PHILADELPHIA -- Kevin Garnett yapped his way down the court after big baskets and clearly enjoyed taking it to the 76ers.

Rajon Rondo pushed the ball and relentlessly attacked the lane.

Paul Pierce gutted out a knee injury and grinded his way to the free-throw line.

Boston hears the whispers that it's too weary and too old to win another championship. By the time they forced Sixers fans to flee their seats, the Celtics proved it's still too early to count them out.

Garnett scored 27 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and used a dominant second quarter to help the Celtics beat the 76ers 107-91 on Wednesday night and take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Whistled for a costly illegal pick late in a Game 2 loss, Garnett crushed the Sixers early and never let them think about a fourth-quarter rally.

Garnett scored 13 of Boston's 32 points in the second quarter, and the Celtics became the first team to win by double digits. Games 1 and 2 were each decided by one point.

Rondo had 23 points and 14 assists. Pierce, playing with a banged-up knee, had 24 points and 12 rebounds.

Game 4 is Friday in Philadelphia.

"We just wanted to come out and establish who we are as a team," Pierce said.

That started with making Garnett a focal point.

Garnett had somehow become forgotten in Boston's offense in Game 2 until the fourth quarter. Coach Doc Rivers said the Celtics simply weren't going to the 16-year veteran because they had established an offensive presence in the low post.

The Celtics wouldn't let that happen again.