Hot Garnett leads Celtics past 76ers

PHILADELPHIA — Kevin Garnett scored 27 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and used a dominant second quarter to help the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 107- 91 on Wednesday and take a 2- 1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Whistled for a costly illegal pick late in a Game 2 loss, Garnett crushed the Sixers early and never let them think about a fourth- quarter rally.

Garnett scored 13 of Boston’s 32 points in the second quarter and the Celtics became the first team to win by double digits. Game 1 and Game 2 were each decided by one point.

Rajon Rondo had 23 points and 14 assists. Paul Pierce, playing with a banged- up knee, had 24 points and 12 rebounds.

Game 4 is Friday in Philadelphia.

Thunder 77 Lakers 75

Kevin Durant scored 22 points and rattled in the goahead basket on a baseline runner with 18 seconds left, and the Oklahoma City Thunder scored the final nine points to rally for a 77- 75 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals Wednesday.

Oklahoma City trailed by seven with two minutes left before surging back with a series of defensive stops by its stars to take a 2- 0 series lead.

Game 3 is Friday night in Los Angeles.

Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum scored 20 points apiece for the Lakers, who came up empty on their last six possessions.