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Pierce, Green help Celtics down Thunder

Nov 24, 2012 - 6:10 AM Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Paul Pierce scored 27 points and Jeff Green added 17 against his former team, as the Boston Celtics downed the Oklahoma City Thunder, 108-100, at TD Garden.

Kevin Garnett chipped in 18 points and nine boards, while Jason Terry netted 16 points, including a game-clinching 3-pointer down the stretch. Rajon Rondo kept his double-digit assist streak going with 16 helpers to go with eight boards and six points in the victory.

"We're very resilient," Terry said. "Obviously we haven't played up to our standards, but everyone came in tonight and contributed, from the last man on the bench."

Kevin Durant led Oklahoma City with 29 points, but missed a potential tying 3- pointer with 1:14 remaining. Russell Westbrook filled the stat sheet with 26 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in the loss.

Green, dealt from the Thunder to Boston in a five-player trade in Feb. 2011, scored seven straight points late in the third quarter, helping the hosts take a healthy 77-65 lead going into the fourth.

"Jeff Green came in and had a huge impact on the game," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said of his former player. "I love him, it was good to see, but I was hoping they'd have it against Orlando on Sunday and not tonight."

The Thunder, coming off a tough overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, made a late rally with nine straight points to pull within 101-98 following two Westbrook free throws.

Three missed shots and a Brandon Bass turnover on the next Boston possession gave the ball back to Oklahoma City with a chance to tie, but Durant hit all iron on a try from the right wing.

Garnett was fouled shooting a mid-range jumper and made both free throws with 61 seconds remaining, and after Westbrook and Kendrick Perkins' shots rimmed out, Terry drained a dagger from long range to seal the win.

Westbrook went on a personal 8-0 run in less than a one-minute span late in the first quarter, leading the Thunder to a 28-21 edge heading to the second.

Boston, which had lost three of four coming in, shot 12-of-19 from the field in the second stanza to battle back, and Terry beat the halftime buzzer with a 3-pointer from the right wing for a 48-45 lead.

Pierce scored on Boston's first three touches after the break, with his 3- pointer providing a 55-47 advantage. The Thunder cut the deficit to two, 66-64, but the Celtics scored 11 of the final 12 points -- seven coming from Green -- to rebuild the cushion.

Game Notes

Rondo has dished out 10 or more assists in 36 straight games -- the longest stretch since John Stockton's 37-game run from Feb. 27, 1989 - Nov. 29, 1989 ... The Thunder fell to 7-1 when scoring 100-plus points ... Serge Ibaka totaled 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Thunder, who had won three straight in Boston ... Perkins, who was involved in the Green trade two seasons ago, pulled down nine rebounds ... Boston shot 9-of-17 (53 percent) from 3-point range compared to the Thunder's 6-of-24 (25 percent) effort.