Celtics Open Road Trip By Beating Thunder 92-83
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Ray Allen scored 19 points and Boston's bench helped prevent a big lead from slipping away in the fourth quarter as the Celtics opened a four-game road trip Sunday night with a 92-83 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Glen Davis had three foul line jumpers during a 15-6 push by the Celtics after their 22-point lead had been cut to 73-67 early in the fourth quarter. Allen's 3-pointer from the left wing restored the advantage to 88-71 with 7:04 remaining, and Boston hung on from there.
Kevin Durant scored 34 points and Russell Westbrook had 16 points and 10 assists to lead Oklahoma City, which played without third-leading scorer Jeff Green. Green is day to day with a sprained left ankle.
Paul Pierce scored 17 points and Rajon Rondo added 10 points and 10 assists for Boston.
Durant was called for a rare technical foul with 1:05 to play after a scuffle with Pierce under the basket, but replays showed that Pierce had a hold of Durant's arm when it started. After Pierce missed his free throw and Westbrook fouled Rondo on the ensuing inbounds pass, both headed to the bench.
Boston built a 58-37 halftime lead by shooting 56 percent and finishing on a 24-6 run. Nate Robinson hit a running, right-handed 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer to draw a fist pump from coach Doc Rivers, who had substituted him into the game with 2.3 seconds left in hopes of stealing a basket before intermission.
Durant and Westbrook led Oklahoma City's comeback by scoring all of the team's points during a third quarter when the Thunder outscored Boston 27-15.
The Celtics led by as much as 64-42 before Westbrook reeled off a personal string of nine straight points to give Oklahoma City a chance. He hit a pair of jumpers and three free throws, then capped it off with a steal that led to a two-handed, fast-break dunk.
Allen fired back with a jumper and a 3-pointer in Boston's 7-0 response, but Oklahoma City scored 16 of the next 18 points to get within 73-67 on James Harden's 3 to open the fourth quarter.
NOTES: With Green and F Nick Collison out, rookie Cole Aldrich played a career-high 14 minutes for the Thunder but did not score... Boston C Shaquille O'Neal sat out his fourth straight game with a sore right knee. ... The Celtics play at Dallas, Miami and Memphis as part of their road trip that matches the longest of the season.
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