The Boston Celtics snapped a two-game losing streak with a 105-100 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday.
Ray Allen led a strong team effort with 18 points while Rajon Rondo added 15 and 11 assists for the Celtics, who welcomed back All Star forward Paul Pierce after he missed the three previous games with a thumb injury.
“It’s a long season and you definitely have your ups and downs,” Allen told reporters. “When you hit a skid, you’ve just got to stick together and weather the storm. When everybody’s minds and hearts are in the right place, it recycles itself and you go on an upward swing.”
The game had been tied at 79-79 in the fourth before Boston went on a 10-2 run that gave them the advantage they held until the end. The Celtics scored 33 points in the final quarter.
Rookie Jonas Jerebko led the Pistons with 16 points and 10 rebounds while Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince scored 15 points each.
The Celtics had lost three of their four previous games, which included a defeat to the NBA-worst New Jersey Nets.
Boston, who had also lost in their other match against Detroit this season, had opened an eight-point lead in the third before the Pistons tied it in the fourth.
The Celtics bench, however, responded with Nate Robinson’s two straight three-pointers helping the visitors an 89-81 advantage with 7:05 remaining.
Robinson finished with 14 points. Pierce had nine points, but attempted just seven shots, including one three-pointer.
“Paul [Pierce] really struggled out there but that’s fine,” Boston coach Doc Rivers said. “The bottom line is we have to use these games to get Paul going. He’ll be better.”
Heat 110, Warriors 106
Dwyane Wade had 35 points and 12 assists as the Miami Heat snapped a four-game slide by digging deep late to beat the Golden State Warriors 110-106 on Tuesday.
Quentin Richardson scored 15, including two big 3-pointers in the final minutes, for the Heat. Michael Beasley also had 15 points, while Jermaine O’Neal and Carlos Arroyo each added 14 for Miami, which moved a half-game ahead of Charlotte in the race for the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Anthony Morrow scored 24 points, C.J. Watson had 20 and Stephen Curry added 18 for Golden State.
Lakers 122, Pacers 99
At Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant scored 24 points, hitting 14 of 15 free throws, as Los Angeles pulled away with a dominating third-quarter run.
Andrew Bynum added 16 points and Pau Gasol had 14 points and 16 rebounds for the defending NBA champions, who fell behind early before improving to 14-0 against the Pacers at Staples Center.
Troy Murphy had 17 points and 13 rebounds, Dahntay Jones scored 16 points, Josh McRoberts had 15 and Earl Watson finished with 10 assists for the Pacers.
Thunder 113, Kings 107
At Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant had 39 points and 10 rebounds, and Russell Westbrook added 30 points and 13 assists as Oklahoma City beat the Sacramento Kings to complete a perfect three-game homestand.
Rookie Tyreke Evans led Sacramento with 27 points. Carl Landry added 17 points, and Beno Udrih and Francisco Garcia scored 13 apiece.
Jeff Green had 15 points and Nenad Krstic finished with 14 points and nine rebounds for Oklahoma City.
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