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Celts keep rolling along with win over Utah

Jan 22, 2011 - 4:46 AM Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Kevin Garnett scored 21 and Paul Pierce was right behind with a 20-point effort, as the Celtics stretched their winning streak to five games with a 110-86 rout of the Utah Jazz.

Glen Davis tallied 15 points for Boston, which has captured nine of its last 11 contests. Rajon Rondo dished out 12 assists as the Celtics didn't trail the entire game.

"We are running and executing our plays. We are getting into our sets," Pierce said. "When we are supposed to set a screen we are setting a screen, when you're supposed to back door we are back-dooring. We are doing all the little things that are really helping us execute."

Despite the blowout win, the Celtics received some bad news after the game. Head coach Doc Rivers said Shaquille O'Neal likely will miss the next two games after suffering what was termed a sore right hip in the first half. He played just six minutes, 19 seconds before being subbed by Semih Erden, who scored a season-high 14 points off the bench in 30 minutes.

Earl Watson scored 12 in a reserve role for the Jazz, who struggled with their starting five on the floor. Forwards Andrei Kirilenko and Paul Millsap each scored 11, but the remaining three starters - Al Jefferson, Raja Bell and Deron Williams, combined to go 3-for-18 from the field and had nine turnovers. Utah's 21 miscues led to 26 Boston points.

"They jumped on us tonight, there a good team, they put a lot of pressure on you defensively," Bell said. "Consequently we never got into our stuff, and when we did we didn't screen well, we didn't pass well, and it's hard to score when that's happening. We got in a bit of foul trouble which hurt us, and offensively they're good."

Pierce set the tone by scoring 13 in the opening quarter. What separated the Celtics from the visitors early was a 16-3 run, capped by a pair of Davis free throws with 2:43 left that expanded the lead to 29-13.

Holding a 30-19 lead after one period, the Celtics saw the Jazz cut the margin to five following a C.J. Miles three-pointer. However, Boston put in the ensuing 10 points, finished by a Marquis Daniels jumper, for a 42-27 cushion.

Boston finished the half up 59-41 and pushed the advantage to 72-48 on a Garnett layup with 6:47 remaining in the third. The Jazz never made a serious challenge the rest of the game. They were behind 85-63 after 36 minutes and Boston used its reserves the entire final quarter.

Game Notes

Celtics guard Ray Allen, who scored 11 points, went 2-of-8 from three-point range. However, he's made 30-of-52 attempts from beyond the arc this month. Gordon Hayward scored 11 for the Jazz, who have lost three in a row in Boston.