Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

March 2

NBA Roundup: Sloppy Celtics still prevail

The Associated Press

BOSTON - Paul Pierce had 26 points, Jeff Green scored 14 of his 18 in the second half and the Boston Celtics overcame foul trouble and some erratic free throw shooting in a 94-86 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night.

Golden State guard Stephen Curry, coming off a 54-point performance Wednesday in a loss at New York, was held to 25 on 6-of-22 shooting.

Kevin Garnett pulled down 13 rebounds as the Celtics improved to 3-3 since the All-Star break despite playing much of the second half without their starting backcourt. Point guard Avery Bradley went to the bench early in the third quarter with his fifth foul and Courtney Lee picked up his fourth late in the third.

But the Celtics managed to pull ahead slowly in the fourth, taking a 13-point lead that was too much for the road-weary Warriors to overcome.

Golden State was able to keep it close most of the way by capitalizing on many Boston mistakes, including 9-of-16 free throw shooting in the first half.

Bradley picked up his third foul with 1:05 left in the second quarter, then two more in the first 3:59 of the third period. He fouled Curry for his fifth personal with 8:01 to go in the third and was quickly called back to the bench before Curry made both his free throws to put Golden State up 54-53.

Boston committed seven turnovers in the period, but finished it off on a 9-2 run and led 69-62 entering the final quarter.

The Celtics scored nine straight before Carl Landry's putback ended a scoring drought that lasted nearly 4 minutes. The Warriors went without a point from Landry's jumper that tied the score at 60 with 3:55 left in the third until Landry put back an offensive rebound with 3 seconds left.

KNICKS 96, WIZARDS 88: Even if New York was looking ahead to its game against the Miami Heat, Carmelo Anthony made sure his team still picked up a victory over Washington along the way.

Anthony scored 30 points, Raymond Felton added 23, J.R. Smith chipped in with 13 points and 12 rebounds, and some strong defense allowed the Knicks to beat the Wizards.

PACERS 93, RAPTORS 81: Paul George had 22 points and 10 rebounds, David West had 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Indiana beat host Toronto.

Roy Hibbert returned from a one-game suspension to score 18 points as the Central Division leaders won for the sixth time in seven games.

Rudy Gay scored 21 points and Alan Anderson had 14 for the Raptors, who have lost three straight and four of five.

ROCKETS 118, MAGIC 110: James Harden had 24 points, and Chandler Parsons and Carlos Delfino added 21 apiece as Houston rallied in the fourth quarter for a win over host Orlando.

The Rockets stopped a two-game skid and ended a five-game losing streak to the Magic. Houston trailed by two late in the game, before using an 11-0 run to seize control.

The Rockets return home to host Dallas on Sunday as they try to stay in the Western Conference playoff picture.

CLIPPERS 105, CAVALIERS 89: Jamal Crawford scored 24 points, making a pair of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, and Chris Paul had 15 assists as Los Angeles ran away in the final period for its first win in Cleveland since 2002.

(Continued on page 2)

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