Celtics on 1st 9-Game Streak in 14 Years

[December 17, 2007]  TORONTO (AP) -- Paul Pierce scored 18 points, Kevin Garnett had 16 and the Boston Celtics extended their winning streak to nine games by beating the Toronto Raptors 90-77 Sunday. Rajon Rondo had 14, Eddie House came off the bench to score 11 and Tony Allen had 10.

Atlantic Division-leading Boston (20-2) matched its longest winning streak since March 16-31, 1993.

Boston's only other 20-2 start came en route to the 1963-64 NBA championship.

The Celtics won their second straight game without guard Ray Allen (sore right ankle). Allen, who remained in Boston for treatment, is expected to return when Boston hosts Detroit on Wednesday.

Chris Bosh had 17 points and 13 rebounds as Toronto lost for the first time in five games.

Jamario Moon had 13 and Kris Humphries had 12 for Toronto, whose 77 points were a season-low. Toronto's previous low was 84, set in a Dec. 7 loss at Boston.

Toronto trailed 71-54 after three quarters before opening the fourth with a 7-0 run, cutting the gap to 10. But with Garnett back on the floor, he and Pierce scored six points in an 8-2 run that put Boston up 80-63 with 5:52 remaining.

The Celtics led 27-17 after the first quarter thanks to 10 points from Pierce and poor shooting by the Raptors, who went 4-for-17 in the opening frame.

After Anthony Parker's 3-pointer at 2:50 of the first, the Raptors didn't make another field goal until a dunk by Humphries at 8:45 of the second, with just a pair of free throws by Bosh in between.

Humphries' basket ended an 11-0 run, but by then the Celtics led 35-19, widening the gap to 21 on a layup by Pierce and a 3-pointer by Allen.

Boston led 50-36 at the half.

Notes: The start of the second half was delayed by 14 minutes because of a leak in the roof at the Air Canada Centre, leaving water dripping onto the floor near the Celtics' bench. ... Boston has won all three regular-season meetings against Toronto this season, and won a preseason matchup in Rome.

[Associated Press; By DOUG FERGUSON]

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