Celtics dim Rockets' red glare, stop streak

HOUSTON -- The shots stopped falling, Boston's stars took over and just like that, the Houston Rockets' 22-game winning streak was history.

Kevin Garnett scored 22 points, and Paul Pierce added 20 as the Celtics beat the Rockets 94-74 on Tuesday night, stopping Houston's remarkable victory run.

The Rockets hadn't lost since a 97-89 defeat to Utah on Jan.27 and put together the NBA's second-longest winning streak. It ended 11 victories shy of the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers, who won 33 in a row.

It was only Houston's second loss in 28 games and its fourth since a 97-93 loss in Boston on Jan.2, a game Tracy McGrady sat out with a knee injury. The Rockets also lost for the first time in 11 games since Yao Ming went out with a season-ending foot injury on Feb.26.

Reserve Leon Powe from Oakland added 21 points for the Celtics, who've won 13 of their last 14 games, the last three without All- Star guard Ray Allen, who's out with a sore left ankle.

Pistons 136, Nuggets 120

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Richard Hamilton scored 24 points, Rasheed Wallace added 21, and Detroit beat Denver. The Pistons scored a season-high 73 points in the first half.

Lakers 102, Mavericks 100

DALLAS -- Kobe Bryant scored 29 points, and Los Angeles held off Dallas.

Bryant scored nine of his 29 points in the second half. He also jammed his hip. This was Los Angeles' second straight game without Pau Gasol and before the game coach Phil Jackson said center Andrew Bynum probably won't return until the playoffs.

Suns 111, Trail Blazers 98

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Amare Stoudemire scored 25 points, Shaquille O'Neal had 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Phoenix cruised to its fifth straight win.

Bulls 112, Nets 96

CHICAGO -- Luol Deng scored 20 points, and Drew Gooden had 19 points and 11 rebounds as Chicago beat New Jersey.

Heat 112, Bucks 106

MILWAUKEE -- Jason Williams and Ricky Davis had double-doubles, Chris Quinn hit three crucial 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, and Miami snapped an 0-for-March streak by beating Milwaukee.

Notes

Chris Bosh plans to be back on the court today when the Toronto Raptors host the Miami Heat. Bosh has missed Toronto's last nine games with a sore right knee. ... Allen Iverson returns to Philadelphia today to face his former team for the first time since being traded to the Nuggets in December 2006.

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