Celtics hold off Atlanta for 16th straight win

ATLANTA - The Boston Celtics looked to Kevin Garnett in the fourth quarter.

Garnett scored 10 of his 18 points in the final quarter, and Atlanta's Joe Johnson missed a late free throw that would have tied it, helping the Celtics beat the Hawks 88-85 on Wednesday night for their 16th straight victory.

After Johnson missed the second of 2 free throws with 2.7 seconds, Ray Allen made a pair of free throws with 0.7 seconds left for the defending NBA champion Celtics, who have a franchise-best 24-2 record. It was only the second loss in 10 home games for the Hawks.

"I told KG to take us home down the stretch," Celtics guard Rajon Rondo said. "I said make something happen. He said, 'No problem.' "

Garnett, quiet for much of the game, was 5-for-5 from the field in the fourth quarter after opening 2-for-10.

"It means we're playing well. We want to play championship basketball. That's what we're building up to. Our goal is to win a championship," said Garnett. "You play your role around here. You do your job. You do what you're supposed to.

In the only other game this season between the two, the Celtics beat Atlanta 103-102 on Nov. 12 in Boston on Paul Pierce's last-second basket.

Pierce added 18 points, and Allen had 16 for the Celtics.

The Celtics are 10-1 on the road and 14-1 at home.

- Associated Press