Celtics Vs. Nets Final Score: Boston Rallies Past New Jersey, 94-82

NEWARK - Traffic held up the Boston Celtics on their way to the Prudential Center on Saturday night, and in their haste to get to the arena, they forgot to unload their offense for much of the first half. Fortunately, it arrived in the third quarter.

Boston outscored the New Jersey Nets, 26-13, in the period while holding the Nets to 24 percent from the field to take control of the contest, ultimately capturing a 94-82 win over their division rivals in the middle game of a back-to-back-to-back.

Kevin Garnett powered the team, totaling a game-high 21 points and 12 rebounds. Brandon Bass scored 18 and had 10 boards, Paul Pierce netted 17 points and Avery Bradley chipped in with 18 points. Rajon Rondo scored four but had 15 assists, extending his streak of game with double-digit assists to 21. Greg Stiemsma had six points and nine boards off the bench.

Gerald Green, the former Celtics first-round draft pick, had 15 points to lead New Jersey. MarShon Brooks finished with 13 points and both Deron Williams and Jordan Williams scored 12.

While they weren't held in the teens, the Celtics scored 22 in the opening frame and trailed by six heading into the second quarter. The game was tied at 12 at the 6:50 mark of the first, but the Nets closed out the period with a 16-10 run. New Jersey led 36-31 midway through the second, but three straight assists from Rondo put Boston in the drivers seat, 39-36, with 3:50 to go before the break. A quick 12-9 run from New Jersey -- capped off by a Green three at the buzzer -- made it at 48-48 game at halftime.

The decisive third quarter started with a 9-0 run from the Celts, with five different players scoring. New Jersey would pull within four (59-55 at 6:02), but a balanced scoring attack from Boston swelled the lead up to 15 with 31.2 ticks left in the quarter, and the Celtics would not look back.

Boston wraps up its back-to-back-to-back against the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday.

For more Celtics and Nets coverage, visit our team blogs, CelticsBlog and Nets Daily.

Celtics Vs. Nets Halftime Score: Boston, New Jersey Tied 48-48

NEWARK - A slow first quarter gave way to a solid first-half finish as the Boston Celtics retook the lead in the closing minutes of the first half, but a Gerald Green three at the buzzer tied the game as the C's and New Jersey Nets are locked at 28 after 24 minutes of play at the Prudential Center.

Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Brandon Bass led the charge, scoring 13, 12 and 12 respectively. Rajon Rondo made an impact with (what else?) his passing, amassing seven assists while going scoreless in the half.

Appearing uninterested for much of the first quarter, the Celtics hung around for the first five-plus minutes, and the score was knotted at 12 with 6:50 left. New Jersey took advantage of Boston's lack of defense, closing out the quarter on a 16-10 run to go up 28-22 through twelve minutes. The Nets built the lead to 36-31 by the 5:48 mark, but Rondo helped spark the offense (with, what else, his passing), assisting on three straight baskets to give Boston a 39-36 advantage. New Jersey closed out the half on a 12-9 run to tie the game entering the intermission.

Jordan Williams and Green both had eight points off the bench to lead New Jersey.

For more Celtics and Nets coverage, visit our team blogs, CelticsBlog and Nets Daily.

Celtics Vs. Nets: Ray Allen Out, Brandon Bass In For Boston Saturday

NEWARK - Ray Allen will miss his third straight game for the Boston Celtics as they face the New Jersey Nets on Saturday night at the Prudential Center. Allen is out with a swollen right ankle, and C's head coach Doc Rivers has also ruled Allen out for Sunday's game against the Charlotte Bobcats, the finale of their back-to-back-to-back.

Rivers did say that Allen is "50-50" for Boston's game against the New York Knicks on Tuesday evening at Madison Square Garden in New York City (per Boston Globe's Gary Washburn). Allen last played against the Miami Heat last Tuesday.

Brandon Bass, however, will play on Saturday night, reports team radio play-by-play broadcaster Sean Grande. Bass hyperextended his knee in overtime of the Celtics' game against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday at TD Garden. Bass played through the injury and finished the game with 21 points and 10 rebounds in 42 minutes while helping to lead Boston to a hard-fought 88-86 victory in overtime.

Allen and Jermaine O'Neal are the only inactive for Boston, while Damion James and Brook Lopez are both inactive for New Jersey.

For more Celtics and Nets coverage, visit our team blogs, CelticsBlog and Nets Daily.

Paul Pierce Considers Retirement Following Season

Paul Pierce is considering retirement following this season with the Celtics.

Celtics Vs. Nets: Rajon Rondo, Boston Try To Rebound In New Jersey

Rajon Rondo and the Boston Celtics (34-25) look to rebound from an ugly loss to the Toronto Raptors on Friday night when they face the division rival New Jersey Nets (22-38) at 7:30 p.m. EST on Saturday in New Jersey (CSN/WEEI).