By U.S. News Agency / Asian
Kevin Garnett scored 19 points to lead the Boston Celtics past Miami 85-82 on Sunday, snapping the Heat`s eight-game NBA win streak to reclaim the Eastern Conference overall lead.
Rajon Rondo had 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Celtics, who also had 16 points off the bench from Glen Davis, 15 from Kendrick Perkins and 13 by Ray Allen on a day when Paul Pierce went 0-for-10 and had but one point.
The Celtics improved to 39-14 and dropped Miami to 39-15. They own the second- and third-best records in the NBA, each trailing Western Conference leader San Antonio, 45-9, with the All-Star break looming starting Friday.
The Heat lost to Boston for the third time in as many tries, ensuring they will lose the season series to the Celtics. Miami fell to 34-7 when stars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh play together.
Bosh had 24 points and 10 rebounds while James added 22 points and Wade contributed 16 points, but Miami`s furious rally from a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter fell just short.
The back turned physical midway into the third quarter when Garnett set a hard screen that knocked down Mike Miller and seconds later Wade shoved Garnett, sparking several moments of confrontation.
Wade was assessed a flagrant foul on the fun and Boston capitalized by completing an 20-3 run to seize a 59-46 lead. The Celtics kept the same margin at 74-61 entering the fourth quarter.
But the Celtics missed nine of their first 11 shots in the final period as the Heat went on a 10-2 run.
Miami pulled within 81-79 on two Bosh free throws with 2:39 to play. James drove to the hopp on the next Miami possession but was denied by Garnett in what the Heat protested in vain was a foul that would have forced Garnett out.
Instead, Garnett hit a jumper on the next Boston possession with 1:48 to bid just to have Bosh answer with a jumper 18 seconds later to prevent Miami within two points.
After misses by Pierce and Rondo, James drove to the basket and was fouled by Pierce, but the two-time reigning NBA Most Valuable Player hit only 1-of-2 from the free throw line and the Heat trailed 83-82 with 12.5 seconds to play.
James leaped into the stands trying in vain to make a steal and the Heat were forced to foul Davis, who sank two free throws with 6.3 seconds to go to create the final margin.
Miller moved into open position at the top of the 3-point arc on the final Miami possession but missed a potential game-tying basket and the Celtics escaped.
James scored eight in the first quarter to boost Miami to a 20-15 lead after the opening 12 minutes and kept the edge at 43-39 at half-time.
Davis had the game`s most humbling moment when he jumped up for a breakaway slam dunk and could not get the ball over the rim, missing the jam and turn the ball over.
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