PORTLAND, Ore. — Ray Allen scored 21 points, including eight straight early in the fourth quarter to stymie a run by Portland, and the Boston Celtics beat the Trail Blazers 96-76 on Friday night.
Kevin Garnett scored 13 of his 16 points in the first half, helping the Celtics on the second night of a difficult West Coast two-step. After holding off the Lakers 87-86 Thursday night in Los Angeles, the Celtics easily dispatched a rested Portland team and handed the Blazers their worst loss of the season.
Garnett and his frontcourt mates dominated the interior in the first half, as Boston built an 18-point halftime lead. When Portland made its charge in the fourth quarter, Allen knocked down a pair of key 3s to keep the lead in double figures.
Andre Miller led the Blazers with 16 points, but the debut of Marcus Camby in Portland was a dud. Camby made his first shot, then missed his next four. He finished with two points and seven rebounds in 29 minutes.
All-Star Brandon Roy played 34 minutes in just his second game since Jan. 20. Roy made three of eight shots and finished with nine points, but struggled to get open looks and appeared distracted by his gimpy leg.
How frustrating was it for Roy? In one of his swiftest moves of the night, Roy sprinted baseline to gather a rebound and dunk, only to be called for having his heel on the baseline.
But for all the angst by the Blazers flat first three quarters they pulled within nine on Rudy Fernandez’s three-point play to open the fourth. But Fernandez was called for charging on consecutive possessions — both drawn by Glen Davis and both waiving off made baskets — and two Allen 3-pointers quickly pushed the lead back to 15.
Portland’s 76 points were a season low.
The short-handed Celtics got 33 points from their bench while still waiting for the arrival of Nate Robinson.
Acquired in a trade with the Knicks, Robinson will remain on the East Coast while recovering from the flu before joining his new team.
Jazz 100, Warriors 89
OAKLAND, Calif. — Carlos Boozer had 30 points and 16 rebounds, Andrei Kirilenko scored 22 points and Utah extended their longest road winning streak in eight years with a win over Golden State. Utah’s six-game winning streak on the road is its longest since winning six straight from Feb. 12-20, 2002.
Bobcats 110, Cavaliers 93
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Stephen Jackson scored 29 points and Charlotte took advantage of Antawn Jamison’s miserable debut for Cleveland in a victory that sent the NBA-best Cavaliers to their second straight loss.
Wizards 107, Nuggets 97
WASHINGTON — Al Thornton scored 21 points in his Washington debut and Josh Howard added 20 to lead Washington.
Raptors 106, Nets 89
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Rasho Nesterovic scored a season-high 16 points replacing a sidelined Chris Bosh and Toronto dropped New Jersey to 5-50.
Suns 88, Hawks 80
PHOENIX — Amare Stoudemire scored 22 points for his ninth straight game over 20 to lead Phoenix.
Mavericks 95, Magic 85
ORLANDO, Fla. — Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points and Dallas rode a strong defensive effort to beat Orlando.
76ers 106, Spurs 94
PHILADELPHIA — Lou Williams scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, fueling a decisive run that lifted Philadelphia.
Hornets 107, Pacers 101
NEW ORLEANS — Rookie Darren Collison registered his first career triple-double with 18 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists for New Orleans.
Bulls 100, Timberwolves 94
MINNEAPOLIS — Kirk Hinrich had 20 points and helped Chicago defeat Minnesota.
Bucks 91, Pistons 85
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — John Salmons had 18 points, including a game-clinching 3-pointer, in his Milwaukee debut.
Heat 100, Grizzlies 87 (2OT)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Michael Beasley scored a career-high with 30 points and Miami won its season-best fifth straight by defeating Memphis in double overtime.
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