Boston guard Rajon Rondo (9) is tackled by Atlanta forward Marvin Williams. Williams was ejected on the play, and the Celtics rolled to a 99-65 victory Sunday in Boston.

Boston ? Kevin Garnett took a behind-the-back pass from Paul Pierce, slammed in the dunk to make the lead three dozen points and then slashed his hand across his throat to signal what the Atlanta Hawks already knew.

“It’s over,” he told the crowd.

The game. The series. The surprising little scare Atlanta put into the NBA’s best.

Garnett had 18 points and 11 rebounds, Pierce scored 22 points, and the Celtics turned back the pesky Hawks with a 99-65 victory Sunday in Game 7 of their playoff series to advance to the second round.

Next up: LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Game 1 is Tuesday night.

“They’re a group that’s defending Eastern Conference champs,” Garnett said. “To do anything, you’ve got to go through them. “It’s good that we have home-court advantage. I think it should be a good series.”

The Celtics started the celebration early, holding the Hawks to 10 points in the second quarter and doubling their 18-point halftime lead in the third.

The fans yelled “We want Cleveland!”

The public-address announcer explained how to buy tickets for the second round.

And, in the background, the new Boston Garden shook with Gladys Knight and the Pips singing that the Hawks were “Leaving on a Midnight Train” to Georgia.

“I wish we could have played all of our games in Atlanta,” said coach Mike Woodson, whose team won all three home games but never came close to stealing one in Boston. Nobody thought we had an opportunity to even win a game in this series. We battled them right to the end. We just didn’t have it today.”

Lakers 109, Jazz 98

Los Angeles – Kobe Bryant, celebrating what is expected to be his first NBA MVP award, had 38 points, six rebounds and seven assists, and Los Angeles made it five straight playoff victories by beating Utah to begin the second round.

Game 2 will be played Wednesday night before the best-of-seven series shifts to Utah for Games 3 and 4.