The Boston Celtics won their 11th straight game and extended their lead in the NBA standings with a 110-105 win over the Memphis Grizzlies Monday. Paul Pierce scored 19 points and Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo added 18 each for Boston, which led by eight points with 2:49 left before Memphis answered with six straight points to get within two with 90 seconds left. Kevin Garnett's jump shot from the top of the key stopped the rally, and Allen sealed it for the Celtics by hitting a 3-pointer as the shot clock was running out with 17.5 seconds left. Rudy Gay led the Grizzlies with 23 points. Nuggets 102, Thunder 93: In Denver, Carmelo Anthony scored 31 points – his fourth straight game with at least 30 – as Denver beat Oklahoma City for the fifth straight time. J.R. Smith added 19 points for the Nuggets, who opened a 3-1/2 game lead atop the Northwest Division. Kevin Durant led Oklahoma City with 32 points for his ninth straight game of 25 or more, the longest active streak in the NBA. Trailing by 15 points at halftime, the Thunder managed to get within 96-88 with 57 seconds remaining, but the Nuggets hit all six of their subsequent free throws, posting an 11th win in 12 home games. 76ers 117, Warriors 101: In Philadelphia, the hosts snapped a 12-game losing streak, beating Golden State. Thaddeus Young had 26 points and 14 rebounds, and Allen Iverson scored 20 points in his best game since returning to the 76ers. Young used an 11-of-15 effort in the first half to give the Sixers a rare comfortable lead. Corey Maggette's 24 points led the Warriors, who lost a third straight in the finale of a five-game trip. Mavericks 94, Hornets 90: In Dallas, the hosts squandered a 21-point lead before recovering to defeat New Orleans. J.J. Barea scored a season-high 23 points and Dirk Nowitzki scored four of his season-low 10 in the final minute. After a poor first half New Orleans coach Jeff Bower benched all of his starters except Chris Paul and the Hornets fought back to square the game at 60-60. Stung into action, the Mavericks again took the ascendancy and went ahead 90-83 when Nowitzki made a 20-footer in the final minute of their fourth straight victory. Paul had 20 points, 16 assists and five steals for New Orleans. Magic 106, Pacers 98: In Orlando, Florida, Dwight Howard overcame a slow start to finish with 21 points and 23 rebounds, leading Orlando past Indiana. Vince Carter, who missed the previous two days of practice with illness and injury, added 28 points for the Magic. Mike Dunleavy had 26 points for Indiana, which led 34-17 early in the second quarter, but Orlando got within a point by halftime. In other games it was: Timberwolves 110, Jazz 108; Clippers 97, Wizards 95.
