BOSTON (AP) - Philadelphia coach Doug Collins warned his team about the
Celtics' third-quarter prowess this season.
Perhaps that advisory should have been extended into the fourth quarter as
well.
Leading for most of the game and by as many as 10 early in the fourth, the
76ers could no longer contain Kevin Garnett or Rajon Rondo, who ignited a 23-7
surge to start the final quarter, helping the Celtics steal Game 1 of the
Eastern Conference semifinals with a 92-91 victory Saturday night.
Game 2 is Monday in Boston.
"I think they're the top third-quarter team in the league this year and Coach
really stressed that," Philadelphia forward Elton Brand said. "So, when we
pushed that lead back up to 10, it was just a feeling like we had a chance
there."
Rondo had other ideas.
