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Allen shoots down 76ers in final minute

Feb 4, 2009 - 5:56 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia 76ers could not break the Boston Celtics' streak, but Ray Allen was able to break their hearts.

Allen hit a pair of 3-pointers in the final 30 seconds to lead the Celtics to a 100-99 victory over the 76ers on Tuesday.

Boston was without Kevin Garnett but was still able to run its winning streak to 12 games.

Allen hit a 3-pointer from the left wing with 30 seconds to play to tie the game, 97-97. Philadelphia held the ball and ran the shot clock down before Andre Iguodala hit a pull-up jumper from the top of the key to make it 99-97 with 6.8 seconds left.

"I'm proud of the way we came back especially being down early," Philadelphia coach Tony DiLeo said. "We got back in the game and pretty much controlled it down the stretch. Andre Iguodala made a big play but Ray Allen hit a pair of huge threes. I proud of the guys and of the way they played. I know this team; I know how competitive they are and we'll bounce back.

"We just have to get a little better at finishing every game off, especially when we have the lead coming down the stretch."

After catching the inbounds pass above the top of the key, Allen made a pass and then ran to the left corner. A pick by Glen Davis freed him up and he buried the three to give the Celtics a 100-99 lead with five-tenths of a second to go.

"It was funny coaches think too much sometimes. That was the play that I drew up originally. When the Sixers called the 20 second time out, I changed the play," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "Then Rondo and Ray (Allen) said that they liked the first play and they talked me into running the original play I drew up. Glen Davis had a tremendous pick and it was great execution.

"I was looking for Paul for the two or Ray for the three. I told them, if Ray is open then we're going for the win. If not, then Paul get to your sweet spot and get the shot."

The 76ers threw an inbounds toward the rim on the final play, but it was knocked away and time expired.

"Any championship team knows what you have to do in the fourth quarter to win these kinds of games," Allen said. "We didn't play well on the defensive end but we ended up doing what we had to do to get the win."

"We've been in this situation before," Pierce said. "With a team like this, we feel like we're never out of the fight. That's the thing with a veteran team, a championship team., we just kept our poise down the stretch and found a way to get this kind on win."

Boston led 32-20 after one before Philadelphia got back in the game.

With the Celtics ahead 42-29, the Sixers went on a 13-0 run to take the lead on a three-point play by Iguodala with 2:57 to give the Sixers a 44-42 lead. The teams went back and forth the rest of the half and Rajon Rondo hit a layup to put Boston up 50-49 at the break.

The 76ers led 70-69 after three and were up 92-85 after a dunk by Marreese Speights with 3:50 to play.

Pierce answered with a three-point play and another basket to make it 92-90 with 2:42 remaining. The 76ers stayed in front and led 97-94 on a jumper by Andre Miller with under a minute to play.

But Allen took over from there to lead the Celtics to another win.

Pierce led Boston with 29 points while Allen added 23 and Rondo 20.

Iguodala scored 22 points and Miller netted 21 for Philadelphia.