Reuters
Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh (left) dunks the basketball during their NBA game with Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis on Friday night. Toronto won 104-93.
BOSTON (Reuters):
THE BOSTON Celtics registered a 12th straight home victory with a 104-82 thrashing of the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night, Paul Pierce leading the way with a game-high 32 points.
Rajon Rondo added 17 and Kevin Garnett 15 as the Celtics (19-2) matched a franchise record with their 12-0 home start.
"I wanted to be more aggressive than I have been, especially with Ray Allen out, just to pick up more slack," Pierce told reporters after hitting five three-pointers and going nine of 22 from the field. "But, regardless of what the offense does, we are going to turn games around because of our defence. I thought we made a great defensive run in the third quarter. That's what opened up the game."
Allen missed the game with a sore ankle, but the Celtics did not need him as they scored 12 consecutive points in the third period to move 60-49 ahead before a 10-0 spurt later in the quarter gave them a 31-point advantage.
They finished the period with a 78-59 lead, outscoring the Bucks 32-15 for the quarter on their way to an eighth straight victory overall. Mo Williams led Milwaukee with 14 points, Bobby Simmons had 11 and Yi Jianlian 10.
Ended losing streak
Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors used a 14-2 fourth-quarter run to end a nine-game losing streak to the Los Angeles Lakers with a 108-106 home win. Baron Davis, who led the comeback, and Al Harrington both had 22 for the Warriors. Stephen Jackson added 20. Kobe Bryant had 21 for the Lakers, who had a four-game winning streak snapped.
Jason Kapono had 17 of his career-high 29 points in the fourth quarter and the Toronto Raptors won their fourth straight with a 104-93 road win over the Indiana Pacers. Chris Bosh added 22 points and 16 rebounds and Jose Calderon had 18 points and 16 assists. Mike Dunleavy paced the Pacers with 23 points.
The Sacramento Kings won their first road game of the season, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 109-99 behind Brad Miller's 25 points and Mikki Moore's 24. The Kings had lost nine consecutive road games. Andre Miller had 24 for Philadelphia, which lost for the first time in five games.
Vince Carter had 32 points and the New Jersey Nets ended a four-game losing streak with a 105-97 home win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron James led Cleveland with 29 points and eight assists. Dwight Howard powered the Orlando Magic to a 103-87 road win over the Charlotte Bobcats with 33 points, 18 rebounds and four blocked shots.
