Rondo's triple-double not enough

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PHILADELPHIAThe Boston Celtics had their chances.

Lay-ups. Free throws. Open jumpers.

Making those shots is a pretty basic formula for success.

But for the Celtics, it had the look of a highly complicated logarithm as they squandered one too many chances with the end result being a 95-94 overtime loss to Philadelphia.

Sixers guard Evan Turner, who finished with a Sixers-high 26 points, drilled a mid-range jumper with 3.9 seconds to put the Sixers ahead for good.

Boston had two more shots at victory, but Rajon Rondo slipped as he launched a fade-away air ball as time expired. He still managed to tally his first triple-double of the season with 16 points, 13 rebounds and 14 assists.

This game in so many ways mirrored what has been a major concern for the Celtics this season.

Following Boston's win over Minnesota on Wednesday, Kevin Garnett touched on the need for the Celtics to play more consistently. Doc Rivers had similar comments. Ditto for Rajon Rondo.

So what did the Celtics do against Philadelphia?

Deliver another head-scratching, up-and-down, topsy-turvy kind of performance of course.

The loss prevented the Celtics (10-9) from being three games over .500 for the first time this season.

Both teams treated the lead like a game of hot potato early in the fourth, with neither able showing signs of getting a firm grip on controlling the action.

The game's frenetic finish ending with a Celtics loss, was in stark contrast to the game's early moments which had the appearance of being a quality road win.

After a strong showing in the first half, the Celtics reverted back to their shoddy defense, no-shot making ways in the third quarter and quickly found themselves looking at a five-point deficit (57-52) after leading by four points at the half.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers has seen this side of the C's more than he would like this season.

The Celtics did so many things right in the first quarter. They made shots. They rebounded the ball.

Rajon Rondo looked as though he would get a triple-double in the first quarter, tallying 10 points and eight rebounds, along with two blocks and a steal

And yet when the horn sounded, they were in a 28-all tie with the Sixers who took a strong shot of Rondo with a chaser of Paul Pierce (11 points in 11 first-quarter minutes) in the first.

Both teams buckled down defensively in the second with the Celtics maintaining a slim lead most of the quarter.

But the Celtics broke through with a 12-4 spurt capped off by a driving one-handed scoop shot by Jeff Green to lead, 50-43.

However, a 3-point play by Jrue Holiday cut Boston's halftime lead down to 50-46.

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