NBA : Lackluster Celtics Get Past 76ers

Kevin McHale offered an honest assessment of the Boston Celtics’ 100-85 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers Sunday.

“It was awful,” the Celtic forward said.

The Celtics, backed by 29 points and 17 rebounds from Larry Bird and 26 points from McHale, survived 48 minutes of lackluster play to post their 11th straight victory over Philadelphia.

The 76ers, who scored a National Basketball Assn. season-low 29 first-half points, played their second game without Charles Barkley, who went through pregame drills but sat out because of an injured left ankle.

“I think all morning long we were geared up to go against Charles,” McHale said.

Barkley said: “I wanted to play, but I didn’t think I could after warm-ups. I don’t think I would have changed the outcome, but I would have made a difference.”

The 76ers, also playing without forward Cliff Robinson, shot only 36% from the field, 19% in the second quarter. Robinson missed his fifth straight game with an injured back.

Boston, which shot 45%, never trailed and opened a 76-53 lead early in the final quarter.

“We were never in a position to challenge them,” Philadelphia Coach Matt Guokas said. “When we realized nothing was working, we decided to make it ugly by slowing the tempo, and I think we achieved our goal.”

Celtic Coach K.C. Jones said: “We played ugly basketball, but they played uglier.”

Danny Ainge had 16 points, and Dennis Johnson chipped in 10 for Boston. Maurice Cheeks led Philadelphia with 17 points, and Mike Gminski added 16. It was Philadelphia’s ninth straight road loss.

With McHale scoring 14 of his points in the third quarter, the Celtics turned a 43-29 halftime advantage into a 74-53 lead entering the fourth quarter.

The Celtics opened the fourth quarter with only one starter in the lineup and coasted to their 113th win in their last 119 games at Boston Garden.