Celtics shut down Heat to win playoff opener

[~IronMan~]

Sun, Apr 18 09:57 AM

Enlarge PhotoBoston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo (R) tries to pass the ball around Miami Heat center... The Boston Celtics shut down the Miami Heat in the fourth quarter to record an 85-76 victory and take a 1-0 lead in their Eastern Conference playoffs first-round series on Saturday.

Kevin Garnett scored 15 points and made nine rebounds for the Celtics before he picked up two technical fouls and was ejected following a fourth quarter scuffle.

Boston trailed 66-64 after three quarters, but held the Heat to 10 points in the fourth.

Dwyane Wade led Miami with 26 points.

Earlier, LeBron James scored 24 points and blocked four shots to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 96-83 win over the Chicago Bulls while the Atlanta Hawks beat Milwaukee 102-92 despite 34 points by the Bucks' Brandon Jennings.

Shaquille O'Neal, back in the lineup after missing nearly two months following thumb surgery, scored 12 points and blocked three shots for Cleveland.

The Denver Nuggets play the Utah Jazz in a late game in the Western Conference playoffs.

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina; Editing by Greg Stutchbury; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)





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