Rajon Rondo recorded 16 points and five
steals, while Paul Pierce chipped in 16 points and seven assists, as the
Celtics came alive late to upend the winless Nets, 86-76.
Ray Allen scored eight of his 12 points in the fourth quarter, and Kevin
Garnett and Kendrick Perkins each tallied nine points to go with 13 and eight
rebounds, respectively, in the win.
Boston was coming off its first loss of the season, a 110-103 setback to
Phoenix on Friday, while the Nets have dropped their first seven games in the
worst start in franchise history.
Brook Lopez donated a game-high 23 points while grabbing seven rebounds, and
Rafer Alston logged 20 points and seven assists for New Jersey, which turned
the ball over 24 times in the loss.
"We put our best foot forward, we battled them for pretty much 48 minutes,"
Lopez said. "It's nothing to be ashamed of."
Boston's Brian Scalabrine opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer and a
jumper to give the visitors a 64-61 lead.
It was a one-point game before a pair of Allen buckets sparked an 8-2 Celtics
run that helped them pull away four minutes in.
"We got good looks [in the fourth quarter]," Allen said. "The last couple of
games we've been getting good looks but not knocking them down."
Lopez's basket with three minutes left cut New Jersey's deficit to 82-76, but
the Nets missed their final eight shots to fall just short.
A low-scoring first quarter finished close, 19-18, and both teams scored 21 in
the second as the Nets went up 40-39 at halftime.
Boston was held without a field goal in the final 5 1/2 minutes of the third,
but still only trailed 61-59 heading into the fourth.
Game Notes
Nets forward Chris Douglas-Roberts tested positive for the H1N1 virus before
the game and did not play. Also for New Jersey, Devin Harris missed his fifth
straight game with a strained groin, Yi Jianlian was out with a right MCL
sprain and Courtney Lee was sidelined with a strained left groin...Boston has
won 10 straight matchups with the Nets...Josh Boone grabbed 12 rebounds for
the Nets.
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