The Celtics got some much needed work for their offense on Wednesday night, efficiently dispatching the Indiana Pacers, 92-80, at TD Garden. Paul Pierce broke out of a mini-slump with 20 points and five assists and Jeff Green had 19 points and three blocks off the bench for the C's, who shot 47 percent from the floor in scoring over 90 points for just the second time in their last six games.
The Celts looked stuck in their recent offensive morass in the early going, shooting just 7-of-17 and scoring only 15 points in the first quarter. But Green, who had 17 in the first half, leading the Celts to a 32-point second quarter. That output sparked the offense, which put up 27 more in the third quarter and built a 16-point lead before coasting home.
Rajon Rondo had eight assists for the Celts but didn't score in taking only two shots. He only had to play 30 minutes though, as the C's had this one in hand for the majority of the final quarter. Ray Allen scored 12 points for the C's, including a couple of big, third quarter 3's, while Glen Davis pitched in with nine points and nine rebounds. Delonte West also had a strong showing in his first game back from a sprained ankle that's kept him out the past eight games, drilling a shot-clock beating jumper in the third quarter and providing a highlight reel worthy block of a layup attempt by the Pacers Brandon Rush.
Indiana shot just 37.5 percent and looked tired playing their third game in four nights. Danny Granger led the Pacers with 15 points but shot just 5-of-16 from the floor. Josh McRoberts was probably the Pacers best player overall, scoring 14 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, five offensive, in 22 minutes off the bench. Rookie Paul George scored 15 points while point guard Darren Collison put up 10 points and nine assists in the loss.
The Celtics, who tied the idle Chicago Bulls for first place in the Eastern Conference with the win, now hit the road for a back-to-back set against the Houston Rockets and the New Orleans Hornets on Friday and Saturday nights.