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Celtics dominate slumping Raptors

Jan 3, 2011 - 2:17 AM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Paul Pierce scored 30 points and Ray Allen added 23, as the Boston Celtics earned a 93-79 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Boston received a boost from point guard Rajon Rondo, who had missed the last seven games with a sprained left ankle. Rondo finished with four points and eight assists in nearly 34 minutes.

"He's always the difference on the court," Pierce said of Rondo. "With Rondo out there, it lessens my responsibilities. I concentrate on slashing to the basket and rebounding, the things I do best. We just play better basketball with him in the lineup."

Glen Davis added 15 points, 11 boards and eight assists for the Celtics, who snapped a two-game slide.

DeMar DeRozan followed Friday's 37-point performance with 27, while Joey Dorsey added a career-high 13 points and 13 rebounds.

However, Toronto shot just 38 percent and lost for the 11th time in its last 14 games.

"We just didn't execute, we didn't make shots, and Ray and Paul were just too good," Dorsey said.

Boston held a 24-23 edge after a close first quarter, and it was a 43-42 game at the break.

But the Celtics took control in the third quarter, when they made 12-of-17 shots and held the Raptors to 36 percent from the floor.

After DeRozan sank a layup with 5:27 left to get the Raptors within one, Boston ended the quarter on a 13-5 run. Pierce drilled a three-pointer in the final minute to cap the rally, which gave the Celtics a 71-62 advantage moving to the fourth.

Toronto opened the final quarter with three consecutive buckets, but Boston followed with an Allen three and Nate Robinson jumper to restore some cushion.

The Raptors still stayed close and were within 80-75 when Jose Calderon made a jumper with five minutes to play. But the Celtics secured the victory over the next several minutes.

Allen followed a Pierce dunk with a trey and a jumper, making it an 87-75 contest with three minutes to go. Toronto didn't get closer than 10 the rest of the way.

Game Notes

The Celtics have won 10 of the last 11 meetings...The Raptors extended their NBA record by making a three-pointer for the 975th consecutive contest. However, they finished just 1-for-14 from beyond the arc...Boston shot 54 percent...Amir Johnson ended with 10 points and 10 boards for the Raptors, while Calderon had 10 assists.