BOSTON - Trying (and succeeding) to out-do their terrible first half performance against the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday night, the Boston Celtics shot 26.5 percent on 9-of-34 shooting and trail the Indiana Pacers, 33-25, after one half at TD Garden on Friday night.
Boston, which scored 34 first-half points in the first half of an eventual 89-70 win over the Nets, was tied 14-14 after one quarter and was outscored by Indiana 19-11 in the second quarter to take an eight point lead at the intermission.
Ray Allen, who made his return after missing the game against New Jersey with the flu, led all scorers with eight points for Boston. Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett and Jermaine O'Neal (five rebounds, three blocks) all have four points. Paul Pierce is 1-of-9 shooting with two points in 19 minutes for Boston after scoring a game-high 24 in the win over New Jersey.
Tyler Hansbrough has seven points and three boards to lead the Pacers, who made 13-of-29 field goals to shoot 33.3 percent in the opening half. Roy Hibbert has six points and seven rebounds in 16 minutes for Indiana.
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