C’s take command with Game 2 win

Celtics 96, Hawks 77

NBA. This series might need a mercy rule.

The Hawks have tried everything they can — trash talking, hard fouls, even playing defense for the occasional minute at a time — but they have nothing on the Celtics, who blew out Atlanta 96-77 last night at the insanely loud TD Banknorth Garden. The C’s have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series by way of a pair of blowouts, and they’ll look for more Saturday night in Atlanta for Game 3.

Paul Pierce, victimized by a gang tackle and missing most of the first quarter with a strained lower back, speared a balanced attack with 14 points. Kevin Garnett had a tough night from the field but still had 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Things were testy early in the game, as it seemed like the Hawks were trying to get into the Celtics’ heads with a couple hard fouls. Pierce was hit hard in the air by Joe Johnson and tackled by nearly everyone in an Atlanta uniform with 10:38 remaining in the first quarter.

But after a skirmish on the baseline and a slow start on the offensive end, the Celtics collected themselves and took control of the game. While the Hawks looked like they’d rather be playing at Rucker Park, the Celtics reminded them why they won 35 games at the Garden in the regular season. The C’s kicked it up on defense and ripped off a 15-2 run over a 5:03 span to build an early 20-9 advantage.

Pierce’s second-quarter return ignited another Celtics run. He and Ray Allen knocked down consecutive 3-pointers from the left corner in part of an 11-2 spurt that pushed the C’s advantage to 46-31.

After the Hawks trimmed the margin to 52-42 at half, the C’s lead only grew in the third, as the Celtics used a pair of 6-0 runs to extend the margin to 20 points.

With the C’s maintaining a steady advantage in the fourth quarter, the only drama remaining surrounded Hawks point guard Mike Bibby and whether or not he’d walk out of the building alive after the beating he took from the crowd.