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Celtics' streak reaches 13 with win over Pacers

Dec 20, 2010 - 6:15 AM Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Paul Pierce fashioned his seventh career triple- double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists as Boston pushed its winning streak to 13 games with a 99-88 decision over Indiana at TD Garden.

"With this team, especially with the injuries we have, he's been a great utility guy," Boston head coach Doc Rivers said about Pierce taking on a new role as the facilitator in the absence of injured point guard Rajon Rondo.

Nate Robinson and Glen Davis each contributed 18 points for the Celtics, who have now forged the longest win string in the league this season. Ray Allen supplied 17 points while Shaquille O'Neal added 11 as Boston improved to 12-1 at home.

Danny Granger scored 19 points and Roy Hibbert chipped in with 17 points and 14 boards for the Pacers, who lost for a fourth time in five games after shooting an unsightly 35.4 percent from the field.

"They're (Boston) so tied in together offensively and defensively you almost have to play a perfect game to beat them," Granger said. "We missed a lot of shots but we missed them because they were in our face for most of those shots. They're a really good defensive team."

Trailing by four entering the fourth quarter, the Pacers pulled to within 71-70 on a James Posey three-pointer, but the Celtics countered with a 10-2 run that ended with a Kevin Garnett jumper for an 81-72 lead with 7 1/2 minutes to go in the game.

Indiana got within 85-81 on a Hibbert slam less than two minutes later, but an 8-2 surge by the hosts that Davis finished with a jumper increased the lead to 10 with just under 2 1/2 minutes to go.

The Pacers never got closer than seven the rest of the way.

O'Neal scored all of his points in the first quarter as the Celtics made 11- of-19 from the floor to take a 30-23 lead.

Despite shooting 40 percent (20-for-50), Indiana trailed by only 51-48 at the intermission behind 12 points from Granger and 10 from Darren Collison.

The Pacers took a 57-56 lead before the hosts ran off the next six points to regain the advantage for good with 5 1/2 minutes to go in the third quarter.

Game Notes

Pierce made 6-of-8 from the floor and all six of his foul shots...Garnett finished with nine points and nine boards...Granger made just 5-of-20 shots while Hibbert connected on only 8-of-23..Collison totaled 15 points while T.J. Ford scored 13 points off the bench in defeat...Pierce has six career regular- season triple-doubles and one in the playoffs.