Celtics Live Blog: C’s Run Out of Gas in Fourth Quarter, Fall to Pacers

Final: Pacers 107, Celtics 100. It's another disappointing fourth quarter for the Celtics, who run out of gas offensively and let up a 13-6 run to close it out. The inconsistency continues for the C's, who are now 6-6 in their last 12 games.

Roy Hibbert gives a dominating effort for the Pacers in the win, delivering 26 points. The Celtics had no answer for the big fella in the middle.

Paul Pierce drops 23 points with six rebounds; Rajon Rondo adds 22 with eight assists. It's not enough. The C's can't give a complete effort at the tail end of the road back-to-back.

The C's head from Indiana to San Antonio, where they have a day off Tuesday and a practice Wednesday. The Celtics have a showdown with the West-best Spurs on Thursday night.

Fourth quarter, 34.4 seconds, Pacers 106-100: Rajon Rondo comes up with two huge offensive rebounds, eventually leading to a Paul Pierce 3. But it doesn't appear to be enough.

Darren Collison gets a driving layup to put the Pacers up six. Time for the Celtics to get desperate.

Fourth quarter, 1:28, Pacers 102-97: Glen Davis comes up with a couple clutch buckets to keep the Celtics alive, and then Ray Allen makes a nice hustle to play to buy the C's an extra possession. But they're not going to win the game with this kind of composure.

They're chucking the ball all over the floor like a high school team. These aren't the Celtics. The Celtics know how to take care of the basketball and make smart decisions.

Fourth quarter, 4:33, Pacers 100-94: The Pacers just put together three lightning-quick stops and rattled off a 6-0 run. A tie game becomes a six-point lead for the Pacers.

Doc Rivers is frustrated. He calls a timeout.

He's got to inspire his players to give him a perfect final four minutes. There's very little margin for error left now.

Fourth quarter, 5:47, Pacers 94-93: Danny Granger is really getting hot, just in time to keep the Pacers afloat in this fourth quarter. He hits a deadly 16-footer to put the Pacers back in front.

This one should go right down to the wire. Both teams have a lot to play for — the No. 1 seed for Boston, a playoff spot for Indiana. Both teams are working hard to get this one.

Fourth quarter, 7:05, Celtics 93-92: Ray Allen gets a steal and finds Jeff Green in transition for a floater in the lane. Money in the bank.

The Celtics reclaim the lead with a quick 4-0 scoring burst.

Now can they put some stops together?

Fourth quarter, 9:33, Pacers 90-89: The Pacers make their first four field-goal attempts of the fourth quarter, and just like that, they're back in front. Even Jeff Foster is getting in on the action. Remember Jeff Foster?

The C's need to get some better effort on D out of their reserves. Either that, or Doc Rivers should send his starting unit back in there to get the job done.

End of third quarter, Celtics 85-81: Win or lose, the Celtics have certainly set aside their offensive difficulties. They drop 36 points in the third quarter, on their way to the century mark. And then some.

Rajon Rondo has 22 points and seven assists for Boston; Paul Pierce adds 20 and six rebounds. Roy Hibbert leads the way for the Pacers with 24 points.

This has been a raggedy effort from the C's on the defensive end, but if they keep attacking the basket and scoring in bunches, they're on their way to sweeping a road back-to-back. They haven't done that all season.

Twelve minutes to go…

Third quarter, 2:43, Celtics 79-75: Now it's a 14-2 run for the Celtics. Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo and Glen Davis are all feeling it. The C's are clamping down on the defensive end, too.

It's tantalizing when the Celtics perform like this in five-minute spurts. Makes you wonder why they can't just do it all the time.

Third quarter, 5:05, Celtics 72-71: Ray Allen rises from the dead and hits a big, big 3. The Celtics have retaken the lead.

That's Ray's first trey of the game. He's only got eight points. But when he hits one, look out. The floodgates could always open for a few more.

You're looking at a 7-0 Boston run, and counting.

Third quarter, 6:22, Pacers 69-65: The Celtics' offense is suddenly clicking. They simply can't miss in this second half. As a team, they're 5-for-5.

If they keep it up, they're in good shape. But they can't get complacent. These Celtics have had a habit lately of getting lazy and reverting to their jump shot-settling ways. Can't let that happen.

Third quarter, 8:26, Pacers 67-59: Who knew Glen Davis could jump like that? Big Baby pushes off from Paul George, makes a nice spin move and throws down a leaping slam.

Baby's already got seven points since halftime. If he keeps bringing it like this, the Celtics are far from dead.

Third quarter, 9:35, Pacers 64-56: Danny Granger is off to a hot start in this third quarter. Paul Pierce just left him open for a 3, and he didn't hesitate. Swish. He's got five points to open the frame.

The Celtics are having a few defensive lapses too many. It'll take maximum focus and effort to get back into this game.

How much do they want this one?

Halftime, Pacers 57-49: Dominating first quarter, lackluster second, and a deficit at halftime. What else is new, Celtics?

The C's manage only 16 points in the second quarter, and they limp their way into the locker room down eight. They've got to step it up in the second half, or they're on their way to another disappointing loss.

Roy Hibbert has been absolutely unstoppable for the Pacers. He's got a game-high 19 points. A.J. Price adds 11 off the bench.

Rajon Rondo has 18 for Boston, plus two assists. He's not slumping anymore, people. He's healthy and he's lighting it up.

Second quarter, 2:55, Pacers 50-45: The Celtics are trying every defender imaginable against Roy Hibbert. Nenad Krstic, Glen Davis, Jeff Green, you name it. No one's getting the job done.

Hibbert just nailed a jumper over Green from 16 feet out. He's now 8-for-9 from the field for a game high of 17 points.

The C's just can't stop him.

This is exactly why they need Jermaine O'Neal back.

Second quarter, 5:51, Pacers 42-39: Rajon Rondo mixes up his offensive game a little bit. He's not just attacking the rim for layups — he can knock down a jumper as well.

Rondo's now got 14 points on 6-of-6 shooting. The rest of the C's still look flat, though.

The Pacers have a 21-9 edge in bench scoring. Their second unit is deep and dangerous. A.J. Price, Dahntay Jones and Brandon Rush all have it going early.

Second quarter, 7:57, Pacers 37-35: Doc Rivers is crying foul, but this one isn't the officials' fault. His team just can run a halfcourt set to save their lives.

The C's are getting outscored 10-2 in the second quarter. They're missing shots and turning the ball over left and right.

Can't blame this on the refs. The C's just need to play better.

Second quarter, 9:06, Pacers 34-33: The Celtics come out really, really flat in the second quarter, and the Pacers capitalize. A.J. Price caps off a 7-0 run by nailing a 3 from the top of the key.

What is wrong with these Celtics? Every first quarter, they're world-beaters, but after that, they crumble. This is nothing new.

End of first quarter, Celtics 33-27: Doesn't matter who starts at the point for this Celtics team — they can put up monster offensive first quarters either way. They dropped 32 last night in Minnesota, and this time it's 33 against the Pacers.

Rajon Rondo has shined in his return to the starting five. He goes off for 12 points on perfect shooting (5-for-5 from the field, 2-for-2 from the line) plus two assists and a rebound.

Roy Hibbert one-ups Rondo with a massive 13-point first quarter.

Let's see if either side can play some defense in quarter number two.

First quarter, 1:53, Celtics 30-23: Doc Rivers has only used three guys off his bench so far — Glen Davis, Delonte West and Jeff Green. Perhaps those are the only three he needs.

Or perhaps not. Sasha Pavlovic is at the scorer's table, ready to make his way back in.

One of these days, Doc is going to tighten his rotation and show what this team can do at full blast. But he's still taking it easy with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen for now, not pushing their minutes too much.

First quarter, 4:22, Celtics 22-15: Roy Hibbert is having a solid first quarter for the Pacers. He's got a lot of length and some really nice post moves, making for a nightmarish matchup down low for Glen Davis.

Hibbert just posted up Big Baby again, giving him eight points in this first quarter.

He's 4-for-5 from the field; the rest of the Pacers are a combined 3-for-8. The Celtics need to plug up that hole in their defense.

Sure would be nice if they had Jermaine O'Neal.

First quarter, 6:49, Celtics 16-10: This is just unfair. Rajon Rondo now has 10 points on perfect 5-of-5 shooting, plus one rebound and one asssist. The Pacers aren't challenging him. He's just taking off and getting layups every time.

Half an hour ago, we thought the guy wasn't even playing. Now he's dominating.

The Celtics are now 7-of-9 from the field. Wonder when Indiana will wake up and start playing some D.

First quarter, 9:37, Celtics 9-4: Rajon Rondo has quickly silenced all doubters. He's driven into the lane for three early buckets to give the Celtics a nice lead.

Doesn't look like there's anything wrong with any of his 10 fingers. He's playing like a champ right now.

First quarter, 11:39, Celtics 2-0: Rajon Rondo is back, and he's healthy enough to score the opening basket of the night against the Pacers. Rondo sneaks inside, takes in an entry pass from Ray Allen and finishes at the rim.

Maybe Delonte West can hit a jump shot, but only Rondo can penetrate like that. You lose a little offense with Rondo, but you gain a lot.

7:05 p.m.: Change of plans. At the last minute, Rajon Rondo has decided he's ready to play after all.

This isn't the first time he's made that maneuver this season. Rondo loves throwing that curveball and jumping in right before tipoff. Jammed finger or not, he's decided he's good to go.

Delonte West moves back to the bench, where he's been stellar these last couple of weeks. Everyone wins.

6:25 p.m.: The Celtics have already won one game on this trip without Rajon Rondo. Can they win another? They'll have to try.

Rondo is out again tonight, taking another night to rest his jammed finger. Delonte West starts again in his place against the Pacers.

The C's have a day off tomorrow and a practice Wednesday in San Antonio. Looks like Rondo's pacing himself for a return Thursday night against the Spurs.

In other injury news, Jermaine O'Neal is in Indiana with the team, and he got a few shots up in pregame warmups. That's a good sign. The C's need every healthy big man they can get.

8 a.m.: On Sunday night, shortly after the Celtics survived a scare in Minnesota to pull off an 85-82 win over the Timberwolves, C's coach Doc Rivers praised Delonte West for his performance as the team's starting point guard.

West gave the Celtics eight points, five assists, three rebounds, two steals and countless reasons to trust him moving forward.

"He was terrific, especially early on," Rivers said. "I thought he set the tone for us. He's so tough. Delonte, I don't know how you describe his game. I've said that a hundred times. I couldn't tell you what he does great, but he's just a hell of a player to have on your basketball team, because he'll win you the game."

Now, having said that, the C's would no doubt love to move West back to the bench.

Usual starter Rajon Rondo missed Sunday's game with a sprained pinkie finger on his right hand. It's unclear whether he'll return right away or sit out another game or two.

But on Monday night, when the Celtics take on the Indiana Pacers in game two of their four-city road trip, they sure would love to have Rondo back.

Without Rondo on the floor, the C's blew a 25-point lead, fell behind in the fourth quarter and just barely got back over the top for a three-point win. With Rondo back, they'd be a much better team.

The Celtics are now 51-21, two games out of the top spot in the Eastern Conference. They would love to get another win under their belts Monday, inching closer to regaining that No. 1 seed. They may get their All-Star point guard back and they may not — in either event, they'll just have to find a way.