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Bobcats shock streaking Celtics to end skid

Feb 12, 2013 - 5:17 AM Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - Byron Mullens put forth a monster performance of 25 points and a career-high 18 rebounds to help the Charlotte Bobcats knock the wheels off the Boston Celtics' seven-game roll with a 94-91 victory on Monday.

Mullens connected on 10-of-16 shots from the field -- including 4-for-5 from 3-point range -- and Ramon Sessions put the Bobcats ahead for good with his jumper late, helping halt Charlotte's seven-game losing streak. Sessions contributed 19 points for the game.

Kemba Walker and Gerald Henderson added 18 and 16 points, respectively, in the victory.

Just a day removed from their thrilling triple-overtime victory over the Nuggets, the Celtics saw their late four-point advantage whittle away down the stretch.

Kevin Garnett tallied 16 points and 13 rebounds while Paul Pierce finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in Boston's first setback since Rajon Rondo's season-ending ACL injury on Jan. 25.

"This was more a mental (loss) than physical," Garnett said. "It was a tough game."

After two tough fadeways in a row from Garnett, the Celtics held a 91-87 edge with 2:14 to go, but the Bobcats refused to go away as Sessions' jumper with 25 seconds remaining staked Charlotte to a one-point edge.

Before Sessions' bucket, Henderson hit a huge 3-pointer to cut the deficit to one before Avery Bradley misfired at the other end for Boston.

With the Celtics trailing 92-91, Garnett got a good look from the left wing, but his jumper clanked off the back rim and into the hands of Mullens.

The Celtics then fouled Walker, who sank a pair from the line to put the Bobcats ahead by three with 14.8 seconds left.

Pierce and Bradley both got off shots from 3-point range on the Celtics' last possession, but neither could get the ball to fall through the hoop.

"This was a good win for us, especially with the Celtics coming in with a really good win streak." Mullens said.

The Bobcats trailed by six, 48-42, at the break, but Mullens' strong third quarter had Charlotte ahead, 75-72, heading into the fourth.

He scored 12 points in the period, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers and a tough turnaround jumper near quarter's end.

Boston had several two-possession leads in the fourth, its last occurring following Jason Terry's second triple of the quarter and Garnett's 10-foot turnaround fadeaway to put the Celtics on top 89-85 with 2:46 to play.

Game Notes

The Celtics' Leandro Barbosa suffered a left knee injury at the end of the third quarter and did not return ... Boston fell to 8-15 on the road ... The Bobcats ended a four-game skid against the Celtics ... Jeff Green scored 18 off the bench for the Celtics ... Bismack Biyombo had four blocks for Charlotte.