Allen, Celtics hold off Rockets

Basketball Betting Lines

11/04/2008 - Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ray Allen scored 29, including 11 straight Boston points in the fourth quarter, boosting the Celtics to a 103-99 victory over Houston, handing the Rockets their first loss of the season.

Kevin Garnett tallied 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics, who bounced back from a 16-point loss at Indiana on Saturday. Kendrick Perkins had 15 points and seven rebounds, while Paul Pierce contributed 13 points and nine boards.

Tracy McGrady scored 26 and Luis Scola posted 21 points and nine rebounds for the Rockets, who were attempting to start the season with four straight wins for the first time since 1996-97.

Ron Artest added 15 points, but Yao Ming was limited to eight points and seven rebounds on 4-of-14 shooting.

The last time the Celtics came into Houston, this past March 18, they stopped the second-longest victory surge in NBA history with a 94-74 win, snapping the Rockets' 22-game winning streak.

On Tuesday night, the Celtics wasted a big first-half lead, but held on down the stretch.

Artest hit a pair of free throws, one from a technical on Celtics coach Doc Rivers, giving Houston an 86-85 edge with just under eight minutes left.

Garnett then nailed a jumper to start an 8-0 Boston run. Allen scored Boston's next 11 points. He drained a foul shot after Rafer Alston was hit with a technical. Allen later canned a three-pointer and another jumper for a 98-91 difference.

Scola's layup had the Rockets within 98-95, but the Celtics got a jumper from Garnett and Pierce hit 1-of-2 free throws for a 101-95 lead with 47 seconds remaining.

McGrady converted a pair from the foul line 13 seconds later, and after Pierce missed a jumper, McGrady was fouled by Tony Allen on a supposed three-point try. McGrady seemed to try a pass to Scola, but officials used video review to determine he was in a shooting motion. McGrady made both 2-of-3 free throws with 10.3 seconds left for a 101-99 margin, but Eddie House nailed two foul shots to seal the victory.

Houston scored the game's first six points, but Boston surged with a 15-4 run later in the quarter and led 28-22 going to the second.

A tough three-point play by Glen Davis extended the margin to 43-27 with 7 1/2 minutes remaining in the half, but Houston responded with an ensuing 25-4 blitz to go in front. Brent Barry's layup, following a long pass from McGrady and a jumper from Aaron Brooks, culminated the flurry for a 52-47 lead with under three minutes remaining in the second quarter.

Ray Allen, though, moved the Celtics ahead with a personal 7-0 run, and it was 58-53 at the half. Boston held a slim 81-78 edge going into the fourth.

Game Notes

Ray Allen went 11-of-15 from the field before fouling out with 33.9 seconds remaining...Rajon Rondo had 10 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for Boston, which shot 51.9 percent from the field...Brooks had 12 points...The Rockets shot 39.1 percent from the floor... Boston swept the season series between the two clubs last season, winning both games, and has won four of its past five games against the Rockets.

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