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Nets 95, Celtics 83

After Rondo is ejected, Nets defeat Celtics

By Gary Dzen

 |  Globe Staff  

  November 29, 2012

Celtics and Nets players are seen at the beginning of a fight near the end of the first half that led to the ejection of three players.

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Celtics and Nets players are seen at the beginning of a fight near the end of the first half that led to the ejection of three players.

The Celtics lost the game and may have lost Rajon Rondo for a few more after a fight broke out during the second quarter of Brooklyn’s 95-83 win Wednesday night at TD Garden.

The Nets used a 38-12 run over a 13-minute span in the first and second quarters to take a 47-26 lead with 3:49 remaining in the second. With 25.9 seconds to go in the half Kevin Garnett was fouled by Brooklyn’s Kris Humphries. Rondo came to Garnett’s defense, shoving Humphries and setting off a fight that spilled over into the first few rows of the stands. Rondo and Humphries were ejected; Brooklyn’s Gerald Wallace, who already had one technical foul, received a second and was tossed. Garnett received a technical. In addition to losing Rondo, the Celtics had nine turnovers in the second quarter.

The home team fared better in the second half but the hole was too much to overcome. The Nets shot just 40 percent from the field in the win. Brooklyn had 16 offensive rebounds after getting 18 the first time these teams played. Jerry Stackhouse had 17 points for the Nets. Garnett finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds for Boston.

Adding injuries to insult, Chris Wilcox left the game in the first half with an illness. Jeff Green left in the second with what the team called a sprained knee but returned to the game. Courtney Lee had his left wrist attended to after taking a hard hit from Reggie Evans but also returned. With the win the Nets improved to 10-4, while the Celtics dropped to 8-7.