CSNNE Screen Shot via @MrTrpleDouble10
Jeff Green with a reverse alley-oop from Rajon Rondo.Despite repeatedly being warned not to look past a winless Philadelphia 76ers team, the Boston Celtics seemingly sleepwalked through the first 2 ½ quarters of Wednesday's game. Fortunately for Boston, Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green woke the starters up early enough to ensure that Philadelphia didn't get win No. 1 of the season.
In a tied game, Rondo fed Green for a reverse alley-oop in transition midway through the third quarter. Avery Bradley followed with two jumpers, including a 3-pointer as Boston separated a bit en route to a 101-90 triumph at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Celtics trailed by as much as nine in the first half, but their bench initially kept them afloat. Brandon Bass scored 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting and was a team-best plus-21 in plus/minus over 32 minutes of floor time. Marcus Thornton added 13 points -- behind a trio of 3-pointers -- to aid the bench effort.
Jared Sullinger got hot in the second half, scoring 18 of his 22 points after the intermission. He added nine rebounds and four assists. Green kicked in a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds) as well.
• Rondo report: Not one of Rondo's crisper efforts (he had a team-high six turnovers), but he did finish with 9 points, 13 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals over 30:26. Rondo appeared to escape injury despite rolling his ankle a bit in the third quarter.
• Loose balls: Boston stuck with a 10-man rotation. Veteran Gerald Wallace and rookies James Young and Dwight Powell were healthy DNPs. ... Massachusetts natives Nerlens Noel (10 points, 8 rebounds) and Michael Carter-Williams (11 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists) played starting roles for Philadelphia. ... Tony Wroten scored a team-high 21 points for the 76ers off the bench. ... Boston had 32 assists on 41 field goals and the Celtics shot 49.4 percent from the floor. ... Kelly Olynyk won his first jump ball of the season.
• What it means: The Celtics improve to 4-6, while the 76ers dip to 0-11. Boston visits the West-leading Memphis Grizzlies (10-2 overall, 6-0 home) on Friday night to wrap up a brief two-game road trip.
