CELTICS 101, HAWKS 79: Paul Pierce scored 24 points and Rajon Rondo had 20 points, 16 assists and just one turnover as host Boston took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-7 series.

Kevin Garnett scored 13 points, Ray Allen added 12 and the Celtics shot 60 percent from the field over the first three quarters while cruising to the easy victory.

Josh Smith had 15 points and 13 rebounds and Al Horford added 12 points for Atlanta.

Boston can clinch the series by winning Tuesday’s Game 5 in Atlanta.

Pierce had 18 first-half points despite missing the final six minutes of the half after injuring his left knee. He returned to score six points in the third quarter before exiting for good. Pierce was 10 of 13 from the field and made four 3-pointers in just 17 minutes.

The Celtics were 11 of 26 from 3-point range, had 10 steals and led by as many as 37 points. Boston began the second half with a 17-2 run to take an 80-43 advantage less than four minutes into the quarter.

Atlanta fell behind by double digits in the opening quarter and was never in the contest despite Smith’s return from a knee injury and Horford (pectoral) being available for the first time since Jan. 11. Horford played 20 minutes off the bench.

Boston shot 63.6 percent in the first half while taking a 63-41 halftime lead. Rondo had 13 first-half assists.

The Celtics were up 12 early in the second quarter before Pierce scored eight points during a 12-0 surge that saw Boston take a 51-27 lead midway through the quarter.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Boston was 7-for-38 from 3-point range over the first three contests … Atlanta’s Joe Johnson had just nine points after scoring 29 in Game 3 … Rondo has 10 or more assists in 27 straight games counting the regular season … The Hawks committed 17 turnovers, six by Smith.