Robinson leads Celtics to win over Pistons

[March 03, 2010]  AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- Nate Robinson scored 14 points in 16 minutes, Rajon Rondo added 15 points and 11 assists, and the Boston Celtics beat the Detroit Pistons 105-100 on Tuesday night.

The Celtics, playing for the first time since a humiliating home loss to the NBA-worst New Jersey Nets on Saturday, got 18 points from Ray Allen.

Jonas Jerebko scored 16 points for Detroit, which lost its fourth straight.

Rasheed Wallace missed a short jumper that could have given the Celtics a 10-point lead early in the third quarter, and his former team quickly rallied to pull within three.

Detroit continued to come back and took a 75-72 lead into the fourth, but the Celtics regained the advantage in the opening minutes of the period.

Robinson hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put Boston up 89-81 with seven minutes left. The Pistons were within 95-90 with 1:13 remaining, but Ben Wallace missed a pair of free throws, then had to be helped off the floor with a right knee injury. Wallace is 2 for 20 from the free throw line in Detroit's last five games.

Tayshaun Prince hit a 3-pointer -- Detroit's second in 18 attempts -- but the Celtics clinched the game from the line.

NOTES: Paul Pierce returned after missing three games with a sprained thumb, but Kendrick Perkins (flu-like symptoms) missed the game. ... Prince left late in the third quarter after badly twisting his left ankle, but returned midway through the fourth. ... Jerebko, playing on his 23rd birthday, was the Eastern Conference's rookie of the month for February. ... Rondo reached double figures in assists for the seventh straight game, the longest streak by a Celtic since Tiny Archibald did it in seven straight games in 1981-82.

[Associated Press]

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