BOSTON, May 4 (UPI) -- Paul Pierce finished with 22 points and eight rebounds Sunday, pacing Boston's 99-65 rout of Atlanta in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal.
The top-seeded Celtics, embarrassed because a seventh game was needed to beat the eighth-seeded Hawks, established a dominant tone early and led 27-16 after the first quarter.
Reserve Kendrick Perkins led the way in the first 12 minutes with eight points, six rebounds and two blocked shots.
Boston led 44-26 at the half and the 26 points established a franchise playoff record for the first half. It's biggest lead was 79-41 late in the third quarter.
Kevin Garnett scored 18 points with 11 rebounds. Leon Powe scored 12 points while both Perkins and Rajon Rondo scored 10.
The Hawks were led by Joe Johnson's 16 points. Salim Stoudamire, the only other Atlanta player to reach double figures, scored 10 points.
Boston faces Cleveland Tuesday in Game 1 of the East's semifinals.
