Celtics beat Bobcats 94-82 without 3 star players

By Steve Reed

Associated Press

Published: Sunday, April 15 2012 6:25 p.m. MDT

Boston Celtics' JaJuan Johnson, left, fouls Charlotte Bobcats' Bismack Biyombo, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, April 15, 2012.

Chuck Burton, Associated Press

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Summary

Rajon Rondo had 20 points and 16 assists to help the Boston Celtics beat the Charlotte Bobcats 94-82 Sunday night despite playing without three of their star players.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Rajon Rondo had 20 points and 16 assists to help the Boston Celtics beat the Charlotte Bobcats 94-82 Sunday night despite playing without three of their star players.

Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen were given the night off to rest and did not make the trip to Charlotte, N.C. to face the NBA-worst Bobcats. But the Celtics won anyway as Aaron Bradley and Brandon Bass each scored 22 points.

Greg Stiemsma started in place of Garnett and had six blocks, tying a career-high.

The loss was the Bobcats' 16th straight, tying a dubious franchise record set earlier this season. Gerald Henderson had 22 points in a losing effort for the Bobcats (7-52). If the Bobcats lose their final seven games this season they will finish with the worst single-season winning percentage in NBA history.

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