After building a large third-quarter lead at home against the lowly 76ers, Boston let its11-game winning streak come to an end in a 98-97 shocker at the TD Garden on Friday night.
The setback is the Green's first since Nov. 20, yet it drops them to 2-4 on Friday nights at home.
Boston was leading by 11 points midway through the second quarter when Rasheed Wallace was ejected after picking up his league-leading ninth and 10th technical fouls. The Celtics still managed to extend the lead to 15 early in the third, but Wallace was obviously missed in the second half as the C's struggled to secure defensive rebounds.
The Sixers grabbed five offensive boards in the third, and embarked on runs of 10-0 and 12-4. They had five more offensive rebounds in the fourth, including a go-ahead tip-in by Elton Brand with 7.7 seconds left.
Paul Pierce, who also blew a dunk down the stretch, missed a jumper with a few seconds left and Ray Allen was off on another at the buzzer as Boston lost for the first time in its last seven meetings with Philadelphia.
Kevin Garnett led the C's with 21 points. Kendrick Perkins added 12 and a season-high 16 rebounds.
76ers 98, Celtics 97
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Dec. 18, 2009
Headliner: Due to injuries and a lack of production, it hasn't been the best of times for Elton Brand. He signed a big deal with the Sixers before last season, and he finally has reason to smile after this one.
Brand scored a season-high 23 points in just 27 minutes off the bench and it was his tip-in that proved to be the difference.
Unsung Hero: In his second game back from an MCL sprain in his left knee, Marreese Speights looked very hesitant early and at one point grimaced a bit as he came down from a shot. But the second-year big man was gigantic down the stretch.
Speights had nine points in the fourth quarter, including a pair of free throws that gave the Sixers a 96-95 lead with 29.4 seconds left. He finished with 10 rebounds, including five on the offensive end.
Scrub: There's no denying that Wallace's mouth had a lot to do with this stunning result.
Upset at being whistled for three fouls in a span of less than three minutes, Wallace picked up a technical during a timeout and then had to be restrained as he went after the official.
Wallace, who had five points in limited minutes, was ejected, and the C's top defensive rebounder off the bench was certainly missed.
Turning Point: Wallace's ejection was huge, but the Sixers' comeback began with some sloppy play by the hosts early in the third.
First, Willie Green had a three-point play and then converted a turnover by Ray Allen into an impressive dunk to cut the Celtics' lead to 59-49. Following another Boston turnover, Andre Iguodala followed with a 3-pointer and Philly's deficit remained in single digits thereafter until Speights tied it midway through the fourth.
Up Next: The second leg of what once looked like a soft three-game homestand takes place on Sunday, when Boston hosts Minnesota, which has the worst record in the Western Conference.
