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Celts oust Sixers, to play Miami in Eastern Conference finals

Jimmy Golen | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 13 years, 1 month AGO
by Jimmy Golen
| May 27, 2012 9:00 PM

BOSTON - To Doug Collins, Boston's Big Three is already a memory.

"I don't look at them as the Big Three. I look at them as the Championship Four," the Philadelphia coach said. "Because if you're going to leave Rondo out, you're making a huge mistake."

Rajon Rondo helped his aging teammates keep their season going Saturday night, finishing with 18 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds in Game 7 against the 76ers to lead Boston to an 85-75 victory and into an Eastern Conference finals matchup with the Miami Heat.

The Celtics will open the third round of the NBA playoffs in Miami on Monday night.

"I've already packed," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "We'll be ready. It's going to be a tough turnaround, but we're not an excuse team. We'll be ready on Monday."

Bouncing back from his worst game of the playoffs - and snapping out of a 32-minute slump in which he had just two assists and five points - Rondo scored nine straight Boston points after Paul Pierce fouled out to help the Celtics turn a three-point edge into a double-digit lead.

Rondo had 11 points in the fourth quarter, including his first 3-pointer in five games, made all four of his free throws down the stretch and grabbed his 10th rebound in the final minute - chucking it over his head and into the frontcourt to help the Celtics dribble down the clock.

"He really came through," Sixers guard Jrue Holiday said. "He put the team on his back."

Andre Iguodala scored 18 points, and Holiday and Elton Brand had 15 apiece for the 76ers, who eliminated the top-seeded Chicago Bulls in the first round but couldn't do the same with the Celtics.

Kevin Garnett had 18 points and 13 rebounds for Boston, and Ray Allen hit a pair of fourth-quarter 3-pointers after missing his first five attempts.

"Ray is the ultimate gunslinger," Rivers said. "That's what makes great players great."

ARTICLES BY JIMMY GOLEN

March 19, 2009 11 p.m.

Celtics' Kevin Garnett could miss all of playoffs

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March 19, 2009 11 p.m.

Garnett could miss all of the playoffs

WALTHAM, Mass. - Kevin Garnett isn't ready to start the playoffs, and Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Thursday that there's a strong possibility that he will miss the entire postseason.

March 19, 2009 11 p.m.

Garnett could miss all of the playoffs

WALTHAM, Mass. - Kevin Garnett isn't ready to start the playoffs, and Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Thursday that there's a strong possibility that he will miss the entire postseason.