Brandon Bass

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff Brandon Bass's 27-point game was the talk of the players and coaches from both teams after Game 5. Bass scored 18 of his 27 points in the third quarter, but the Celtics forward was unaware of that stat during his postgame press conference. "I didn't even know that," said Bass. "I've been working at it a long time. I'm just grateful it got to pay off. " Bass is soft-spoken, and he admitted that it was the first time he'd had a game worthy of being invited to the podium.

BOSTON (AP) — Brandon Bass scored 18 of his postseason career-high 27 points in the third quarter on Monday night as the Boston Celtics pulled away from the Philadelphia 76ers to win 101-85 and take a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series. Kevin Garnett added 20 points and Rajon Rondo had 13 points and 14 assists for the Celtics, who can advance to the East finals with a victory in Philadelphia in Game 6 on Wednesday. The Sixers would need a win there to force the series back to Boston for a decisive seventh game on Saturday.

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff Brandon Bass scored 18 points in the third quarter and 27 points for the game as the Celtics turned on the intensity after halftime and ran away from the Philadelphia 76ers, 101-85, in Game 5 at TD Garden. The Celtics trailed by four at halftime, but Bass's unlikely outburst was the catalyst for a third quarter that saw the Celtics shoot 61 percent and hold Philadelphia to 33 percent shooting. Bass was 6 for 7 in the third; Rajon Rondo assisted on 7 of Boston's 11 field goals in the period.

There had been a pattern in the first four games of the series, as Sixers coach Doug Collins saw it noted. The team that won the third quarter in each of the games went on to the victory. He mentioned that fact Monday afternoon, not long before the Celtics and Sixers took the court for crucial Game 5. And, as it turned out, that pattern held. Though the Sixers mostly had control of the game through the first half, it was the Celtics who took over after the break. (Or, rather, Brandon Bass.)

OAKLAND, Calif. - The Celtics received another stunning injury blow Wednesday afternoon when they learned that forward Chris Wilcox will not return this season because of surgery to repair an enlarged aorta determined during his monthly heart examination. Wilcox, who last played March 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers, underwent a series of tests and the team received those results Wednesday as it prepared to play the Golden State Warriors. The Celtics announced late Wednesday afternoon that Wilcox will undergo surgery March 29 at the Cleveland Clinic, and doctors have said he can resume...

There was a high level of regret for Doc Rivers upon reflection. The Celtics coach knew he erred when he left Brandon Bass on the bench for nearly the entire fourth quarter of Game 4 against the 76ers Friday night, a Boston loss. Bass had been erratic offensively in the Eastern Conference semifinals, but he had exhibited a toughness all season the Celtics lacked in previous years in which they had disappointed in the playoffs. Bass is undersized, but he never has feared diving into the paint, rising for a two-handed dunk.

Celtics captain Paul Pierce and super sub Brandon Bass joined strength and conditioning coach Bryan Doo at the Roslindale Community Center yesterday. As part of the C's "Fit to Win" program, the trio urged kids to eat healthy and exercise.

NEW YORK - Before he begins a postgame interview, Celtics forward Brandon Bass has to be looking good, his suit coat buttoned, his tie just right. He's meticulous on the court, too, becoming one of the league's best-shooting big men by taking thousands of mid-range jumpers - even when he had his own suite in Stan Van Gundy's doghouse in Orlando. When the Celtics were busy beating the Magic in six games in the Eastern Conference finals two years ago, Bass launched jumper after jumper before games, even when it was apparent he would not play...

Brandon Bass does not figure to be in the Celtics' starting lineup this season. But in the final minutes of games, he could be playing an important role. The Celtics' 100-92 win over Washington Monday showed why. The Celtics were struggling against the younger Wizards in the second half. Greg Stiemsma had provided a spark, replacing Jermaine O'Neal (hamstring) in the starting lineup and performing particularly well in the third quarter. But during crunch time, coach Doc Rivers went to Bass, and he likely would have done the same if O'Neal (who is probable for...

WALTHAM - The numbers confirm Brandon Bass as the Celtics' most active player on offense. Bass leads the team in field goal attempts (78) and offensive rebounds (12) after seven games. And even though Bass is still learning the Celtics' system, coach Doc Rivers also considers him an asset on defense. "He's already a very good individual defender," Rivers said. "If you told Brandon to just guard his guy, he's probably our best at that because he can move his feet extremely well and he can switch on smaller players.

There was a high level of regret for Doc Rivers upon reflection. The Celtics coach knew he erred when he left Brandon Bass on the bench for nearly the entire fourth quarter of Game 4 against the 76ers Friday night, a Boston loss. Bass had been erratic offensively in the Eastern Conference semifinals, but he had exhibited a toughness all season the Celtics lacked in previous years in which they had disappointed in the playoffs. Bass is undersized, but he never has feared diving into the paint, rising for a two-handed dunk.

An extra day of rest and a Brandon Bass breakout were all the Celtics needed to regain their advantage in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Celtics responded to a Game 4 wakeup call by routing the Philadelphia 76ers in the second half in taking a 101-85 Game 5 victory Monday night at TD Garden. Boston has a 3-2 series edge entering Game 6 in Philadelphia Wednesday night. Bass, averaging 10.1 points in the series before Monday night, scored 18 of his 27 points in the third quarter as the Celtics went on 10-0 and 12-4 runs to take control of the contest.

There was a high level of regret for Doc Rivers upon reflection. The Celtics coach knew he erred when he left Brandon Bass on the bench for nearly the entire fourth quarter of Game 4 against the 76ers Friday night, a Boston loss. Bass had been erratic offensively in the Eastern Conference semifinals, but he had exhibited a toughness all season the Celtics lacked in previous years in which they had disappointed in the playoffs. Bass is undersized, but he never has feared diving into the paint, rising for a two-handed dunk.

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff The Celtics won Game 5 against Philadelphia convincingly Monday night, grabbing hold of the series at a crucial pivot point. It's their series to win Wednesday in Philadelphia, or allowing for a blip, Saturday at home in Game 7. There was a jovial mood around TD Garden Monday night. Brandon Bass set a career playoff-high with 27 points, and fans got to see Bass flash his shy smile on the podium in the postgame press conference.

An extra day of rest and a Brandon Bass breakout were all the Celtics needed to regain their advantage in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Celtics responded to a Game 4 wakeup call by routing the Philadelphia 76ers in the second half in taking a 101-85 Game 5 victory Monday night at TD Garden. Boston has a 3-2 series edge entering Game 6 in Philadelphia Wednesday night. Bass, averaging 10.1 points in the series before Monday night, scored 18 of his 27 points in the third quarter as the Celtics went on 10-0 and 12-4 runs to take control of the contest.

They started as a Big Three and grew to a Big Four when Rajon Rondo earned the right to be mentioned along with the other Boston Celtics All-Stars. At no point, however, did Brandon Bass merit marquee billing in his first season in Boston. The fifth, newest and least-heralded member of the Celtics' starting lineup, Bass erupted for a career playoff-high 27 points on Monday night, scoring 18 in the third quarter as Boston pulled away from the Philadelphia 76ers to win 101-85 and take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Brandon Bass led the Celtics in minutes (30:45), blocked shots (2), field goal attempts (11), and rebounds (9) in a 96-73 win over Toronto last night at TD Garden. But Bass was more concerned with a team statistic. "Did we win on the boards?" Bass asked after the game. "Against a team like that, their identity is a rebounding team. The two ‘bigs,' when the shot went up, I don't know what they did - they crossed - their whole mind-set is rebounding. Beat them on the glass - that's something positive we can build off. " The Celtics did win the rebounding battle, 45-38.

CLEVELAND - The Celtics' starting lineup against Cleveland last night included both Brandon Bass and Kevin Garnett for only the fourth time this season. On Monday, Bass went through his first full practice since being injured Feb. 10. Bass, who missed seven games with a left knee strain, is expected to provide a mid-range shooting threat. "He spreads the floor," said coach Doc Rivers. "When you have Kevin and Brandon out for any stretch, it's difficult offensively because the other team basically zones you up. They trap all over the floor because they know...

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff Brandon Bass's 27-point game was the talk of the players and coaches from both teams after Game 5. Bass scored 18 of his 27 points in the third quarter, but the Celtics forward was unaware of that stat during his postgame press conference. "I didn't even know that," said Bass. "I've been working at it a long time. I'm just grateful it got to pay off. " Bass is soft-spoken, and he admitted that it was the first time he'd had a game worthy of being invited to the podium.