The homecoming started fast, became very sweet, then devolved into a bit of a nail-biter before it was all said and done. But the Celtics, playing their first game at TD Garden in two weeks, withstood a furious rally and escaped the Phoenix Suns with a 115-103 win. Kevin Garnett had a season-high 28 points on 11-of-13 shooting to go with 11 rebounds and Rajon Rondo added 16 points, 15 assists and five rebounds to lead six Celts in double figures. Boston shot 54 percent from the floor and outrebounded Phoenix 45-33 in winning its sixth game out of seven and snapping a three-game losing streak to the Suns.
The Celtics led by 11 after one and by 20 at halftime, extending that lead to as many as 29 late in the third before seeing their makeshift second unit, which featured rookie Avery Bradley at point guard and newcomer Troy Murphy, who arrived in Boston earlier Wednesday afternoon, let the Suns back into the game. Phoenix, led by newly acquired backup point guard Aaron Brooks' 17 points and seven assists in 17 minutes, got as close as eight in the fourth quarter before the Celts, with their starters back on the floor, were able to finish the game off. The Suns shot just 43 percent from the floor but connected on 12-of-23 from long range, allowing them to get back into the game late.
Paul Pierce scored 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the C's and Ray Allen pitched in with 19 points, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range. Center Nenad Krstic and forward Jeff Green, playing their first home game since last week's trade from Oklahoma City, scored 13 and six points, respectively. Glen Davis contributed 14 points and eight rebounds before leaving the game late in the fourth quarter with a what appeared to be a leg injury. Comcast Sports Net New England's Carolyn Manno reported following the game that Davis wiil undergo an MRI on his left knee on Thursday. Greg Dickerson, also of Comcast Sports Net New England, reported that Davis suffered a left knee patella strain.
Suns star point guard Steve Nash was held to just eight points and seven assists in 27 minutes, as Rondo took him out of his game from the defensive end. Former Boston College star Jared Dudley had 15 points and five rebounds off the bench for the Suns.
The Celtics will next take the floor Friday night against the Golden State Warriors at TD Garden.