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Pierce leads balanced attack in Boston's win over Wizards

Nov 18, 2010 - 4:53 AM Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Paul Pierce scored 23 points as all five Boston starters reached double figures in scoring, as the Celtics routed the shorthanded Washington Wizards, 114-83, at TD Garden.

Pierce shot 10-of-16 from the field for the Celtics, who have won all five of their home games this season. Kevin Garnett added 18 points, while Rajon Rondo recorded 12 points and 13 assists.

"We have a lot of pride in protecting our home," Pierce said. "We know we didn't play well at home last year as we did in previous years, so that's something that we want to get back to and trying to establish our home night in and night out."

Shaquille O'Neal provided 13 points, and Ray Allen had 11 in the victory, as Boston shot 65.8 percent from the field (50-of-76).

Nick Young had 20 points off the bench for the Wizards, who played for the second straight game without John Wall, whose injured foot prevented him from suiting up. Al Thornton contributed with 15 points, while Kirk Hinrich and Andray Blatche each had 10 in defeat.

"We couldn't establish anything at all," Wizards head coach Flip Saunders said. "They challenged every pass, every dribble. It was like men playing against boys tonight. They just manhandled us at every spot."

The last lead Washington held in the game was at 12-9, and Boston went ahead for good with an ensuing 6-0 run.

O'Neal's layup made it 15-12, and the Celtics' advantage reached 10 for the first time on Pierce's three-pointer for a 31-21 difference with 1 1/2 minutes left in the first quarter.

Washington trimmed its deficit to 33-28 at the end of 12 minutes and was within three after a Blatche hook shot with 5 1/2 minutes before halftime; however, Boston scored the next 12 points over a 3 1/2-minute span, and a Rondo layup provided the hosts with a 53-38 advantage.

The Celtics' lead stood at 60-44 at halftime and only grew in the second half.

Garnett's basket during the middle of a 6-0 spurt gave Boston a 69-49 lead, and 20 was the margin heading into the fourth quarter, 89-69.

The Wizards managed only 14 points in the fourth, while the Celtics scored 25 to win the game going away.

Game Notes

Boston guard Delonte West, playing for the first time after a league-mandated 10-game suspension for weapons charges over the summer, scored 12 points in his season debut...The Celtics have won eight of the last 12 meetings, including three of four last year...Washington shot a dismal 38.8 percent from the field.