Celtics notch 17th consecutive win

Kevin Garnett poured in 17 points, Paul Pierce added 16 and Rajon Rondo recorded 15 assists for Boston (25-2), who can match the franchise record for consecutive wins - set in the 1981-82 season - with a victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday. A win would also tie the NBA's best start after 28 games.

Elsewhere, Yao Ming and Luis Scola scored 30 and 23 points respectively to lead the Houston Rockets to a 107-96 comeback victory over the Sacramento Kings.

LeBron James collected 33 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Denver Nuggets 105-88, while the Miami Heat survived a fourth-quarter rally by the Los Angeles Lakers for an 89-87 victory with Dwyane Wade scoring 35 points.

Louis Williams had a career-best 26 points while Thaddeus Young and Andre Iguodala each added 18 as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Washington Wizards 109-103.

Boris Diaw scored a season-high 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while Emeka Okafor contributed 25 points as the Charlotte Bobcats defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 112-83.

Devin Harris had 41 points and 13 assists to help the New Jersey Nets spoil Jason Kidd's return to his old stomping ground and cruise to a 121-97 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

Mehmet Okur scored 12 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and added three more in the second overtime as the Utah Jazz clinched a thrilling 120-114 triumph over the Detroit Pistons.

Zach Randolph continued his hot streak with 34 points and 16 boards to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 117-109, double-overtime victory over the Indiana Pacers, while Ronald Murray scored 13 of his 20 points in the final quarter to help the Atlanta Hawks to a 115-99 win over the Golden State Warriors.

Finally, Michael Redd scored 21 points as the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the New York Knicks 105-81 and the Oklahoma City Thunder claimed a 91-83 victory over the Toronto Raptors.