Hot then cold: Sixers win ugly Game 2

Evan Turner converted a layup with just over 40 seconds remaining to give the Sixers the lead and then converted two free throws with 12 seconds remaining as Philadelphia edged the Celtics, 82-81, Monday night in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series. The series is now tied, 1-1, as it moves to Philadelphia for Game 3 Wednesday night. Kevin Garnett had 15 points and 12 rebounds and Ray Allen had 17 points to lead the Celtics, who shot just 40 percent in losing for just the second time in 19 home games. Garnett was called for an offensive foul with 10 seconds to go as the Celtics tried to set up for a game-tying three.

After Turner drove the lane and converted a layup with 40.4 seconds remaining, Allen's fallaway baseline jumper rimmed out with 28 seconds remaining. Allen and Garnett each hit threes in the final 10 seconds but the Sixers sealed the game at the free throw line. 

The Celtics start out red-hot in Game 2. They made their first four field goals and jumped out on top, 9-0, before Jrue Holiday drained a three. The Celtics made 11-of-22 shots in the opening quarter. But the Sixers showed signs of what was to come, ending the quarter on a 13-10 run, as Boston led by just four, 25-21. 

The Sixers grabbed their first lead early in the second, 29-27, on a Spencer Hawes jumper. While Philadelphia made just 7-of-18 shots from the field, the Celtics were abysmal in the second, making just 5-of-20. But one of those five shots was a Paul Pierce three with 3.1 seconds remaining before halftime as the Celtics grabbed a 38-36 lead heading to the locker room. The Celtics got some bad injury news when Avery Bradley came out of the game with 5:22 left in the second quarter after having his shot blocked by Elton Brand. He left wincing and holding his ailing left shoulder. He had it treated returned in the fourth quarter, converting a layup on his first substitution back in the game.  

Then the Celtics received an even bigger scare on their first basket of the second half. Rondo stole the ball and drove to the basket and converted a layup but fell hard on his back and appeared to land on his right hand. He stayed in the game but was shaking his right hand frequently in the minutes after the fall. The Celtics build their lead to five, 43-38, and then fell ice cold. After going up, 47-43, the Sixers went on an 11-0 run and grabbed a 57-49 lead heading into the fourth. 

But as they did in Game 1, the Celtics showed more discipline and better ability to hit shots, making a run to chip away at Philadelphia's lead. Mickael Pietrus drilled consecutive threes and Garnett hit a jumper to cut the lead down to two, 61-59. Garnett was again huge in the fourth, hitting a three-foot turnaround with 4:34 left to tie the game, 65-65. The two teams traded field goals before the game erupted into a 3-point shooting clinic. Bradley hit a wide-open trey with 2:21 left to put the Celtics up, 72-71. Holiday came back on the next possession with a three to put Philadelphia back up, 74-72, before Ray Allen drained a three with 1:40 left, putting Boston ahead, 75-74. 

The series now shifts to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4 Wednesday and Friday nights at Wells Fargo Center. Game 5 will be back at the Garden next Monday night.

For complete coverage of Game 2 Monday night from the Garden from the team of Paul Flannery, Mike Petraglia, Ben Rohrbach and Ryan Hadfield, visit the Celtics team page at weei.com/celtics and the Green Street blog.