After falling behind at the end of the 1st quarter, the Boston Celtics ramped up their defense and used a 22-2 run to close out the 2nd quarter as they held off the Chicago Bulls to win 109-99 in front of a sold-out TD Banknorth Garden to advance to the second round of the NBA Playoffs.

The Celtics will take on the #3 seeded Orlando Magic in the 2nd round in a series that starts on Monday night in Boston.

Coming off a huge Game 6 that saw him score 51 points, Ray Allen followed with 23 points to lead the Celtics. Paul Pierce added 20 points while Glen “Big Baby” Davis added 15. Kendrick Perkins chipped in with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

For the first time all series, the Celtics got some good play from their bench as Eddie House had 16 points and Brian Scalabrine added 8.

Ben Gordon led all scorers in the game with 33 points. Derek Rose finished with 18 points and after a slow start, Kirk Hinrich added 16. Joakim Noah added 7 points and 15 rebounds before fouling out late in the 4th quarter.

It was one of the best first round series in NBA history. But the question remains, will the Celtics be too tired to take on the Magic on Monday night?

Without Kevin Garnett to cover Orlando Magic, things could be tough for them. Let’s hope their legs are back for Monday night’s game.

Chicago Bulls @ Boston Celtics Game 7 5.2.09 box score

Boston Celtics: In yet another epic battle between the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls that saw the game go to three overtimes, it was the Bulls who would come out on top 128-127 in three overtimes despite a playoff career-high of 51 points for Ray Allen. John Salmon had 35 points to lead the Bulls and Derrick Rose added 28 and had a key blocked shot on Rajon Rondo.  Glen “Big Baby” Davis had another great game with 23 points and Paul Pierce had 22 points before fouling out late in the 3rd overtime. Rondo finished with 8 points but had 19 assists. The series now moves back to Boston for a Game 7 on Saturday night. [ESPN.com]

After playing two close games with the Chicago Bulls, the Boston Celtics finally brought their “A” game.

Paul Pierce scored 24 points in 27 minutes to help the Celtics to a big first half that helped them to an easy 107-86 win over the Bulls at the United Center in Chicago. The win for Celtics gives them a 2-1 advantage in their best-of-7 series.

Rajon Rondo showed no ill effects from the ankle injury as he had 20 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals. Game 2 hero Ray Allen had 18 points while Glen “Big Baby” Davis had a monster game as well with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 6 steals and 3 blocks. Stephon Marbury came off the bench to add 13 points and 5 assists.

The Bulls were led by Ben Gordon who had 15 points and John Salmons and Kirk Hinrich who had 14 points each. NBA Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose was held to 9 points.

Rondo was carried off the court at the end of the game by Bill Walker but is fine. Rondo said after the game that his feet were hurting so he got a lift off the court.

The two teams are back in action on Sunday in Game 4 at the United Center at 1 PM.

Boston Celtics @  Chicago Bulls Game 3 4.23.09 box score

For most of the second half, you could have sworn that Ray Allen was wearing a home UConn Huskies uniform and that Ben Gordon was wearing an away Huskies uniform with the battle that they put on.

Gordon may have scored more points (42 to 30 for Allen) but it was Allen and the Boston Celtics who had the last laugh as his three-pointer with 2 seconds left gave them an 118-115 win over the Chicago Bulls at the TD Banknorth Garden.

The win for the Celtics ties the series at 1 after falling to the Bulls on Saturday afternoon.

Trailing 112-111 with a minute to go in the game, the Bulls called a timeout to set up a play. They came out of the timeout and Gordon was able to hit a 20-footer to put the Bulls back up by 1.  Rajon Rondo then missed a 17-footer but got his own rebound and hit Allen who nailed a three to put the Celtics back up by 2.

After another timeout by the Bulls, Gordon hit a 16-foot jumper to tie the game at 115 with 12 seconds left. The Celtics called time to set up a play for Allen. They inbounded the ball and Rondo hit Allen who nailed the three with Joakim Noah in his face to give the Celtics the win. The Bulls were out of timeouts and could only muster a 50-foot shot by Tyrus Thomas that wasn’t even close.

Glen “Big Baby” Davis had a terrific game finishing with 26 points and 9 rebounds. Despite injuring his ankle in the first half, Rondo came back out and had a monster game finishing with a triple-double of 19 points, 12 rebounds and 16 assists while Paul Pierce added 18 points and Kendrick Perkins had 16 points and 12 rebounds.

The Celtics also lost Leon Powe to a left knee injury during the game and the inital reports are that it’s not good.

John Salmons added 15 points and Brad Miller came off the bench to score 16 points. Noah ended up with 13 points and Derrick Rose had just 10.

The series shifts back to Chicago for Games 3 and 4. Game 3 will be on Thursday at 8 PM.

Chicago Bulls @ Boston Celtics 4.20.09 Game 2 box score

COMCAST SPORTSNET HAS EXTENSIVE FIRST ROUND GAME COVERAGE, PRE & POST FOR EVERY GAME AND EXCLUSIVE WEB COVERAGE

Legendary Tandem Mike Gorman & Tommy Heinsohn To Call Six Celtics-Bulls First Round Games To Tip Off Comcast SportsNet’s Drive for 18 Coverage

BURLINGTON, MA – The NBA playoffs tip off on Saturday, and Comcast SportsNet will have the most extensive coverage of the Boston Celtics-Chicago Bulls series starting with the Game 1, Saturday at 11:30 a.m.

Legendary telecast tandem Mike Gorman (play-by-play) and Tommy Heinsohn (color) will call Celtics-Bulls Games 1-3 and if necessary 5-7 with Greg Dickerson providing courtside reports. Before and after each game, Gary Tanguay will host expanded one-hour editions of Celtics Pre-Game Live and Post Game Live. Donny Marshall will provide expert analysis. All Comcast SportsNet Celtics telecasts are available in High Definition.

First round games, dates and times are:

Sat, April 18

Game 1 – Celtics vs. Bulls

Mike Gorman (play-by-play), Tommy Heinsohn (color) and Greg Dickerson (courtside)

12:30 p.m.

Mon, April 20

Game 2 – Celtics vs. Bulls

Mike Gorman (play-by-play), Tommy Heinsohn (color) and Greg Dickerson (courtside)

7 p.m.

Thu, April 23

Game 3 – Celtics @ Bulls

Mike Gorman (play-by-play), Tommy Heinsohn (color) and Greg Dickerson (courtside)

8 p.m.

Sun, April 26

Game 4 – Celtics @ Bulls

Celtics Pre-Game Live & Celtics Post-Game Live

12 p.m.

*Tue, April 28

Game 5 – Celtics vs. Bulls

Mike Gorman (play-by-play), Tommy Heinsohn (color) and Greg Dickerson (courtside)

TBD

*Thu, April 30

Game 6 – Celtics @ Bulls

Mike Gorman (play-by-play), Tommy Heinsohn (color) and Greg Dickerson (courtside)

TBD

*Sat, May 2

Game 7 – Celtics vs. Bulls

Mike Gorman (play-by-play), Tommy Heinsohn (color) and Greg Dickerson (courtside)

TBD

* If necessary

CSNNE.com

Comcast SportsNet will extend its on-air coverage with interactive coverage on CSSNE.com. Web coverage will include in-game chats featuring Tanguay and Marshall, Doc Rivers and player post-game interviews, Greg Dickerson’s post-game recap video, Mike Gorman’s next game video preview. CSNNE will also feature exclusive content from editors of Celtics Stuff Live including their downloadable post-game podcaps and their Sunday night weekly internet radio show from 8 p.m. to 10.

Celtics Now – Playoff Editions

Comcast SportsNet’s 30-minute magazine show Celtics Now hosted by Michael Holley will feature special playoff editions throughout the playoffs. Each show will include exclusive player interviews; a weekly panel featuring a Celtics official, a member of the media and a Celtics super fan; “HolleyWould”, Holley’s take on league news; and “Courtvision” Donny Marshall’s breakdown on key plays for the week. Celtics Now runs every Wednesday at 6 p.m. and repeats throughout the week.

[youtube width=”480″ height=”295″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trHB0UxavmU[/youtube]

Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge suffered a minor attack this afternoon and is reported to be resting comfortably in a Boston area hospital.

Ainge woke up Thursday morning with chest pains and was taken to the hospital. Doctors later inserted a stent to unclog an artery that was 100 percent clogged.

Ainge will be in the hospital for a few days and will probably miss the Celtics’ playoff opener against the Bulls on Saturday. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Best wishes to Ainge on a speedy recovery.

Celtics’ GM Has Heart Attack [WCVB-TV5]

Boston Celtics: In what could be a first round playoff preview, the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 100-98 without Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Paul Pierce led all scorers with 31 points while Tony Allen had 18 points. Glen “Big Baby” Davis had 15 points, Rajon Rondo had 11 and Leon Powe returned to the lineup to add 10 points. Andre Iguodala paced the 76ers with 25 points. Thaddeus Young added 18 points and Andre Miller chipped in with 15. The Celtics head back to Beantown to finish off the regular season against the Washington Wizards tomorrow night. [ESPN.com]

Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce was a monster in the second half, scoring 21 of his 28 points to help the Boston Celtics to a 105-98 win over the Miami Heat at the TD Banknorth Garden. The win coupled with the Orlando Magic’s loss to the NY Knicks gives the Celtics a 2-game lead for second place in the Eastern Conference. The Cleveland Cavailiers clinched the top spot tonight so the best the Celtics can do is the 2 seed. Glen “Big Baby” Davis added 22 points and former UConn Husky Ray Allen had 21. Rajon Rondo chipped in with 7 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. Dwyane Wade led the Heat with 31 points and 9 assists while Michael Beasley had 23 points and Jermaine O’Neal had 16. The Celtics have three games left in the season and head out on a 2-game trip that starts out with a matchup in Cleveland on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 PM on ABC. [ESPN.com]

Boston Celtics: After enjoying a four day respite, the Boston Celtics came into tonight’s game with 4 days of rest and it helped as they were able to hold off the New Jersey Nets for a 106-104 win to maintain their one game lead over the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference. Rajon Rando led the way 31 points and had 5 rebounds and 9 assists while Eddie House came off the bench to score 15 points. Former UConn Husky Ray Allen and Kendrick Perkins both added 12 points. Vince Carter led the Nets with 33 points and 12 rebounds while Devin Harris had 16. The Celtics will be back in action on Friday night at the TD Banknorth Garden when Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat come to town. [ESPN.com]