Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce, drives the baseline around Toronto Raptors forward James Johnson.
Paul Pierce had 17 points and eight assists and the Boston Celtics crept above .500 for the second time this NBA season, with a 100-64 rout of the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.
Ray Allen and Brandon Bass added 12 points apiece and Avery Bradley scored 11 for the Celtics, who never let go of the lead once Allen's layup 16 seconds into the game put Boston up 2-0.
At 11-10, the Celtics hardly appear bound to hang another banner from the Garden rafters, but they do seem to have adjusted to the lockout-shortened schedule and quick turnaround between games. Boston improved to 6-2 without point guard Rajon Rondo, who has been out with an injured right wrist.
The Celtics led by as much as 40 and the wide margin gave their starters a chance for some much-needed rest after surviving a close call in Cleveland the night before.
The Celtics almost wasted a 22-point lead against the Cavaliers on Tuesday, but never let up on the Raptors.
Jerryd Bayless scored 14 and Ed Davis finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Raptors. They were the only two Toronto players to score in double figures.
Boston won for the sixth time in seven games and showed the consistency that was missing in the previous two, a split of back-to-back games against Cleveland.
The Celtics blew an 11-point lead in the final 4 minutes 25 seconds in an 88-87 loss at home to the Cavaliers last Sunday, ending a four-game winning streak, and nearly did it again in Cleveland. The Celtics led by 16 entering the fourth quarter Tuesday, but managed to hold off the Cavaliers this time, winning 93-90.
There appeared to be no lingering effects from a late flight home when the Celtics took the court Wednesday.
The Celtics shot 62 per cent (23-for-37) in the first half, making seven of 11 three-point shots, while taking a 57-35 halftime lead. Pierce and Sasha Pavlovic hit a pair each from beyond the arc and Kevin Garnett added a three-pointer with a half-second left before the buzzer to give Boston its largest lead of the night.
Pierce also had six of Boston's 17 assists in the half as the Celtics passed the ball on nearly every possession and shared the scoring. Reserve Brandon Bass was the only Boston player to score in double figures in the half with 10 points.
The onslaught continued in the third quarter as Pierce and Allen delivered back-to-back three-pointers during an 11-2 run that put Boston up 77-47 with 3:23 left in the period.
Pierce needs 60 points to tie Larry Bird for second in all-time scoring for the Celtics with 21,791.