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Celtics use balanced attack to beat Thunder

Nov 8, 2010 - 4:46 AM Oklahoma City, OK (Sports Network) - Ray Allen scored 19 points and Paul Pierce added 17, as the Boston Celtics cruised to a 92-83 win over the Thunder at Oklahoma City Arena.

Seven Celtics scored at least eight points, as opposed to six players accounting for all of Oklahoma City's production.

Rajon Rondo, dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left foot, ended with 10 points, 10 assists and five rebounds for Boston, which has won five straight and six of seven to start the season.

"I thought we did a good job to start the game off, and we've got to finish the game off more solidified," said Celtics forward Kevin Garnett. "But I'll take it."

Kevin Durant netted 34 points, while Russell Westbrook chipped in 16 points and 10 assists in defeat, the Thunder's third in four games.

"You've got to know your role, first off. I think everybody knows their role here, we've got to play within ourselves and know what we can't do," Durant said. "If you're not a ball-handler, don't try to dribble the ball. If you're not a shooter, don't try to shoot long-range shots. Just play within yourself, and if everyone does that it'll be a great group effort."

Boston, coming off consecutive overtime wins, used a big first half to make sure only 48 minutes were needed in this one.

The visitors led 28-21 after the first quarter and held the Thunder without a field goal for the final five minutes of the second frame en route to a 58-37 halftime cushion.

Allen started the half-ending 15-3 flurry with a jumper, and Nate Robinson beat the buzzer with a three-pointer.

Oklahoma City made a run in the third, as Durant and Westbrook combined to score 13 of the final 15 points in the frame, cutting the deficit to 73-64.

James Harden nailed a three-pointer to start the fourth, but that was as close as the Thunder got. Glen Davis made back-to-back baskets to begin a 15-4 spurt that Allen capped with a three-pointer for an 88-71 lead with seven minutes to play. The margin stayed in double digits until the final seconds.

Game Notes

The Thunder have dropped two straight at home for the first time since last December 13-16...Boston has won seven of eight overall in this series...Garnett logged eight points and eight rebounds for Boston, which forced 18 turnovers...Nenad Krstic had 13 points for the Thunder.