Celtics beat Jazz 100-91 for 15th straight win

[December 16, 2008]  BOSTON (AP) -- Rajon Rondo scored 12 of his career-high 25 points in the final 5:20, and Kevin Garnett had 19 points and 10 rebounds on Monday night to lead the Boston Celtics to their 15th consecutive victory, 100-91 over the Utah Jazz.

Kendrick Perkins added 15 points and 14 rebounds for Boston, which avenged the worst loss of its championship season. Paul Pierce scored 15 points before he hurt his left knee during a scramble for a defensive rebound with 31 seconds left.

"It should be all right," Pierce said. "I put a little weight on it. It didn't go back that far, so it should be all right."

Paul Millsap scored a career-high 32 points with 10 rebounds for Utah.

For Boston, the victory was payback of sorts for a 110-92 loss to the Jazz last March -- the Celtics' worst loss of last season, when they cruised to a 66-16 record and their 17th NBA title. Pierce was the Most Valuable Player of the finals, and fans chanted "M-V-P!" when he was helped off the court at the end of the game.

Rondo also had nine rebounds, eight assists and three steals.

The Jazz were within 89-85 after Deron Williams' 3-pointer with 3:23 left. But Rondo drove for a one-handed bank shot and then, after Williams sank a basket, Rondo made a free throw and Perkins hit a turnaround hook shot in the lane.

Williams, who scored 15, hit another basket, but Perkins sank one of two free throws and Rondo made a spinning reverse bank shot from under the basket to make it 97-89 with 43 seconds left.

The game seesawed through the first three quarters, with Boston opening a 12-point lead in the first, giving it back in the second and then going up 60-51 midway through the third.

Notes: Swimmer Michael Phelps, who won eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympics, attended the game along with Jared from the Subway commercials. ... Celtics G Eddie House was not with the team so he could attend the funeral of his aunt. Coach Doc Rivers said he did not know when House would return. ... Jazz F Carlos Boozer missed the game with a strained left quadriceps. ... Perkins had a double-double at halftime with 12 points and 10 rebounds. ... The best start in NBA history with two losses is 26-2, set by the 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers and matched by the '69-70 Knicks.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.