Pierce scores 21, Wallace 20 as Boston remains undefeated in 105-74 win over 76ers

Pierce keeps Celtics undefeated

PHILADELPHIA — Paul Pierce scored 21 points, Rasheed Wallace had 20 and the Boston Celtics remained unbeaten with a 105-74 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night.

The Celtics improved to 5-0 even without the usual standout performances from Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.

Allen didn’t score his first field goal until the third quarter and had five points. Garnett made just one basket on seven shots and scored three points when he was yanked with the game out of hand.

Wallace was about the only Celtic who had his normal night, even getting whistled for a technical foul for arguing with the refs in the third quarter.

Andre Iguodala led the Sixers with 17 points. Philadelphia missed 15 of 16 3-point attempts.

Wallace, a Philadelphia native who wore a black Phillies jacket to the game, easily had his best game in his short stint with the Celtics. He pretty much caught the ball, let it rip and watched it sink through the net. Wallace made 6 of 8 3-pointers and sank each long attempt about as easily as a layup in the paint.

Wallace got mad late in the third quarter when he appeared to be fouled on a shot. The ref called a foul, he just didn’t call it a shooting foul and denied Wallace a trip to the free-throw line.

Wallace kept badgering the refs over the perceived blown call until he was hit with the T with 4.5 seconds left in the third. By then, the game had spiraled into a blowout. Allen scored his lone basket and Pierce hit a 3-pointer in a 14-2 run to open the quarter that shook off the Sixers for good.

Eddie House made four 3s off the bench for the Celtics and scored 12 points. Shelden Williams added 11 points, helping the Celtics bench to a productive night after the starters and Wallace made this one a rout.

Boston went 14 for 20 from 3-point range. The Sixers failed to hit a 3 until Jrue Holiday made one with 1:28 left in the game. The basket only cut Boston’s lead to 102-71.

Thaddeus Young was the only other Sixer in double digits, scoring 11 points as they snapped their modest two-game winning streak.

Notes: Philly boxing great Bernard Hopkins was at the game. … Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he did not expect to hear from the NBA over a postgame incident in Boston involving New Orleans guard Chris Paul and the Celtics’ Rajon Rondo. … The Celtics swept the season series (4-0) last season. … The biggest cheer came for Phillies World Series highlights.