KG Carries Celtics to 7th Straight Win

[January 03, 2008]  BOSTON (AP) -- Kevin Garnett scored 11 of his 26 points in the last seven minutes on Wednesday night, adding nine rebounds to help the Boston Celtics beat the Houston Rockets 97-93 and earn their seventh consecutive victory.

Paul Pierce scored 19 points and assisted on four key baskets down the stretch as the Celtics improved to 27-3 to match the best 30-game start in the shot-clock era. Five other teams have lost just three of their first 30 games, including the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls who finished the season with an NBA-record 72 wins.

Yao Ming had 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Rockets, who were without Tracy McGrady for the fourth consecutive game because of a sore left knee. Both Scot Pollard and Kendrick Perkins fouled out trying to guard Yao before Garnett took on the job himself.

The Celtics led by 20 points in the second quarter and eight points at the end of three. It was 78-70 with 10:29 left in the game when Rafer Alston and Bonzi Wells combined for nine straight points and Luis Scola hit two free throws, completing the 11-0 run and giving Houston an 81-78 lead.

The Rockets led 84-81 when Pierce hit Garnett for a short turnaround jumper and then Pierce came up with a loose ball, chucking it ahead to Ray Allen for the fast-break layup that gave Boston the lead with 6:17 left. After Yao missed a baby hook, Garnett got the rebound and, at the other end, made a jumper from the right side of the basket as the shot clock expired.

Shane Battier hit a 3-pointer to tie it 87-all, but Rajon Rondo made a surprisingly easy drive into the lane to give Boston the lead for good. Garnett hit a fallaway from the left side to make it 91-87 with 2:41 left, then hit a jumper to make it a four-point game.

After the Rockets called timeout with 2:22 left, Garnett came back on the court with his arms raised together like a ballet dancer preparing to pirouette. The crowd rose to a throaty roar as Garnett's hands reached toward the 16 NBA championship banners in the rafters.

Alston, standing laneside awaiting the free throws, just smiled. Wells hit a pair of free throws, then Garnett hit one of two before stealing an entry pass to Yao. Pierce set Garnett up at the other end for a jumper that gave Boston a 94-89 lead, then did it again with a backward bounce pass to clinch the game with 22.2 seconds left.

Notes: Garnett, who received four stitches after getting hit in Sunday's game against the Lakers, played with a bandage over his right eye. ... The Celtics improved to 9-0 against the West. ... Rockets G Steve Francis did not make the trip to Boston because of tendinitis in his quadriceps. ... Rondo had two turnovers, his first since Dec. 23 against Orlando. ... Pollard got a standing ovation after fouling out with 10:13 left in the game. Yao had 17 points and 12 rebounds at the time.

[Associated Press; By JIMMY GOLEN]

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