NBA Game Summary - Boston At New Jersey
Kevin Garnett had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics posted their 10th straight road victory by using solid defense in the final quarter for an 86-77 decision over the New Jersey Nets.
Paul Pierce added 18 points and Ray Allen returned from a one-game absence to add 16 for Boston, which scored 13 in a row at one point of the final quarter and dominated New Jersey, 23-9, in the fourth.
The Celtics tied a franchise-record for the fastest team to reach 30 wins (30-4). The 1959-60 NBA championship team also accomplished the feat. Also, the 10 straight road victories are tied for second-most in team annals, equaling the 1960-61 NBA title squad.
"It's hard to say, but we just like to win games," Allen said of the reason why the team has performed so well outside of Boston. "I think our habits are consistent when we're on the road too."
Eddie House burned his former team by scoring eight of his nine points in the final quarter, as the Celtics rebounded from a 95-83 loss at home against Charlotte on Wednesday. That snapped Boston's nine-game winning streak.
Allen and Glen Davis both missed the previous game - Allen with a pinched nerve in his neck, and Davis with a sore knee.
Richard Jefferson had 17 points and Vince Carter 16 for the Nets, who had won six of their previous seven games but shot just 3-of-19 in the final quarter. Jason Kidd narrowly missed his fourth triple-double in five games, ending with 11 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists. Kidd (9,065) moved past Isiah Thomas (9,061) for fifth-place on the all-time assists list.
The Nets suffered big time at the foul line, ending 9-for-24.
"We really didn't shoot well from the free-throw line," Jefferson said. "We did a lot of things that normally would lead to you getting blown out by 20 points, but we competed and that's not something we've been doing consistently all season."
Jefferson's driving layup started the fourth quarter, but the Nets wasted that 70-63 lead, missing their next eight shots. During that time, Boston went on a 13-0 run.
Davis' layup gave the Celtics the lead with 7:55 left. House, who played for the Nets last season, then hit a layup after a turnover. Allen then nailed a three-pointer, capping the run for a 76-70 lead with 6:12 left.
Carter drilled a three-pointer, but House responded with another long-distance shot. After an Allen reverse layup, House hit another three, moving the lead to 84-74 with 1:26 left.
Josh Boone had 14 points and a career-best 16 rebounds for the Nets, who ended 6-of-23 from three-point range.
Allen had 11 of his points in the opening quarter, but Boston trailed 30-22 after 12 minutes.
The Celtics used a 17-1 run in the second quarter to go ahead. Jefferson's jumper boosted New Jersey to a 39-30 advantage with 6:55 left in the period, but the Nets missed their next 10 attempts from the field, a drought that lasted nearly six minutes. Garnett had nine points during Boston's burst, which ended on two Pierce free throws with 1:57 remaining in the half.
"I got upset at our team early in the game because our guards were crashing the glass instead of getting back," Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "If you don't get back against New Jersey they'll kill you. Jason Kidd is just too good. Once we got that settled I thought our team was really good tonight. It was a good character win in a lot of ways, coming off a loss."
The Nets closed to 47-44 at the break and it was tight for most of the third quarter until the Nets used eight consecutive points to extend to a 68-60 lead, as Carter culminated the flurry with a jam in the final minute. The Nets held a 68-63 edge going into the fourth.
"We have a mature bunch of guys," Allen said. "When we're here in the locker room we know it's us against everybody else. We have to go out there and the mistakes have to be very few on the floor."
Game Notes:
Boston's record for road winning streak is 13, set during the 1964-65 championship season...The Celtics moved to 14-2 on the road and will play their next away game on Saturday against Washington...Oscar Robertson is fourth all-time in assists with 9,887...The Celtics lost the services of guard Rajon Rondo, who sat out most of the second half with a lower back injury...The nine points were the lowest for the Nets in a quarter this season...Bostjan Nachbar had 10 points for New Jersey...Boston has won four straight meetings...The nine points tied a fourth-quarter record for the Nets.
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