The Boston Celtics notched a pivotal Game Five victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night, 110-85, thanks to a very solid performance in the first half.

Paul Pierce led with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists and Rajon Rondo tallied 12 points and 7 dimes in the win for Boston, who hit 53% of their shots and outrebounded Atlanta by eleven at home.

Joe Johnson starred for the Hawks with 21 points, while rookie Al Horford added 14 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists  in the defeat.

Atlanta shot just 40% from the floor and turned the ball over four more times than Boston.

Kevin Garnett and Johnson were whistled for technical fouls late in the third quarter for jawing at one another following a questionable foul that was called on Pierce.

Things started to get intense towards the end of the second quarter when Horford flagrantly fouled Garnett.

Josh Smith received a technical foul in the final minutes of the loss, and coach Mike Woodson promptly removed his stars to avoid the risk of injury or suspension.

Game Six will be held in Atlanta on Friday night as the Celtics look to move on into the second round.

Sonics rookie Kevin Durant will be named the league's Rookie of the Year on Thursday, beating out Hawks' rookie Al Horford for the honor, Percy Allen of the Seattle Times is reporting.

The source which revealed the information did so anonymously since the official announcement is not expected to come until Thursday.

Durant led all rookies in scoring, assists and free-throw percentage, and will become the first Sonic to receive the honor.

RealGM Note: Horford had a higher season FIC than Durant (882 to 763) and a higher per 40 FIC (13.9 to 11.0).

NBA spokesman Tim Frank has said there would be no fines or suspensions for a Game 4 altercation that resulted in double technicals to both the Celtics and the Hawks, the Associated Press is reporting.

"The game's emotional for everyone," Celtics' Coach Doc Rivers said after the team's workout but before the league's decision was announced. "It's easy to say, 'Just step away.' We, as a team, have to stop putting the league in a position where they have to make a decision. That's on us; that's not on the league."

Kevin Garnett was particularly lucky to escape reprimand, after pushing referee Ed Rush when he tried to make peace between Garnett and Hawk Zaza Pachulia.

"The referee grabbed me," Garnett said.

Boston's Kevin Garnett could be suspended for Game Five against the Hawks if it is determined that he threw an elbow at referee Eddie F. Rush, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Garnett and Zaza Pachulia of the Hawks both received technical fouls during an altercation just before halftime of Game Four on Monday.

The league is also looking into whether or not Kendrick Perkins and Marvin Williams left the bench during the incident, which could also lead to suspensions.

The Atlanta Hawks stunned the Boston Celtics on Monday night, winning Game Four 97-92 to tie their best-of-seven series at two games apiece.

Joe Johnson had 35 points and 5 assists and Josh Smith added 28 points and 6 rebounds for the Hawks, who shot 48% from the floor and outscored Boston 32-17 in the fourth quarter.

Ray Allen scored 21 points and Kevin Garnett added 20 points and 8 rebounds for the Celtics, who forced sixteen turnovers and got 14 points and 10 assists from Rajon Rondo.

The Celtics led by ten points after the third quarter, but seemed to become complacent in the final twelve minutes.

Atlanta attempted fifteen more free throws than Boston, largely because of some desperation fouls in the final moments.

Johnson and Smith scored all of the Hawks points in the fourth quarter, leading them to the come-from-behind victory.

The pivotal Game Five will be Wednesday night in Boston.

Hawks' guard/forward Joe Johnson said on Monday that he thinks the Celtics quit in the fourth quarter of Game Three, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"I think in the fourth quarter they really couldn't make a run on us. They'd come down, and we'd get a stop and then get a score. We kept making big shot after big shot, and I thought they just finally gave up a little bit," Johnson said.

- ATL 102, BOS 93
The Atlanta Hawks notched an impressive victory over the Boston Celtics on Saturday night in Game Three of their best-of-seven series.

Josh Smith posted 27 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists and Joe Johnson tallied 23 points, 7 boards and 7 dimes for the Hawks, who made 47% of their shots and outrebounded Boston by five in the win.

Kevin Garnett had 32 points and 10 rebounds and Paul Pierce added 17 points and 7 assists for the Celtics, who shot 43% on the night while turning the ball over just eleven times.

Game Four will be Monday night in Atlanta as the Hawks look to even up the first round series.

Game FIC Scores
Josh Smith, ATL - 24.9
Kevin Garnett, BOS - 24.6
Al Horford, ATL - 20.5
Joe Johnson, ATL - 19.3

Paul Pierce was able to practice without restriction on Friday and will play in game 3 of the Celtics' opening round of the playoffs against Atlanta, the Associated Press is reporting.

Pierce was body-slammed to the floor in Game 2 on Wednesday and said his back was stiff the next day but fine on Friday.

"I went through a full practice, so there shouldn't be any complications from the other night," Pierce said. "Shoot, I'll be ready for Game 3."

Mike Bibby of the Hawks reportedly planned to insult as many Celtics' fans as he could with his "bandwagon jumpers" comment on Tuesday, according to the Boston Herald.

According to a source close to the Hawks, Bibby hoped that his comments would take the pressure off his younger teammates heading into Game Two in Boston on Wednesday night.

It didn't matter, as the Celtics cruised to a victory at home to take a 2-0 series lead.

- BOS 96, ATL 77
The Boston Celtics easily defeated the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night to take a 2-0 series lead.

Kevin Garnett notched 19 points and 10 rebounds and Rajon Rondo added 12 points and 8 assists for the Celtics, who outrebounded Atlanta by ten and forced twenty-one turnovers.

Josh Smith tallied 13 points and 8 rebounds and Al Horford added 9 points and 9 boards for the Hawks, who made just 38% of their shot attempts and failed to sink a three-pointer in Boston.

The series now shifts to Atlanta, where the Hawks will look to avoid falling into the dreaded 0-3 hole on Saturday.

Game FIC Scores
Rajon Rondo, BOS - 18.0
Kevin Garnett, BOS - 16.5
Josh Smith, ATL - 7.3
Al Horford, ATL - 6.5