NBA Roundup
Celtics 94, Rockets 74
Houston – The shots stopped falling, Boston’s stars took over and just like that, the Houston Rockets’ 22-game winning streak was history.
Kevin Garnett scored 22 points, and Paul Pierce added 20 as the Celtics beat the Rockets , stopping Houston’s remarkable victory run.
The Rockets hadn’t lost since a 97-89 defeat to Utah on Jan. 27 and put together the NBA’s second-longest winning streak. It ended 11 victories shy of the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers, who won 33 in a row.
It was only Houston’s second loss in 28 games and its fourth since a 97-93 loss in Boston on Jan. 2, a game Tracy McGrady sat out because of a knee injury. The Rockets also lost for the first time in 11 games since Yao Ming went out with a season-ending foot injury on Feb. 26.
Luis Scola scored 15 for Houston, which had a 15-game home streak snapped. Only the 1985-86 Rockets, who won 20 straight at The Summit, had a longer home-court streak in franchise history. McGrady had eight assists and seven rebounds, but only eight points on 4-for-11 shooting.
Reserve Leon Powe added 21 points for the Celtics, who have won 13 of their last 14 games.
Pistons 136, Nuggets 120
Auburn Hills, Mich. – Richard Hamilton scored 24 points and Rasheed Wallace added 21.
Bulls 112, Nets 96
Chicago – Luol Deng scored 20 points, and Drew Gooden had 19 points and 11 rebounds as Chicago built a big halftime lead.
Kings 122, Warriors 105
Sacramento, Calif. – Kevin Martin scored 34 points, and Ron Artest added 26.
Heat 112, Bucks 106
Milwaukee – Jason Williams and Ricky Davis had double-doubles, Chris Quinn hit three crucial three-pointers in the fourth quarter, and Miami snapped an 0-for-March streak.
Lakers 102, Mavericks 100
Dallas – Kobe Bryant scored 29 points, and Vladimir Radmanovic scored 10 of his 21 in the final quarter.
Suns 111, Blazers 98
Portland, Ore. – Amare Stoudemire scored 25 points, Shaquille O’Neal had 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Phoenix cruised to its fifth straight victory.