The Boston Celtics notched a 14th consecutive NBA win on Friday, with Paul Pierce contributing 28 points to a 94-82 victory over the New Orleans Hornets.
Kevin Garnett had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics, who took the lead with a 17-4 run early in the third quarter and never trailed again while improving to a league-best 22-2 this season.
After trailing by 14 points in the fourth quarter, New Orleans cut it to 89-82 before the Celtics put it away.
PHOTO: AP
Suns 113, Magic 112
In Phoenix, Grant Hill made a reverse layup with 2.7 seconds left to lift Phoenix over Orlando.
The narrow victory was the Suns’ sixth in a row against the Magic.
Pistons 114, Pacers 110
In Auburn Hills, Michigan, Richard Hamilton scored 28 points for slumping Detroit to edge Indiana.
Allen Iverson had 17 points and 12 assists for the out-of-form Pacers.
Indiana has lost five straight.
Cavaliers 88, 76ers 72
In Cleveland, the home side matched a club record with its 11th straight win, downing Philadelphia.
LeBron James scored 28 points and Anderson Varejao added 17 for the Cavaliers, who improved to 13-0 at home while adding another victory to their longest winning streak since the 1993-94 season.
Cleveland can set a team record for consecutive wins in Atlanta on Saturday.
Lakers 112, Kings 103
In Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant scored 32 points as Los Angeles avenged a loss to Sacramento earlier in the week.
Pau Gasol had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who suffered one of only three defeats this season at the hands of the otherwise struggling Kings on Tuesday.
Hawks 87, Heat 73
In Miami, Atlanta overcame a poor start to comfortably beat Miami.
Joe Johnson scored 21 points, while Mike Bibby and Josh Smith each added 15 for the Hawks, who scored the final 14 points of the third quarter, blowing open the game on the way to snapping a three-game losing streak.
Miami, which lost for the first time in five games, missed nine straight shots during one second-half lull, plus were outscored 23-4 in fast-break points and were a mere 4-for-10 from the foul line, compared with Atlanta’s 24-for-32.
Rockets 119, Warriors 108
In Oakland, California, Tracy McGrady just missed a triple-double in his return to the court as Houston beat Golden State.
Yao Ming had 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Rockets, who moved to their best record after 23 games for 12 years.
McGrady, who was injured the last seven games, had 24 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
In other NBA action, it was:
• Raptors 101, Nets 79
• Clippers 120, ’Blazers 112, 2OT
• Grizzlies 103, Bulls 96
• Spurs 98, Timberwolves 86
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