8:01 PM, May 21, 2012
With about two minutes left, and his team safely
in line for the win, Brandon Bass walked off the parquet floor at TD Garden to
a standing ovation. Needing a big performance to wash away the taste of a bad
loss, the Celtics got one from an unlikely source. Bass scored 18 of his 27
points in the third quarter and the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia
76ers, 101-85, Monday night to take a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference
semifinal series. The Celtics, behind a 14-2 run led by Bass, turned a six-
point deficit into a six-point lead in about five minutes in the third quarter
and rolled the rest of the way to earn some revenge for Philly's comeback in
Game 4 last Friday. Kevin Garnett added 20 points, Paul Pierce had 16 and
Rajon Rondo scored 13 with 14 assists in the win. Game 6 is Wednesday night in
Philadelphia and Game 7 would be Saturday back in Boston, if necessary. Elton
Brand led the Sixers with 19 points, just seven in the second half, a