Kevin Garnett had 17 points and 13 rebounds — one of three Boston players with a double-double — to lead the Celtics to their 12th straight NBA win, 102-90 over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday.
Paul Pierce had 15 points and 10 assists, while Glen Davis had 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Atlanta’s Marvin Williams had a season-best 26 points and Jeff Teague scored 18.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Boston point guard Rajon Rondo missed the game with a sprained ankle and is expected to be sidelined at least a week. Celtics center Shaquille O’Neal was also out, missing his fourth straight game with a calf strain.
Boston led by six points entering the final quarter, but the Hawks closed within 77-75. The Celtics then scored seven straight points, making it 84-77 with just under eight minutes to play and set up victory.
SPURS 113, NUGGETS 112
In Denver, Colorado, Manu Ginobili sparked the Spurs to a big fourth-quarter lead and he drew the foul that negated Carmelo Anthony’s winning basket in San Antonio’s escape from the Nuggets.
The Spurs led 111-108 with eight seconds left when Anthony got behind the defense for a dunk. Antonio McDyess’ inbounds pass was deflected by J.R. Smith off Ginobili’s head and into the arms of Anthony, whose basket gave the Nuggets a 112-111 lead with 7.1 seconds left.
Ginobili’s running bank shot at 4.2 seconds put the Spurs back on top 113-112.
After a timeout, Anthony got the inbounds pass from Ty Lawson and drove the lane. He ran over Ginobili as he made a buzzer-beater that was called off for an offensive charging foul.
After a review, the officials put 0.4 seconds back on the clock, and the Spurs inbounded the ball for the win.
NETS 97, WIZARDS 89
In Newark, New Jersey, the hosts snapped an eight-game losing slump by beating Washington.
Devin Harris had 29 points and nine assists, while Brook Lopez added 18 points for the Nets, who led by 23 points in the second quarter.
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