Hunter helps Sixers overcome Celtics

Louis Williams scored 18 points, tying a career-high, and Joe Smith added 16 for Philadelphia, which has won three in a row and four of its last five games. Willie Green registered 12 points and Samuel Dalembert 11 for the 76ers, who outscored Boston 55-36 in the second half.

Ryan Gomes scored 26 points and Gerald Green added 22 for Boston, which has lost five straight games. Allan Ray donated 15 points and Rajon Rondo 12 for the Celtics, who will be without Paul Pierce for the remainder of the season due to a sore left elbow.

The 6-foot-6, 230-pound forward/guard had surgery on the elbow before the season and had an infection in it earlier in the season. He has not seen action since a 105-96 double-overtime win over Orlando on March 28.

After the Celtics recaptured the lead on two Leon Powe free throws and a Ray jumper, Philadelphia rattled off six straight points to take the lead for good 84-80 with 8:09 remaining.

A Gomes triple pulled Boston within three, 92-89, with 4:31 left, but Miller scored four in a row and the 76ers never looked back

Philadelphia shot 67.7 percent while Boston made 37.8 percent in the second half.

Philadelphia opened the game with an 8-2 run, highlighted by a Hunter dunk. Boston battled back and used a 12-0 run late in the frame to take a 29-20 lead after one quarter.

The 76ers pulled within two, 37-35 midway through the second period thanks to an 11-2 run, capped by a Williams driving layup. The Celtics responded with an 11-2 run of their own and led 48-37 with a little over 2 1/2 minutes to go in the stanza.

Boston shot 54.1 percent and led 58-47 at the half.

The 76ers fought back in the third and tied the game 76-76 on Hunter’s dunk with 40 second left in the frame. Smith hit a hook shot to open the final quarter putting the 76ers ahead 78-76 for the first time since the first quarter.

Game Notes

Boston’s Brian Scalabrine missed his 10th straight game Wednesday with a strained left hamstring and will sit out the remainder of the season..Delonte West missed his fifth game with a sprained left ankle and Al Jefferson sat out his sixth with a bruised left knee...Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala (knee) and Kyle Korver (wrist) and Rodney Carney (knee) all did not play due to injuries. All three also missed Philadelphia’s win over Indiana Tuesday as well.