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Smart Injured, But Celtics Beat Pacers 101-98

BOSTON (AP) — Jared Sullinger scored 11 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter and Jeff Green pulled down a big offensive rebound for the Boston Celtics in a 101-98 win over the short-handed Indiana Pacers on Friday night.

Boston's surge early in the fourth was interrupted for a few minutes when rookie Marcus Smart injured his left leg and was carted to the locker room. Smart, the No. 6 pick in this year's draft, clutched at his lower left leg after getting his arm hooked by Indiana's A.J. Price and crashing to the floor with 11:07 left.

Smart never got up and his teammates gathered around as medical personnel attended to the injury. Boston fans chanted Smart's name and gave the guard a standing ovation as he was carted off on a gurney with his left leg elevated.

Green finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, grabbing his last one after Avery Bradley's jumper bounced off the rim with 6 seconds left and Boston's lead down to 97-96. Green was fouled and made both free throws to help the Celtics end a three-game skid.

Kelly Olynyk scored 12 points and Bradley had 11 for Boston, which had not won since the season opener against Brooklyn.

The Pacers (1-5) dressed only 10 players and used nine of them while losing their fifth straight, matching Indiana's worst start since opening 1-5 in 1996-97.

Roy Hibbert had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Pacers. Chris Copeland scored 17, Donald Sloan added 15 and Luis Scola finished with 11 points and eight rebounds.

Despite the depleted lineup, Indiana rallied from a 13-point deficit in the first half and held a 75-73 lead after three quarters. Boston opened the next period with a 9-2 run and made 10 of its first 14 shots in the fourth, taking the lead for good at 79-77 on Sullinger's jumper.

The Pacers stayed within range down the stretch and had a chance to pull ahead after Rajon Rondo missed a putback attempt with Boston up 97-96. Sloan drove for a layup that missed and Bradley pulled down the rebound with 19 seconds to play.

After a timeout, Bradley missed a jumper but Green was positioned in the lane to grab the rebound, then hit both foul shots to clinch it.

TIP-INS

Pacers: Indiana has six players out with injuries. C.J. Miles became the latest player out of the lineup when he was scratched before the game because of a migraine. Miles, Rodney Stuckey (sore left foot) and David West (sprained right ankle) were all on the active roster but not available to play.

Celtics: After turning the ball over 28 times Wednesday in a loss to Toronto, the Celtics had no turnovers in the first quarter and three in the first half. Boston finished with 12 in the game.

UP NEXT

Pacers: At home against Washington on Saturday night.

Celtics: At the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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