ATLANTA — The Boston Celtics looked to Kevin Garnett in the fourth quarter.

Garnett scored 10 of his 18 points in the final quarter, and Atlanta's Joe Johnson missed a late free throw that would have tied it, helping the Celtics beat the Hawks, 88-85, last night for their 16th straight victory.

After Johnson missed the second of two free throws with 2.7 seconds to play, Ray Allen made a pair of free throws with 0.7 seconds left for the defending NBA champion Celtics, who have a franchise-best 24-2 record. It was only the second loss in 10 home games for the Hawks.

"I told KG to take us home down the stretch," Celtics guard Rajon Rondo said. "I said make something happen. He said no problem."

Garnett, quiet for much of the game, was 5-for-5 from the field in the fourth quarter after opening 2-for-10.

"It means we're playing well. We want to play championship basketball. That's what we're building up to. Our goal is to win a championship," said Garnett. "You play your role. You do your job. You do what you're supposed to."

In the only other game this season between the two, the Celtics beat Atlanta, 103-102, on Nov. 12 in Boston on Paul Pierce's last-second basket.

Last night, Pierce added 18 points, and Allen had 16.

The Celtics are 10-1 on the road and 14-1 at home.

"Sometimes it seems as though it's a burden. That monkey grows. It's a good monkey though," Allen said. "I've never been on a streak like this."