AP
Boston Celtics' Paul Pierce (34) puts his arm around Kevin Garnett (five) after lifting Garnett out of the crowd in the fourth quarter of their NBA game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. The Celtics won 107-94.
BOSTON, (Reuters):
THE BOSTON Celtics improved their NBA-leading record to 10-1 and remained unbeaten at home this season with a convincing 107-94 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
Kevin Garnett led the resurgent Celtics with 21 points and 11 rebounds and Kendrick Perkins also scored 21 points and had nine rebounds for Boston, who won just 24 games last season.
There was an electric atmosphere in the stands reminiscent of the 1980s, when the Celtics and Lakers were the dominant teams in the NBA. From 1980-88, the Lakers won five titles and the Celtics three, meeting in the finals three times in four years.
"Lakers and Celtics is always going to be talked about throughout the history of the game because of the great rivalry we had in the '80s," Boston's Paul Pierce said. "The rivalry sure looks like it's back. That's what I like."
The Celtics grabbed a 25-16 lead after one quarter and increased that to 18 points by half-time. The Lakers worked to within 94-85 with less than five minutes left in the fourth, but could get no closer than that.
"That was probably the only time between the beginning of the first six minutes and the end of the game that we felt like we were in it," Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson said.
Boston shot 51 per cent from the field, including eight of 17 three-point attempts, and got plenty of scoring from its starters.
Pierce had 20 points, nine assists and six rebounds for the Celtics, while Ray Allen contributed 18 points and James Posey 10. Rajon Rondo dished up 10 assists for the winners.
Kobe Bryant was booed most of the night and was taunted by chants of 'Beat L.A.!' but still led the Lakers with 28 points. Vladimir Radmanovic added 18 points for the losers.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was among the celebrities in the crowd.
Warriors triumph
Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors beat the Washington Wizards 123-115 in a game that featured rare double of triple-doubles. Baron Davis had 33 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds for Golden State, while Caron Butler had 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for Washington.
The Detroit Pistons improved to a perfect 4-0 at home with an 83-78 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Tayshaun Prince led the Pistons with 15 points.
The Miami Heat won for the first time at home in six tries this season, downing the Houston Rockets 98-91. Dwyane Wade had 31 points and Shaquille O'Neal added season highs of 26 points and 14 rebounds for Miami.
The Dallas Mavericks lost for just the third time in 12 games, dropping a 111-107 decision to the Indiana Pacers.
Tim Duncan had 28 points as the San Antonio Spurs improved to 11-2 overall and 8-0 at home with a convincing 101-88 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
