The Freeman

Celtics end loss streak

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CLEVELAND – Ray Allen scored 22 points and Kevin Garnett added 18 as the Boston Celtics beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 86-83 on Tuesday to snap a five-game losing streak.

Boston, which couldn't hold a 16-point lead in the first quarter, avoided its first six-game skid since dropping seven in a row from April 4-15, 2007.

Kyrie Irving returned from a bruised elbow that sidelined him late in the second quarter and led Cleveland with 24 points, 19 in the second half.

Irving hit two free throws with 1:21 remaining to give Cleveland an 81-80 lead. After Allen missed a 3- pointer, Garnett tipped Irving's pass, leading to Allen's dunk with 48.6 seconds left.

NETS 93, MAVERICKS 92 At Dallas, Brook Lopez scored 38 points in only his third game back from a broken right foot, and made the go-ahead free throws with 42 seconds left for New Jersey.

The two free throws by Lopez came right after the Mavericks had taken the lead with a 13-2 run after missing 14 consecutiv­e field goals.

Jason Kidd's 3-pointer from the right wing only 6 seconds earlier had put Dallas ahead 92-91.

Jason Terry forced a turnover with 18 seconds left, and Dallas called timeout. Kidd then had the ball in the left corner, but it was knocked loose by Deshawn Stevenson. Kidd got it back but his desperate heave at the buzzer was short. BULLS 99, HORNETS 95

At Chicago, Derrick Rose scored 32 points, including the go- ahead jumper with 19.4 seconds left, and Chicago closed with an 8-0 run.

Joakim Noah had 15 points and 16 rebounds for the Bulls and Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng added 14 points apiece. Rose scored six points in Chicago's final run.

Chris Kaman had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Hornets and Trevor Ariza scored 16 points.

PACERS 102, GOLDEN STATE 78

At Indianapol­is, Danny Granger scored 25 points to help Indiana win its fifth straight game.

Tyler Hansbrough scored 15 points and Roy Hibbert added 12 points and nine rebounds for the Pacers, who remained in third place in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers topped 100 points for the fourth straight game after doing so just six times before the current stretch.

Monta Ellis and Brandon Rush each scored 14 points for the Warriors, who finished with season lows in points and field-goal percentage (.341). 76ERS 97, PISTONS 68

At Auburn Hills, Michigan, Thaddeus Young scored 12 of his 20 points in a pivotal second quarter and All-star Andre Iguodala had 12 points, six assists and four steals to help Philadelph­ia snap a five-game losing streak.

Sixers coach Doug Collins left the bench between the third and fourth quarters, walking to the team's locker room, and didn't return to the court because of flulike symptoms.

Philadelph­ia's Elton Brand scored 10 points, returning from a two-game absence because of a sprained right thumb.

Greg Monroe scored 20 points and Rodney Stuckey had 17 for the Pistons.

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 ??  ?? Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett (5) watches his shot as he falls backwards after being fouled in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland. Behind Garnett is Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett (5) watches his shot as he falls backwards after being fouled in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland. Behind Garnett is Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving. ASSOCIATED PRESS

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