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Paul Pierce of the Celtics - Source: Reuters -
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Paul Pierce sparked the unbeaten Boston Celtics with 27 points
in a 97-87 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on mONday.
Boston (4-0) broke a 74-74 tie with six consecutive points in the
fourth quarter to take control.
But it took an 10-3 run keyed by Pierce and Kevin Garnett late in
the quarter to finish off the pesky Hornets (1-2), who got 26
points from Peja Stojakovic including the visitors' first 11 points
of the quarter
"It went through KG (Garnett) and Paul and it really was a two-man
game," Celtics coach Doc Rivers told reporters. "We basically said
if they switch, post them; if they don't, Paul, turn the
corner."
Overall, though, Rivers was not pleased with the way the Celtics
played.
"So far this year, we've done a great job of each game building and
improving. This was not one of those nights," Rivers said. "We
absolutely didn't improve tonight. We just won a game."
Ray Allen added 17 points for the Celtics with Garnett scoring 14
and Kendrick Perkins and Rasheed Wallace getting 12 each.
Garnett also had seven rebounds and five assists, three in the key
fourth-quarter run.
"That's what I'm in there for," Garnett said. "I'm in there trying
to wreak havoc on defense and then trying to make it easy for
everybody else."
Stojakovic, who had six three-pointers for the game, did not start
for the Hornets but made his presence felt in the second
half.
From the 3:15 mark of the third quarter until six minutes remained
in the game, he scored 16 of New Orleans's 23 points.
Hornets guard Chris Paul added 22 points and eight assists for the
game but New Orleans coach Byron Scott said they needed more help
to beat the Celtics.
"The one thing I told our guys, I said, 'That is truly a team over
there,'" Scott said. "They talk to each other on the floor. They
communicate extremely well. They cover each other's back.
"We are a team right now that has a bunch of individuals that are
playing."
Results from NBA games on Monday (home team in
CAPS)
Orlando 125
TORONTO 116
BOSTON 97 New
Orleans 87
MIAMI 95
Chicago
87
Portland 83 OKLAHOMA CITY 74
DENVER 133
Memphis 123
PHOENIX 120 Minnesota
112
