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Martin, Rockets handle Celtics

Mar 19, 2011 - 5:41 AM Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Kevin Martin finished with a game-high 25 points, including 11-of-12 from the line, as the Rockets topped the Celtics, 93-77, at Toyota Center.

Kyle Lowry added 20 points and nine assists while Patrick Patterson added 18 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks in the win, Houston's third straight. Chuck Hayes posted 11 points and 11 rebounds in the win.

"We were very active in both ends of the court tonight," said Houston head coach Rick Adelman. "We needed a win like this and I'll take a win against a team like this any day."

Jeff Green paced the Celtics with 17 points in a reserve role. Glen Davis added 16 points and seven rebounds while Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, in the loss.

The Celtics have dropped two of three and are currently a half game behind the Chicago Bulls for the Eastern Conference's top seed.

"We are discouraged with how we played on the defensive end," Pierce said. "We have to wake up as a team and decide if we want to play Celtic defense or not."

Lowry paced the Rockets with 11 points on 4-of-5 from the field in the first quarter as Houston held an early 28-22 lead after 12 minutes. Martin donated 13 points in the second quarter as the Rockets shot 50 percent from the field and took a 62-40 lead into the half.

The Celtics were held to only eight field goals in the second and the Rockets created distance with a 12-of-12 showing from the line.

The Houston lead reached a game-high 29, 81-52, with a Patterson putback slam with 2:02 remaining in the third. Pierce and Davis then added two of Boston's six third quarter field goals to close out the quarter, and the Rockets took a 81-56 lead into the final stanza.

The Celtics attempted a late surge with their bench players in the fourth but the Rockets lead was too much to overcome.

Game Notes

Boston was 1-of-10 from beyond the arc; 8-of-22 for Houston... Boston started a three-game road trip that will feature visits to New Orleans and New York...The Rockets are now 3-1 on a six-game residency that will conclude with visits from Utah and Golden State.