BOSTON, March 5 (UPI) -- Kevin Garnett paced Boston to a 90-78 win over Detroit Wednesday, allowing the Celtics to become the first NBA team this season to earn a playoff berth.
Garnett scored 31 points in a match-up of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. Boston clinched the season series against Detroit with two victories in three games, thus ensuring the Celtics a tie-breaker advantage over the Pistons.
Kendrick Perkins contributed 20 rebounds to go with his 10 points in what was Boston's sixth straight win.
Detroit, which had won five of its previous six games, was led by Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace with 23 points each.
The Pistons were forced to play catchup all night and battled back to within one with 5:38 remaining. Boston then went on a 12-0 run, during which the Pistons missed six straight shots.
Perkins finished off the surge with a dunk that gave Boston a 90-77 cushion with 89 seconds to play.
Boston took early control by opening the game with a 17-3 burst.
