BOSTON -- Larry Bird poured in 53 points -- the most ever scored by a Celtic in a regular-season game -- and Boston bounced back from a 29-point defeat to rout the Indiana Pacers 142-116 Wednesday night.
Bird's performance, which included outscoring the Pacers' team 18-16 in the first quarter, shattered the previous team high of 51 points by Sam Jones at Detroit on Oct. 29, 1965.
John Havlicek had 54 points in a playoff game against Atlanta on April 1, 1973.
Bird, who played 33 minutes, also shattered the team record for most points in a quarter, scoring 24 in the third period to break the previous mark of 23 held by Tom Heinsohn. His 21 field goals tied Jones' 1965 mark and he was 21-of-30 from the floor, including 12-of-16 in the second half.
The Celtics, embarrassed by Indiana Tuesday night in a 130-101 defeat, showed little signs of a slump that has seen them lose 13 of their last 24. With Bird scoring 18 points, Boston took a 37-16 first-quarter lead and the Pacers were never in the game.
It was not until 2:15 of the second quarter that Indiana tied Bird, who by that time had 22 points. Indiana needed four more minutes before it scored more than Bird, 26-24.
The Celtics led 62-40 at halftime and 79-59 in the third period when Bird scored 13 points in a 19-2 burst to give Boston a 98-62 lead.
Robert Parish added 20 for Boston and Quinn Buckner 14. Billy Knight led Indiana with 25 points while Herb Williams added 18.
