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		Celtics clinch playoff berth with home win over Kings By Ben Schneider March 26, 2010

	Paul Pierce finished with 22 points and eight rebounds, as the Boston Celtics took a 94-86 win over the Sacramento Kings on a night they wrapped up the Atlantic Division title. The division title is Boston's third straight, something the club hasn't done since taking five in a row from 1984-1988. Kevin Garnett added 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Ray Allen finished with 20 points in the win, the Celtics' sixth in their last seven games. Rajon Rondo had a career-high 18 assists in the victory. Rondo also had three steals, which gave him the Celtics' franchise record for steals in a season. He had entered the contest tied with Rick Fox at 167. "I think tonight we were more appreciative of Rondo, and his accomplishments," said Garnett. "Any time you get any kind of record in this organization on a team like what we have, is a huge thing. We are just appreciative of being in the moment, being here, being a part of it. It is a very special moment, and no one even talked about the division title tonight. Tonight was Rondo's night." Carl Landry had a game-high 30 points to pace the Kings, who played their fourth straight game without rookie star Tyreke Evans (concussion). Beno Udrih added 16 points and 12 assists in the loss, Sacramento's third in a row. Boston never trailed and led by as many as 24, though the Kings got within 87-81 with 3:12 left in the game on a three from Udrih. Kings center Spencer Hawes left in the third quarter with a lower back strain and did not return. Also for Sacramento, Francisco Garcia left in the second quarter with a sore right wrist and didn't return...Thompson ended with 12 points. Sacramento had 18 turnovers, compared to eight for Boston. The Kings held a 51-45 rebounding edge and made 23-of-31 free throws...The Celtics were 19-of-28 from the line...Fox recorded 167 steals in the 1996-97 season. Paul Westpahl was asked afterwards how he thought the game unfolded “It was two different games for us. I thought the second half we really got it going. We played the way we think were supposed to play and we made it interesting. We couldn’t come all the way back because the first half was too much of a whole but I liked what I saw the second half" The Kings continue this five game east coast road trip Sunday at Cleveland. The Cavaliers currently have the best record in the NBA.