CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Even without the Big Three, the Boston Celtics had enough firepower to make history.

Leon Powe had 22 points and nine rebounds, leading a makeshift lineup of Celtics who were never threatened in a 101-78 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday that not only clinched home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, but set the NBA record for biggest single-season turnaround.

Boston’s trio of stars, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, didn’t play. Pierce was not with the team after his daughter was born Friday night. Allen and Garnett were being rested by coach Doc Rivers with the start of the playoffs two weeks away.

It didn’t matter. Powe dominated the inside and James Posey added a season-high 19 points for the Celtics, who improved to 61-15. That’s 37 more wins that last season’s 24-58 disaster that led the Celtics to acquire Garnett and Allen.

The previous best turnaround was San Antonio going from 20-62 to 56-26 in 1997-98, the year they got Tim Duncan with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

The Celtics’ sixth straight win guaranteed that someone will have to win on Boston’s famed parquet to prevent the Celtics from winning their first NBA title in 22 years, when the old Big Three of Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale reigned.

For a night, at least, the Celtics showed remarkable depth.

Eddie House scored 16 points off the bench for the Celtics, who had 10 players log at least 18 minutes against a team that they had uncharacteristic trouble against earlier this season.

Emeka Okafor had 17 points and eight rebounds for the Bobcats, who had won in Boston and lost at home to the Celtics on Allen’s buzzer-beater. But playing without starting forward Gerald Wallace (groin), Charlotte couldn’t build off Friday’s win in Toronto and was officially eliminated from playoff contention.

Only point guard Rajon Rondo and center Kendrick Perkins took their normal positions around the center circle for Boston to start the game. Posey, Powe and Tony Allen joined them, then quickly took it to Charlotte.

Posey hit three 3-pointers in the first six minutes as the Celtics built a 14-point lead.

Earl Boykins, who added 15 points for Charlotte, got the Bobcats within six midway through the second quarter. But then Perkins and Powe had putbacks, two of Boston’s 15 offensive rebounds, and Boston got its double-digit lead back.

Charlotte never made a charge in the second half, eliminating any second-guessing of Rivers’ decision to rest his stars ahead of clinching home-court advantage.

Rivers with two days off before this game and two more days off before Tuesday’s visit to Milwaukee, now was the time for extended breaks. Rivers said two of the Big Three could also sit against the Bucks, but that they would play in the remaining five games.

Notes: Pierce’s fiancee, Julie Landrum, gave birth to Prianna Lee late Friday afternoon. … Ray Allen wasn’t complaining about getting rest. “We’ve earned this position that we’re in right now,” he said. “It’s like the quiet before the storm for us.” … Bobcats rookie Jermareo Davidson made his second straight start ahead of Nazr Mohammed. … Matt Carroll started for Wallace, who aggravated an existing injury Friday. … The Bobcats had their fifth sellout in 39 home games.

AP-ES-04-05-08 2148EDT