Celtics Beat Nets 105-94 in Playoff Tune-Up

Boston prepares for first-round matchup with Atlanta
By Doug Sweeney,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 16, 2008 10:21 PM CDT
Celtics Beat Nets 105-94 in Playoff Tune-Up
Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett, right, and Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce, left, laugh while watching the scoreboard screen during a time out in the second half.   (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Second-stringer Leon Powe scored a career-high 27 points, adding 11 rebounds for his sixth career double-double, and the Boston bench helped beat the New Jersey Nets 105-94 Wednesday night while the Celtics starters took it easy in their final tune-up before the playoffs. Tony Allen scored 18 for Boston, which finished 66-16 for the best record in the NBA.

The Celtics will play Atlanta, the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, in the first round of the postseason. Richard Jefferson scored 24 points, and Nenad Krstic scored 13 with a season-high 12 rebounds. The Nets ended up 34-48, missing the playoffs for first time since 2001. Kevin Garnett scored eight points in 14 minutes and Paul Pierce scored seven in 17. (More basketball stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X