Celtics eclipse Suns 117-97

BOSTON: The Boston Celtics snapped a rare two-game losing streak with a 117-97 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, Kevin Garnett leading the rout with a 30-point haul.

Boston improved to an NBA-leading 56-15 as it maintained its march to the Eastern Conference top seed heading into the playoffs.

The victory allowed the Celtics to pull six games clear of the Detroit Pistons, who lost on Wednesday, for the East lead with 11 games remaining.

The Celtics avoided matching their season-worst losing streak of three games as they continue their amazing turnaround from also-rans to contenders since acquiring Garnett in the off-season.

"The whole face of the Celtics turned around when the trade happened with this guy," Paul Pierce, who added 27 points, told reporters.

"Everyone talks about MVP and they talk about numbers but this guy has changed the whole culture around here."

Pierce scored 12 of his points in the fourth quarter to help the Celtics pull away.

Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo both had 14 points and Kendrick Perkins chipped in with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Amare Stoudemire had 32 points to lead the Suns, who lost despite shooting 56 percent, dropping to 47-26 in the tight Western Conference standings.

The Suns were impressed with the Celtics after playing them just two days after they faced the Pistons.

"Both those teams (Boston and Detroit) you have to play damn near perfect basketball, especially at their place," Shaquille O'Neal said. "And tonight we didn't do that."

O'Neal added 16 points and seven rebounds for the Suns, who fell behind for good in the third quarter after the teams were tied 57-57 at halftime.

Phoenix has lost two straight after a seven-game winning streak brought the Suns to within a game of first-place Los Angeles in the Pacific Division.

In Cleveland, David West's 17-foot jumper, coming on Chris Paul's 20th assist, with less than a second left gave New Orleans its fifth straight win, a 100-99 decision over the Cavaliers.

Peja Stojakovic scored 25 points - 18 on 3-pointers - and West added 20 points for the Hornets, who came in with the Western Conference's best record and improved to 2-0 on a six-game road trip against Eastern Conference teams.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored a season-high 29 points with 15 rebounds for Cleveland, which had its nine-game home winning streak end.

In Los Angeles, Jason Richardson had 34 points and 10 rebounds to lead Charlotte to a stunning 108-95 win over the Los Angeles.

Lakers' star Kobe Bryant drew two technical fouls in a span of 29 seconds late in the fourth quarter and was ejected.

The loss dropped the Lakers into a three-way tie for second place in the Western Conference with Houston and San Antonio. They trail the West-leading New Orleans by one game.

The Bobcats snapped a six-game road losing streak but remain five games out of the last Eastern Conference playoff spot.

In Houston, Tracy McGrady scored 10 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and Luis Scola had 18 points and a career-high 18 rebounds for Houston. McGrady also had 11 rebounds and nine assists to help the Rockets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 97-86 and keep pace in the tight Western Conference race.

Al Jefferson had 21 and 10 rebounds for Minnesota.

In San Antonio, Tim Duncan had 26 points and 12 rebounds and San Antonio withstood a late rally from Los Angeles to beat the Clippers 97-88.

It was the fifth straight victory for the Spurs, who are in fifth place in the Western Conference and have a 1.5-game lead over Phoenix.

Corey Maggette scored 22 points for Los Angeles, which has lost nine in a row and is out of playoff contention.

Agencies

(China Daily 03/28/2008 page24)