CELTICS 78, HEAT 66: Sasha Pavlovic had a game-high 16 points as host Boston took advantage of a Miami team without Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh.

Boston meets Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs and will earn homecourt advantage with a victory over Milwaukee on Thursday and an Atlanta loss to Dallas.

Pavlovic led the charge when Boston finally woke up in the fourth quarter to score 28 points, while holding the Heat to only 16 in the final frame.

Wade dislocated his finger Saturday against Washington, James was nursing minor injuries and Bosh missed his fifth straight contest with a hamstring problem.

The Celtics were without Kevin Garnett because of a hip flexor, Rajon Rondo because of a sore lower back and Ray Allen also sat out with an ankle injury.

The result of the injuries was a low scoring affair which saw Boston net a season-low 10 points in the first quarter and Miami score a season-worst 66 points.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Heat shot only 38.4 percent from the field and turned the ball over 24 times. … Dexter Pittman scored a team-high 12 points for Miami. … Celtics forward Paul Pierce was limited to 18 minutes and netted eight points.