The 76ers closed to 107-105 on Iguodala's two free throws with 1:18 to play. But he was called for an offensive foul attempting to drive against Pierce, before Rondo made a fallaway jumper with 9.6 seconds left.

Iguodala hit a 3 with 4 seconds left, but Allen and Eddie House each hit two free throws in the closing 3.3 seconds.

Boston was just 7 for 27 from behind the 3-point line.

"You've got to stick to what you do," Allen said of the shooting woes.

Playing on consecutive nights, the 76ers didn't show any wear, outhustling the Celtics to take a lead into the final quarter. Philadelphia, which relied on a rebounding edge and strong shooting from beyond the arc, led 85-79 after three.

"I told our guys at halftime they were making it an athletic contest and we were not making it a physical contest," Rivers said.

The 76ers were without a pair of starters. Guard Lou Williams broke his jaw in Tuesday night's loss against Washington and will be evaluated Thursday before coach Eddie Jordan can say how long he'll be sidelined. Forward Elton Brand was out with a sore right hamstring.

Referee Joe Crawford whistled three technicals in the third quarter: Garnett, and Philadelphia's Thaddeus Young and Samuel Dalembert.

NOTES: The 76ers are in a stretch of seven of eight on the road, with their only home game Friday against the Atlanta Hawks. ... Rivers was scheduled to fly home to Orlando on a private charter after the game to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. "It's great," he said before the game, discussing the free time on the plane. "It's like five hours away from everyone. No one knocking on your office door, no 'you need to sign this or see this person' just five hours of game prep time." ... Wallace hit a 3-pointer late in the first quarter, halting a string of 14 consecutive misses from beyond the arc.