HOUSTON — The shots stopped falling, Boston’s stars took over and just like that, the Houston Rockets’ 22-game winning streak was history.
Kevin Garnett scored 22 points and Paul Pierce added 20 as the Celtics beat the Rockets 94-74 on Tuesday night.
The Rockets hadn’t lost since a 97-89 defeat to the Utah Jazz on Jan. 27 and put together the NBA’s second-longest winning streak. It ended 11 victories shy of the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers, who won 33 in a row.
“Our names will be mentioned there with Hall of Fame people,” Houston point guard Rafer Alston said. “We have something to tell our kids.”
Reserve Leon Powe added 21 points for the Celtics, who have won 13 of their past 14 games, the last three without all-star guard Ray Allen, who’s out with a sore left ankle.
They were tied at 40 at halftime, but Boston took control in the third quarter, led by its all-star duo.
Garnett swished a jumper from the top of the key 15 seconds out of the break and Pierce sank a 3-pointer on Boston’s next trip down, the start of an 18-5 spurt. The Rockets missed eight of their first 10 shots in the half and stopped getting the bounces that had always gone their way throughout the streak.
“I’m too close to the situation right now to really appreciate it,” Rockets forward Shane Battier said. “When I’m old and gray and can’t dribble this basketball anymore, I think I’ll appreciate it.”
