The Boston Celtics swept to a confidence-boosting 119-93 win over the Detroit Pistons on Monday, quickly returning to form after losing to conference rivals Cleveland a day earlier.
The Celtics (42-24), coming into the game on the back of three defeats in four, cruised to a 64-35 halftime lead and were able to rest most of their starters for the fourth quarter.
Kevin Garnett had 14 points and eight rebounds while Paul Pierce and Ray Allen both scored 15.
“We have been talking and talking. At some point it’s time to show some actions,” Garnett told reporters. “I’ll take it though, hands down night and day, as far as yesterday (in Cleveland) till today.”
Will Bynum had 16 points and seven assists for the woeful Pistons (23-44), who were beaten for the ninth time in 11 contests and lost forward Tayshaun Prince in the first quarter to a back injury.
Detroit has suffered injuries to key players for most of the season and appears certain to miss out on the playoffs for the first time since the 2000-2001 campaign.
The Celtics are trying to return to their championship form of two seasons ago but appear to be slowing with an aging roster. Boston is just 19-19 overall since Christmas Day and have made a few trades in an attempt to rejuvenate the team.
Veteran acquisition Michael Finley, who was signed on March 6, contributed 15 points for his best game with his new squad.
“I didn’t know what to expect, honestly,” Boston coach Doc Rivers said.
“He hadn’t played a lot this year with San Antonio and he wasn’t making shots. I just don’t believe a guy can forget how to shoot. So we thought if we could get him in here and get him some looks... they would go in.”
In a dominating effort, every Celtics player in action managed to score and the home team shot 62 percent from the field.
LAKERS 124, WARRIORS 121
At Oakland, Kobe Bryant scored 29 points and Pau Gasol added 26 to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to their ninth straight victory over the Golden State Warriors.
Andrew Bynum added 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Lamar Odom had 17 points and 12 boards for the Lakers, who have won three straight following their first three-game losing streak in more than two years.
The Lakers led by 11 late in the fourth quarter but barely held on for the victory. It wasn’t sealed until Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis missed 3-pointers in the final seconds. Ellis’ last-ditch attempt bounced on the rim three times before falling aside at the buzzer.
Curry scored 29 points for the Warriors, who have lost seven of eight.
ROCKETS 125, NUGGETS 123
At Houston, Aaron Brooks scored 31 points, including a jumper with 2.9 seconds left, to help the Rockets end Denver’s six-game winning streak.
Carmelo Anthony scored 45 points for the Nuggets, but missed a 3-point attempt at the buzzer. Luis Scola grabbed the final rebound and finished with 23 points and 11 boards.
Scola, coming off a career-high 44-point game, converted a key three-point play with 41 seconds remaining to put Houston ahead 122-121.
Kevin Martin scored 29 points for Houston while Chauncey Billups and J.R. Smith added 17 apiece for the Nuggets.
JAZZ 112, WIZARDS 89
At Salt Lake City, Carlos Boozer scored 23 points and Deron Williams notched his 35th double-double of the season as Utah ended a two-game losing streak by beating Washington.
Williams finished with 17 points and 11 assists. Andray Blatche scored 24 points and Mike Miller added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Wizards.
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