys think we are better without….come closer….Rondo”
    DA: I know, how are you going to tell him?
    DR: Danny, you got do this one for me, you know how Rondo loves me; I will cover your asss when we deal Paul. 

  • Bannertown

    What is Rajon’s last name?

  • Christina

    I freakin love it!!! Go KG!!! Tell all the critics and haters to kiss it, just go play your game and ignore them.

  • GREENISMEAN

    This team has the goods to win it all. Best thing that ever happened to the Celts with Rajon going down. We can beat Miami to get to the finals this year. Our guys have something to prove and they are doing just that. What a bench and oh sure lets trade my boy KG for 2 mediocre players. I wouldn’t give him up for anyone right now the way he is playing. He is a warrior and on a mission. Maybe Danny can add a piece that will guarantee us in the finals. Come on Danny boy. We are the Boston Celtics and we all live and die with the green. Great win last night just a team win. We are all in unison and can’t be beat. Lakers are trembling in their boots thinking they have to play us Thursday. Kobe we will take you down no problem. Take it to the hoop my man and you will see what is waiting for you. Dwight Howard go back to the magic and keep your gas out of Boston you smelly smurf. World be free will be world be freezing after we get through with him.   Think parade everyone.  

    • Stephen

      I think if they had Rondo they could win it all.If they had lost Rondo for a month or two that   would have been fine because something is going on here without him but in the long run it will catch up with them.What got to me was there was talk of throwing the season away before he got hurt.It would take a lot to happen for the Celtics to win but we have just seen examples in other sports of teams coming out of nowhere to get hot and win it.Giants 9_7 last year and Baltimore this year.Cardinals in baseball won 83 games and won it.Celtics are a 6th or 7th seed that know one wants to play.Playoff tested team with the great Garnett still capable of greatness as we saw last night.If they had Rondo agree with you they could win it but without him they could win a round or two. Lebron goes down with a blown out knee and that changes everything and you can dream of banner 18!!!

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