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The Celtics responded to a Game 4 wakeup call by routing the Philadelphia 76ers in the second half in taking a 101-85 Game 5 victory Monday night at TD Garden. Boston has a 3-2 series edge entering Game 6 in Philadelphia Wednesday night. Bass, averaging 10.1 points in the series before Monday night, scored 18 of his 27 points in the third quarter as the Celtics went on 10-0 and 12-4 runs to take control of the contest. But first-half signs did not point to a double-digit margin of victory, and the Celtics did not regain the lead for good until late in the third quarter. “We weren’t right in the first half,’’ coach Doc Rivers said. “You could just feel it. We just . . . it was funny, you could see all our guys, they were looking at each other every time someone made a shot. “I don’t want to get corny, but it was like the Celtic spirit, it wasn’t there. I talked about it a couple times in timeouts. And I just told our coaches we’ve just got to somehow get through this half and just see if we can just gather them back.’’ Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Brandon Bass 

Whether it was the ridiculous offensive foul call on Kevin Garnett against Spencer Hawes four minutes after halftime that elicited chants of “bull[stuff], bull[stuff]” or the barrage of Brandon Bass buckets, the Celtics awoke a Boston crowd that sleepwalked through the first half. Or was it the other way around? “This goddamned crowd here sparks you,” said Garnett (20 points, 8-17 FG). “It doesn’t take much here, man. … When speaking about this crowd, man, it’s like plugging in. They’re enthused from 48 minutes on, from the tip on, so I can’t see the difference between minute from minute. I feel like every minute I look up, I see my family, I see people yelling, I see the drunk fat guy. I can decipher one from the other. This crowd is ridiculous, man. I love it.” WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Brandon Bass, Kevin Garnett 

That run erased an 18-point (49-31) Celtics lead, and gave the Sixers renewed hope. Rondo, Garnett, Brandon Bass and Avery Bradley all fell into foul trouble, and the Celtics responded by falling back on their heels. “When you have a chance to go up 3-1 in a series and you’re up and you’re on the road, what else are they going to do?” said Doc Rivers. “That’s what they should do, and that’s what was so disappointing. They are going to get into you, they are going to grab your hands, they are going to foul you. That’s what they should do, but we acted like we were surprised by it, and I was disappointed in that. “Tonight it was a matter (of composure),” he said. “I don’t know about Game 1 and 2, but tonight it was that simple. We had the lead. We had a chance to go up 3-1. I really didn’t think from the first quarter on that we played with the same discipline that we had in the first quarter, in my opinion. We start turning the ball over. We start making home run passes, and even though we still had a lead, I thought they chipped into the lead and allowed them to hang around in the game.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Doc Rivers, Avery Bradley, Brandon Bass 

Bass has a player option at $4 million for next season. That certainly be a major issue for the Celtics this summer, as Bass could become an unrestricted free agent and cash in on his newfound success. “I want to be here a long time playing alongside Rondo,’’ he said. “[But] to be honest, I am not that type of guy to even be thinking about things like [the option] because I just try to get better every day.’’ Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Brandon Bass 

Peter Stringer: Bass on knee: "I hyperextended my knee. But I'm alright. I don't know what I did...I felt like a little kid. I was scared." Twitter

Boston Celtics, Brandon Bass, Injuries 

The Celtics are hoping that Brandon Bass exercises the player option on his contract at $4 million, which would be a bargain for his production. Or the Celtics could agree to an extension for Bass, who appears to have found a home in Boston. The contract that may affect matters is Glen Davis’s four-year, $26 million deal with the Magic. Davis has underperformed that contract, and Bass may hold out for something more. Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Brandon Bass, Glen Davis 

Forward Brandon Bass, the Boston Celtics' top reserve, will miss 10 to 14 days with inflammation in his right knee, coach Doc Rivers said before Sunday's 95-91 win against the Chicago Bulls. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Brandon Bass, Injuries 

Bass felt some discomfort in the knee during a win over the New York Knicks on Feb. 3. He sat out the following game against the Memphis Grizzlies, but played in three games last week. Rivers said the news came as a bit of a surprise to him, as he was informed by team trainer Eddie Lacerte on Sunday morning that Bass almost certainly will be out through the All-Star break, which begins Feb. 23. "We knew his knee was bothering him, but then he got the treatment, and he missed that one game," Rivers said. "There was nothing said after the Toronto game. Then Eddie called me this morning and told me he was out, and out for a while. That was a surprise." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Brandon Bass, Injuries 

The sign-and-trade involving Celtics reserve Glen “Big Baby” Davis and Magic starter Brandon Bass is yet another instance where Otis Smith failed to do proper homework. Orlando’s general manager should have known Davis — suspended two games for verbally getting into it with Stan Van Gundy — has far more screws loose than your average NBA problem child. Boston’s vets kept him halfway in line. On his own in Disney World he feels liberated to act infantile, make demands and not stand in line. New York Post

Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Trade, Brandon Bass, Otis Smith, Glen Davis 

After two-year stints with the New Orleans Hornets, Dallas Mavericks and Orlando Magic, Bass wants to find a home. The power forward can opt-out of the final year of his contract after this season, but he’s tired of adjusting to new surroundings and hopes to stay in Boston long-term. “I want to finish my career in Boston, if I can,” Bass said. “I want to be here for many, many years. You just want to be a part of something like this. This is history. I want to be a part of this team’s history. I want to make somewhere my home rather than playing somewhere for two years and then leaving.” “I’m enjoying it here,” Bass added. “I like my teammates a lot, I like the coaching staff and I like the tradition in Boston.” HoopsWorld

Boston Celtics, Brandon Bass 

John Denton: Brandon Bass on getting traded by #Magic: "I was shocked. I was really shocked. It’s life in the NBA. But no doubt about it, I was shocked." Twitter

Boston Celtics, Brandon Bass 

John Denton: Just spoke to former #Magic PF Brandon Bass. Looks extremely trim in #Celtics green, but said he's 6 lbs. heavier than last yr in Orlando. Twitter

Boston Celtics, Brandon Bass 

Even the most ardent Brandon Bass fan has to be somewhat surprised by how well the seventh-year veteran has fit in with the Celtics. Acquired in exchange for Glen Davis in a trade with the Magic, Bass has averaged 14 points and 6.6 rebounds while shooting 55.1 percent from the field with the C’s. Bass has been rapidly accepted by his teammates and the coaching staff, receiving encouragement to be aggressive offensively. “I haven’t really put too much thought into it, to be honest with you,” Bass said. “If I just keep the same mentality of trying to improve and not really thinking too much about the game and what’s happening right now, I think I’ll be all right.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Brandon Bass, Glen Davis 

Sure, they miss Paul Pierce, though up until last night they didn’t have any trouble scoring. But in a rushed season when many teams are having logistical trouble, the Celtics may be one of the most lost. “It’s early,” said Rajon Rondo, echoing words spoken last night by Kevin Garnett and Keyon Dooling. “Maybe we’ll go 63-0 the rest of the way,” offered Brandon Bass. That won’t happen if they don’t shake the image that formed for their coach. “We looked old tonight,” Doc Rivers said. Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Doc Rivers, Rajon Rondo, Keyon Dooling, Brandon Bass, Kevin Garnett 

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have acquired forward Brandon Bass from the Orlando Magic in exchange for forward Glen Davis and guard Von Wafer. Bass, a 6'8" forward, averaged a career-high 11.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game last season for the Magic. Bass also shot a career-high 51.5% from the field last season, which ranked 19th overall in the NBA. NBA.com

Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Trade, Brandon Bass, Von Wafer, Glen Davis 

Barring an unexpected snag in their physicals, the sign-and-trade deal that will send Glen "Big Baby" Davis from the Boston Celtics to the Orlando Magic for Brandon Bass is expected to be finalized Saturday afternoon. Bass' agent, Tony Dutt, told the Orlando Sentinel on Friday that the trade was close to being finalized. Although Magic officials would not comment, Magic players said they expected Davis to participate in Saturday afternoon's practice. Orlando Sentinel

Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Trade, Brandon Bass, Glen Davis 

There’s a new addition to the sign-and-trade between the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics. Not only will the Magic swap Brandon Bass for Glen Davis, they’ll also receive Von Wafer in the deal. Wafer was an unrestricted free agent, but Orlando had him added to the deal in exchange for their a traded- player exception. Wafer will sign a three-year deal with the Magic. Last year, the 26-year-old played 58 games with the Celtics. He received interest from a number of other teams before landing with Orlando. HoopsWorld

Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Free Agency, Trade, Brandon Bass, Von Wafer, Glen Davis 

The Boston Celtics have agreed to a sign-and-trade deal that will send free agent forward Glen Davis to the Orlando Magic in exchange for forward Brandon Bass, according to Bass' agent. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Trade, Brandon Bass, Glen Davis 

In a chance encounter, ESPN Boston's Jackie MacMullan bumped into former Celtics forward Glen Davis at the Orlando airport Friday night. Asked about the sign-and-trade deal that sent him to the Magic in exchange for Brandon Bass, Davis said: "I'm not happy, I'm ecstatic." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Trade, Brandon Bass, Glen Davis 

Chris Forsberg: Brandon Bass' agent said his client is excited for the opportunity in Boston; knows it's a chance to win now & has player option for future Twitter

Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Trade, Brandon Bass