Boston at Atlanta

[Real Deal]

TIME: 7:00 PM ET

TV: NBALP

[Built Ford Tough]

http://sports.cbsimg.net/u/photos/basketball/nba/img21503890.jpg

 

ATLANTA -- After listening to Doc Rivers lecture the Boston Celtics at halftime, Paul Pierce told his teammates to respect their coach and follow orders.

 

"We were kind of bickering at each other a little bit too much, figuring out what defense we were going to run," Pierce said. "And I just had to say that the fight ain't with one another. It's against the other team on the court."

 

The Celtics responded in the second half, with Rajon Rondo finishing off a triple double as Boston rallied for an 89-81 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.

 

Pierce scored 17 of his 26 points in the third quarter as the Celtics erased a 19-point deficit and went on to consecutive wins for the first time since late November against Oklahoma City and Orlando. Rondo had 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

 

Boston, which beat Indiana 94-75 on Friday night, had lost four straight road games.

 

Rivers insisted that despite the first-half struggles against the Hawks, the game plan would not change.

 

"I was like, `This ain't it, don't get mad at Doc, he's coaching,"' Pierce said. "We've got to get mad at this other team."

 

Lou Williams scored 21 of his 28 points in the first half for Atlanta, which has lost two straight. Jeff Teague added 17 points, and Josh Smith, who was 2 for 12 in the second half, finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

 

The Hawks got off to a fast start, then fell apart in the third quarter as Boston began doubling ballhandlers on the perimeter and clamping down on Atlanta inside.

 

"They just climbed up in us defensively," Teague said. "They got physical and they brought pressure and got us out of our comfort zone. We just didn't respond."

 

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20130105_BOS@ATL