By John N. Mitchell, The Philadelphia Inquirer –
BOSTON — It wasn’t quite the same as the miraculous comeback the 76ers orchestrated in the last meeting between the Sixer and the Celtics, but the Celtics will take these results every time.
Trailing for almost the entire first half of Monday’s Game 5, the Celtics cranked things up in the second half, bridging the third and fourth quarters with a 35-13 advantage on the way to a 101-85 rout of the Sixers at TD Garden.
(PHOTO: Boston Celtics Brandon Bass celebrates a dunk in the third period against the Philadelphia 76ers during Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Semifinals on Monday, May 21, 2012 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.)
The Sixers, trailing in the series three games to two, will try to stave off elimination Wednesday in Game 6 at the Wells Fargo Center.
Brandon Bass scored 18 of his career-high 27 points in the third quarter, when Boston outscored the Sixers, 28-16. Rajon Rondo notched his fourth double-double of the series (13 points, 14 assists), Kevin Garnett finished with 20 points and Paul Pierce added 16 for Boston.
The Sixers, who got off to a hot start, wasted the best performance of the postseason from Elton Brand, who finished with 19 points. Evan Turner finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Lavoy Allen added 12 points for the Sixers.
The Sixers took a 55-49 lead on Brand’s 13-foot jumper with 10 minutes, 6 seconds to play in the third. But Bass responded with a short jumper that commenced the Boston run, which concluded in the fourth quarter on Rondo’s three-point play with 7:37 left in the game.
The biggest advantage for Boston came at the free throws line. Boston converted 26 of 33 free throws. Conversely, the Sixers were just 10 for 16 from the line
After coming from 18 points down — including trailing 14-0 at the start of Game 4 — the Sixers came out determined to get a good start in Boston, and they succeeded.
The Sixers began the night shooting well from the field, connecting on almost 55 percent of their field goals in a first half that featured nine lead changes. Brand, who has struggled mightily with his offense in the playoffs and particularly in the second round, led the Sixers, who led 50-57 at halftime, with 12 early points.
The Celtics wanted to get Garnett off to a quick start in Game 5, and they succeeded as Garnett, who scored just nine points in their last meeting, had 14 by halftime.
