CELTICS 103, 76ERS 79: Kevin Garnett scored 20 points and Brandon Bass and Avery Bradley added 18 points apiece as host Boston moves closer to capturing the Atlantic Division crown.

Paul Pierce scored 17 points and Rajon Rondo had 15 assists as the Celtics increased their division lead to three games over struggling Philadelphia and the New York Knicks.

Nikola Vucevic had 14 points and 13 rebounds and Andre Iguodala scored 13 points for the 76ers, who have lost four straight and are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs after a strong start.

Philadelphia is tied with the Knicks for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference and the Milwaukee Bucks are just one game behind. The Sixers are just 9-18 since opening the season with 20 victories in 29 games.

Boston began pulling away with an 18-2 run in the second quarter and led by as many as 28 points in the third quarter.

Bradley’s basket capped the second-quarter flurry that gave the Celtics a 45-26 advantage with four minutes left in the second half.

Boston led 50-36 at halftime and used an 11-0 spurt early in the third quarter to stretch the lead to 23. A 3-pointer by Pierce made it 77-49 with 3:47 left in the period.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Rondo has 17 consecutive double-digit assist games, 12 shy of John Stockton’s single-season record. … Philadelphia scored only 14 points in the second quarter and 16 points in the fourth. … Boston has held 13 straight opponents under 100 points. … Sixers guard Jodie Meeks missed all seven of his shots.