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BOSTON: The Boston Celtics rallied for a 96-89
victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday to move within one
game of advancing in the National Basketball Association playoffs.
Kevin Garnett scored eight of his
26 points in a furious third quarter, and Rajon Rondo finished with
20 points and 13 assists as the Celtics stayed perfect at home this
postseason.
With the victory, the Celtics
took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 Eastern Conference series, from
which the winner will advance against the Detroit Pistons in the
conference finals.
Paul Pierce had a team-high 29
points—including eight on free throws in the final 1:23 seconds.
Game 6 will be on Friday in
Cleveland where the Celtics haven’t won since 2004.
“We’ve got some work cut out
for us as we go out here on this road and try to close this out,
which is the most important thing for us right now,” Pierce said.
The Celtics are 0-5 on the road
in the playoffs, but have dominated at home.
Cleveland superstar LeBron James
looked like he might turn the tables early. He scored 11 points in
the first quarter and was up to 23 when a jump shot late in the
second quarter stretched the Cavaliers’ lead to 43-29.
--AFP
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