Charlotte Bobcats vs. Boston Celtics: Live Score, Results and Game Highlights

Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

The suddenly dangerous Boston Celtics put their five-game winning streak on the line tonight against a Charlotte Bobcats team still looking to get their 10th win of the season.

Ultimately, this game is about the Celtics. They have exorcised some early demons in January, but still have a long way to climb. They have not won more than five straight games in more than two full years. They can continue their ascent tonight.

The game will air on local television at 7:30 (ET), and you can keep your browser tuned right here to Bleacher Report for all the pregame analysis and in-game updates.

10:25 PM ET

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Charlotte 89, Boston 100 - Final

How did the Boston Celtics defeated the Charlotte Bobcats to earn their sixth-straight win?

Red Hot First Quarter

The Boston Celtics hit their first five shots from the field. They finished the first quarter 12-of-19 from the field and leapt to a 28-18 lead.

The Bobcats were held to just 1-of-10 during the opening part of the quarter. That lead allowed the Celtics some room to struggle later on, which they did. However, no matter how poorly they looked for stretches, the Bobcats staked them to a big enough lead that they could never overcome it.

Big first quarters are key in games like this, the Celtics laid down the tone for the game with physical interior defense, blocking four shots early on and forcing some hard contact. That intimidated the Bobcats just enough to give Boston the added edge.

Rebounding

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

A rarity for the Boston Celtics is a team they can out-rebound. That is exactly what the Bobcats provided them tonight.

The Celtics grabbed 42 boards, to just 34 for Charlotte, allowing them to control the tempo of the game. Boston used 14 offensive rebounds to help push their points in the paint total to 38.

The Celtics are used to being dominated on the glass, so when they out-rebound a team, they are usually going to win.

Rajon Rondo

Really it was as simple as Rondo showing up fully engaged to play a mid-January game against one of the worst teams in the league.

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Rondo is often criticized for being most engaged during nationally televised games or big matchups, but tonight he got the rare triple-double in a game played largely in obscurity.

Still, Rondo posted 17 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, nearly leading the Celtics in all three categories. When Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett had an off-night shooting, Rondo was 8-of-11 from the field.

He so badly dominated Kemba Walker early on in this matchup, it is a wonder that it took him four quarters to notch the triple-double.

10:12 PM ET

Boston Celtics Boxscore

Boxscore courtesy of NBA.com

10:11 PM ET

Charlotte Bobcats Boxscore

Boxscore courtesy of NBA.com

10:09 PM ET

Charlotte 89, Boston 100 - Final

Boston Celtics Plus/Minus

Kevin Garnett: -5

Brandon Bass: +4

Paul Pierce: +13

Rajon Rondo: +11

Avery Bradley: +15

Jared Sullinger: +4

Jeff Green: +8

Jason Collins: +8

Courtney Lee: +3

Jason Terry: -8

Leandro Barbosa: +2

Leandro Barbosa did not play in the first half.

10:07 PM ET

Charlotte 89, Boston 100 - Final

Charlotte Bobcats Plus/Minus

Hakim Warrick: -7

Bismack Biyombo: -11

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist: -6

Kemba Walker: -14

Gerald Henderson: -15

Jeff Adrien: -1

Jeffrey Taylor: +6

Brendan Haywood: 0

Ramon Sessions: +7

Ben Gordon: -14

9:59 PM ET

Charlotte 89, Boston 100 - Final

That will do it from TD Garden as the Boston Celtics pull out their sixth-straight win over the Charlotte Bobcats.

Rajon Rondo led things for the Celtics with 17 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. Paul Pierce led all scorers with 19 points and Avery Bradley chipped in 16.

For Charlotte, it was their fourth-straight loss. Hakim Warrick and Ramon Sessions posted 16 points each. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist posted 10 points and eight rebounds.

Stay tuned here for all your postgame stats and analysis.

9:56 PM ET

Charlotte 85, Boston 94 - :50 Remaining in Fourth Quarter

The Bobcats have six players in double-figures, but somehow it just doesn't look to be enough.

Jeffrey Taylor also has eight points off the bench. Ramon Sessions and Hakim Warrick lead the team with 16 points a piece.

9:52 PM ET

Charlotte 83, Boston 92 - 2:50 Remaining in Fourth Quarter

It isn't always pretty with Paul Pierce, but he seems to always get his 18-22 points.

It has taken 16 shots, but he has 19 points to lead all scorers tonight. He has also dished out six dimes and grabbed four rebounds.

Not a great game by any stretch, but the captain got his points and is scoring when it matters in the fourth quarter.

9:49 PM ET

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Charlotte 83, Boston 89 - 3:10 Remaining in Fourth Quarter

Rajon Rondo grabs another rebound and there is his 26th career triple-double.

This is the third time this season Rondo has posted the famed stat. tonight he has 15 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.

9:44 PM ET

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Charlotte 74, Boston 84 - 6:10 Remaining in Fourth Quarter

Well, there was your Rajon Rondo "WOW" play. One per game, minimum.

This one, a creative drive to the basket and dish to Courtney Lee, was his 10th assist of the night. He is now one rebound shy of another triple-double. Rondo has 15 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.

Kemba Walker is just 3-of-13 for 10 points and three assists. Rondo has professionally dominated this matchup and allowed the Celtics to maintain this lead.

9:40 PM ET

Charlotte 74, Boston 82 - 8:00 Remaining in Fourth Quarter

WIth some playing time finally, after three quick fouls, Jared Sullinger is playing like Celtics fans have grown accustomed to.

The power forward is 4-of-4 off the bench for eight points. The Celtics need him tonight, as Kevin Garnett is just 1-of-7 and Paul Pierce is 5-of-15.

9:32 PM ET

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Charlotte 70, Boston 76 - End of Third Quarter

Despite a 13-2 run to open the third quarter, the Celtics were able to withstand the run and enter the final frame up six.

Paul Pierce has 16 points to lead the Celtics, but has taken 15 shots to get there. Avery Bradley has 14 points and has hit 4-of-7 threes. Rajon Rondo is on the verge of another triple-double with 13 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Hakim Warrick has 16 points for Charlotte, while Ramon Sessions has tallied 14 off the bench.

9:29 PM ET

Charlotte 68, Boston 72 - :30 Remaining in Third Quarter

Jeffrey Taylor is having a quietly great game. In just nine minutes, he has eight points and has hit both of his threes. That last one cut the deficit back to four. He was the first pick of the second round this past summer.

9:23 PM ET

Charlotte 64, Boston 72 - 2:30 Remaining in Third Quarter

Bobcats continue to keep it close. They are coming up with a few steals and making the Celtics use up the whole shot-clock before finding a shot. They have Boston deeply out of rhythm.

Their well-rounded scoring attack now has four players in double-figures, with Hakim Warrick leading the way at 15.

Rajon Rondo is keeping them at bay for now. He is 6-of-7 from the field for 13 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

9:15 PM ET

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Charlotte 58, Boston 65 - 6:10 Remaining in Third Quarter

Kevin Garnett has been invisible on the offensive end tonight and is 0-5 from the field. He has three points in 19 minutes. That is unacceptable on a night where Sullinger and Bass have been limited by fouls.

On the contrary, Sullinger is 2-of-2 for four points in just five minutes.

9:13 PM ET

Charlotte 58, Boston 58 - 7:50 Remaining in Third Quarter

Great defense and some easy buckets have helped Charlotte tie this game up.

The Bobcats are beating Boston 13-2 this quarter. Save for a last second Rondo fade-away, the Celtics have been kept off the board in the second half.

Gerald Henderson has scored four points in the quarter, his first of the game.

9:08 PM ET

USA TODAY Sports

Charlotte 52, Boston 56 - 10:30 Remaining in Third Quarter

Don't go anywhere just yet, though. Charlotte nets the first seven points of the half and trail only four.

Hakim Warrick showing some range, as he has four of those seven points. He is 4-of-5 from the field for 11 points.

9:05 PM ET

Charlotte 45, Boston 56 - Halftime

If Bobcats fans get frustrated by second half in Boston, flip to ESPN to watch Kansas' McLemore. Most talent in potential draft pool.

— Rick Bonnell (@rick_bonnell) January 15, 2013

Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer offering some hope and options for Bobcats fans who don't want to watch the second half of this game.

8:56 PM ET

Charlotte 45, Boston 56 - Halftime

Boston Celtics Plus/Minus

Kevin Garnett: +1

Brandon Bass: +10

Paul Pierce: +16

Rajon Rondo: +9

Avery Bradley: +16

Jared Sullinger: -3

Jeff Green: +1

Jason Collins: +8

Courtney Lee: +2

Jason Terry: -5

8:54 PM ET

Charlotte 45, Boston 56 - Halftime

Charlotte Bobcats Plus/Minus

Hakim Warrick: -5

Bismack Biyombo: -12

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist: -12

Kemba Walker: -15

Gerald Henderson: -16

Jeff Adrien: -3

Jeffrey Taylor: +7

Brendan Haywood: +1

Ramon Sessions: +8

Ben Gordon: -8

8:51 PM ET

USA TODAY Sports

Charlotte 45, Boston 56 - Halftime

At the half the Charlotte Bobcats have battled to stay in the game, but Boston took an 11-point lead into the break.

Three Celtics have 11 points, as Avery Bradley, Paul Pierce and Jeff Green all have the game-high. Rajon Rondo has been all over the court so far, with nine points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Ramon Sessions leads the Bobcats with 10 points, but no other player is in double-figures. Michael-Kidd-Gilchrist has played the best with eight points and five rebounds.

8:44 PM ET