ATLANTA (AP) - Paul Pierce battled through another tough shooting night to score 36
points and the Boston Celtics wiped out Atlanta's 11-point lead in the
second half even without Rajon Rondo, stunning the Hawks 87-80 on
Tuesday in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The series is tied 1-1. Game 3 is on Friday night in Boston, and
Rondo will be back for the Celtics in that one, his shorthanded team
having claimed the home-court edge. The stellar point guard sat out a
one-game suspension for bumping an official in the opener.
The Hawks appeared to be in control when they pushed out to a 65-54
lead late in the third quarter. But Boston sliced it to 66-61 by the end
of the period, and Pierce led a dominating fourth.
