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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, December 4, 2008

Celtics win 10th in row

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Boston's Paul Pierce was called for charging when he drove past Indiana's Jack Jarrett, left, and over Roy Hibbert.

ELISE AMENDOLA | Associated Press

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BOSTON — The way Rajon Rondo played, there was no way the Boston Celtics could lose to the Indiana Pacers again.

Rondo notched his first career triple-double and Ray Allen scored 31 points, leading the Celtics over the Pacers, 114-96, last night for their 10th straight victory.

"He was amazing," Kevin Garnett said. "It was like there was three Rondos. I looked up and it came off the rim and he is grabbing a rebound, then I got back on defense and he beat me back. He was everywhere tonight."

Rondo scored 16 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and handed out a career-high 17 assists. Garnett added 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Celtics, who matched their longest winning streak since their 2007-08 championship season, a 10-game run from Feb. 24-March 12.

"We had a great incentive," Paul Pierce said. "They beat us last time and they beat the Lakers last night."

Boston broke open the game in the third quarter with a 26-8 run over the first nine minutes, with Garnett and Allen combining for 14.

Danny Granger led the Pacers with 20 points.

"They really had too many weapons for us tonight," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. "They're awful difficult to beat. That's why they're the world champs."

Cavaliers 118, Knicks 82: LeBron James scored 21 points and then grabbed an early seat on the bench as the host Cavaliers built a 42-point lead in the second half and breezed past New York for their sixth straight victory.

Lakers 114, 76ers 102: Kobe Bryant tormented his hometown team again, scoring 32 points to help visiting Los Angeles rebound from a last-second loss on Tuesday with a victory over Philadelphia. The 76ers lost Elton Brand late in the third quarter with a strained right hamstring.

Hornets 104, Suns 91: Chris Paul had 24 points and 15 assists, Peja Stojakovic also scored 24, and David West added 23 points and 14 rebounds to lead host New Orleans over Phoenix, which played without Steve Nash (illness) and Shaquille O'Neal (rest).

Hawks 105, Grizzlies 95: Joe Johnson scored 26 points, Mike Bibby had 20 points and 10 assists, and Josh Smith, who missed the past 12 games with an ankle sprain, had 14 points, six rebounds and five assists as host Atlanta handed Memphis its seventh straight loss.

Magic 100, Timberwolves 89: Dwight Howard had 23 points and 14 rebounds, Rashard Lewis also scored 23 points, and host Orlando opened the third quarter with a 20-8 run, taking a 64-46 lead and never looking back in cruising past Minnesota.

Bobcats 103, Thunder 97: Emeka Okafor had 25 points and 13 rebounds, and Jason Richardson scored 18 to surpass 10,000 points in his career as host Charlotte beat Oklahoma City to win consecutive games under coach Larry Brown for the first time.

Trail Blazers 98, Wizards 92: Brandon Roy scored 12 of his 22 points in the final 8 minutes, and rookie Greg Oden had 13 points and 10 rebounds for his sixth double-double in the past 12 games to help visiting Portland beat Washington for its sixth straight victory.

Bucks 97, Bulls 90: Charlie Villanueva came off the bench to score 11 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, Dan Gadzuric added 11 points and 14 rebounds, and host Milwaukee used a 13-3 run early in the fourth quarter to open an 89-75 lead and Chicago got no closer than five thereafter.

Rockets 103, Clippers 96: Yao Ming had 24 points and 10 rebounds, Rafer Alston hit five 3-pointers and added 21, and host Houston, playing its fourth straight game without Tracy McGrady (sore left knee), beat Los Angeles for the seventh straight time.

Heat 93, Jazz 89: Dwyane Wade scored 23 points and visiting Miami beat short-handed Utah, which played without Carlos Boozer (strained left quadricep), Andrei Kirilenko (sore right ankle) and Matt Harpring (sore back).