Celtics subdue Hawks

Paul Pierce added 17 points for the Celtics, who snapped a two-game skid and won for just the ninth time at home this season. Rajon Rondo chipped in with 13 points and 10 assists, while Kendrick Perkins had 12 points and 12 rebounds.

"Defensively, it was phenomenal on our part," Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "We didn’t come out the first 3-4 minutes and play great defense, but after that I thought that we were terrific."

Josh Smith tallied 19 points and six boards for the Hawks, who lost for the second time in six games. Marvin Williams and Anthony Johnson each finished with 17 points and Williams also pulled down eight rebounds.

"Unacceptable. We took a back seat tonight to the Celtics," Atlanta coach Mike Woodson said. "I thought they played well from the beginning to end. We came out ready to play and as soon as they hit us we went the other way and that is kind of disappointing because we have been playing pretty good basketball. We played nothing like the way we played the last four games."

The Celtics took a slim 26-25 advantage after the opening 12 minutes and extended their lead to 50-41 at intermission.

Boston then put things away with a brilliant third quarter. A 14-0 run featuring consecutive Rondo lay-ins gave the Celtics a commanding 70-49 lead with 4:48 left in the frame.

Perkins’ slam about 2 1/2 minutes later gave Boston a 27-point cushion, 80-53.

The Celtics continued to cruise from there and took a comfortable 86-60 lead into the final frame.

The Hawks did manage to close to within 15 points, 88-73, on a pair of Smith free throws with 7:21 left.

But, the Celtics recovered over the next several minutes. Brian Scalabrine buried a turnaround jumper with 5:20 left to extend Boston’s lead back to 20, 95-75.

The Celtics waltzed to the finish line from there.

Game Notes

Atlanta was attempting to win a season-best fifth straight...The Hawks are now 12-22 on the road this season...The Celtics are a dismal 9-23 at home