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Pierce Has 14 In 3 Quarters, Celtics Beat Bobcats

Charlotte Bobcats' Bismack Biyombo (0) blocks a shot byPaul Pierce (34) in Boston, Saturday, March 16, 2013. The Celtics won 105-88. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Charlotte Bobcats' Bismack Biyombo (0) blocks a shot byPaul Pierce (34) in Boston, Saturday, March 16, 2013. The Celtics won 105-88. (Michael Dwyer/AP)

Paul Pierce had 14 points, eight assists and six rebounds before sitting out the fourth quarter, and the Boston Celtics won their 11th straight at home, beating the Charlotte Bobcats 105-88 on Saturday night.

Avery Bradley scored 13 and Courtney Lee had 12 points and five assists as the Celtics beat the Bobcats for the first time in three meetings this season. Two of the Bobcats' NBA-low 14 wins came against the Celtics, including a 100-74 blowout in Charlotte on Tuesday.

Kevin Garnett sat out with a strained left thigh muscle, but the Celtics had more than enough to overwhelm the Bobcats this time.

Jeff Green and Brandon Bass scored 10 apiece as all five starters were in double figures.

Jason Terry led Boston's reserves with 15 points and Shavlik Randolph, signed earlier in the week to his second 10-day contract, had six points and a team-high eight rebounds.

All 11 players who dressed for Boston scored at least five points.

Jannero Pargo led Charlotte with 18 points. Gerald Henderson had 16 points, Kemba Walker scored 14 and Josh McRoberts pulled down 10 rebounds for the Bobcats, who lost for the 12th time in 13 games. Charlotte's only win during that stretch was Tuesday against the Celtics, when Pierce rested.

Pierce rested again Saturday, but only after 23 minutes of strong play. He also had three blocks.

Boston closed the second quarter on an 8-2 run and led 50-43 at halftime, then continued pulling away throughout the third quarter while shooting 65 percent (11 for 17).

The Celtics opened the period 7 for 9 and scored eight straight during a 12-2 run that put Boston up 70-55 on a 3-pointer by Lee. Pierce added a 3-pointer with 3:24 left, then headed to the bench with the Celtics up 75-57. He stayed right there for the remainder of the game, resting up for the Celtics' showdown Monday with the streaking Miami Heat.

Boston led 83-66 after three and let the reserves open the fourth. Chris Wilcox dunked on an alley-oop and Randolph drove the baseline for a dunk, capping a 9-0 run to start the period and putting Boston ahead 92-88.

Charlotte fell behind 26-24 on Wilcox's dunk 16 seconds into the second quarter and trailed the rest of the way.

Notes: Both teams had nearly identical lines at the end of the first quarter - shooting 10 for 19, making 2 of 4 3-pointers and 2-of-2 foul shots in the 24-all tie. The Celtics had an 11-5 rebounding advantage. ... The TD Garden crew had a quick turnaround, converting the arena in time for the game to start about 3 hours, 45 minutes after the Boston Bruins beat the Washington Capitals 4-1 earlier Saturday. ... Garnett has played 63 of the team's 65 games this season, only missing a win in Phoenix when he was rested after attending the All-Star game. ... Charlotte is 6-28 on the road. ... The Bobcats have never won a season series against the Celtics. ... A photographer was knocked woozy when Charlotte's Bismack Biyombo ran into him on the baseline late in the fourth quarter.

This program aired on March 17, 2013. The audio for this program is not available.

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