BOSTON — The Boston Celtics, suddenly on the cusp of the playoff hunt despite dealing off Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green, blew most of a 26-point lead but held off the Philadelphia 76ers 107-96 for their third straight win Friday night.
The Celtics, who started play 2 1/2 games out of the eighth Eastern Conference playoff spot, led by 26 in the first half but saw that lead cut to three with 7:39 left in the game. Philadelphia charged back even though it was missing its two leading scorers, guards Tony Wroten (knee surgery) and Michael Carter-Williams (toe).
But the second straight 3-pointer by guard Marcus Thornton and two straight follows by forward Jared Sullinger (one a three-point play) kept the Sixers from completing their comeback as Boston led all the way.
Boston goes for its first four-game winning streak of the season at Milwaukee Saturday night.
Any chance Philadelphia had of winning the game was likely lost because of the Sixers’ poor free throw shooting. They missed four straight with the game within reach and were just 15 of 31 for the game, including 1 of 8 in the fourth quarter.
Sullinger, starting for the first time in the last three home games because this time he showed up on time for the shoot-around, led the Celtics with 22 points, eight rebounds and a career-high seven assists.
Thornton came off the bench with 16 points and five rebounds, while center Tyler Zeller, also off the bench, had 16 points and nine boards and fellow sub Jae Crowder 11 points and six rebounds. Guard Avery Bradley continued his hot streak with 18 points, while forward Brandon Bass added 13 points and five rebounds.
Forward Luc Mbah a Moute led the Sixers with 18 points while forward Robert Covington and swingman Hollis Thompson both had 16.
The Celtics, still playing without injured forwards Kelly Olynyk (ankle) and Tayshaun Prince (hip), led 45-19 midway through the second quarter and had an 18-point advantage at halftime. But they converted just four field goals in the third quarter.
Boston jumped to a 9-0 lead in the first 1:58.
NOTES: G Michael Carter-Williams, who hails from nearby Hamilton, Mass., said he was “crushed” that he missed the game with a toe injury and couldn’t play in front of family and friends. The Sixers, who were without an experienced point guard, said Carter-Williams also might miss Saturday night’s home game against the Charlotte Hornets. … G Phil Pressey played for the Maine Red Claws of the D-League on Thursday night, registering 34 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and three steals. Pressey, who had logged just 17 minutes in the previous six games for the Celtics, was talking about his performance before Friday’s game and teammate Gerald Wallace shouted from nearby: “Ball hog.” … Speaking of Wallace, the forward is a big Patriots fan who took to the streets to witness the team’s parade Wednesday. … Rookie G Tim Frazier made his NBA debut after signing a 10-day contract with the Sixers. … The Celtics are at Milwaukee on Saturday night.
Timberwolves 90, Grizzlies 89
MINNEAPOLIS — Ricky Rubio scored the final five points of the game, including a pair of free throws with 10 seconds remaining, lifting the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 90-89 win over the Memphis Grizzlies at Target Center on Friday.
The win marked the first time the Timberwolves won back-to-back games this season. It also snapped the Grizzlies’ eight-game winning streak.
Minnesota trailed by six with just over a minute left before guard Andrew Wiggins made a pair of free throws to make it an 89-85 game. After a miss on the other end, forward Thaddeus Young hustled to get an offensive rebound, feeding Rubio for a 3-pointer from the right elbow to make it a one-point game with 34 seconds left.
After Rubio swiped the ball from forward Zach Randolph, drawing a foul in the process, Rubio drained both free throws for the lead.
After two timeouts, another Rubio steal iced the game.
Playing in his third game back after missing nearly three months with an ankle injury, Rubio finished with 17 points, five assists and five rebounds.
Earlier in the quarter, Rubio finished with a fast-break layup. After crashing to the floor, Rubio grabbed at his left ankle and hobbled off the floor to the locker room. He returned to the game a few minutes later to a standing ovation from the crowd. Rubio missed 46 games with a left ankle injury, returning to action on Monday.
All five Timberwolves starters finished in double figures, led by Wiggins’ 18 points. Young finished with 14 points and eight rebounds.
Tied at 43 at the half, Minnesota started the second half on a 10-3 run, capping the stretch on Rubio’s step-back three, giving the Timberwolves a 53-46 lead.