NBA | Celts top Raptors for 9th straight

TORONTO - Paul Pierce scored 18 points, Kevin Garnett had 16, and the Boston Celtics extended their winning streak to nine games by beating the Toronto Raptors, 90-77, yesterday.

Rajon Rondo contributed 14 points, Eddie House came off the bench to score 11, and Tony Allen had 10.

Atlantic Division-leading Boston (20-2) matched its longest winning streak since March 16-31, 1993.

Boston's only other 20-2 start came en route to the 1963-64 NBA championship.

The Celtics won their second straight game without guard Ray Allen, out with a sore right ankle. Allen is expected to return when Boston hosts Detroit on Wednesday.

Chris Bosh had 17 points and 13 rebounds as Toronto lost for the first time in five games.

Jamario Moon had 13 and Kris Humphries had 12 for Toronto, whose 77 points were a season low. Toronto's previous low was 84, set in a Dec. 7 loss at Boston.

Blazers 116, Nuggets 105

DENVER - Brandon Roy had 26 points and 11 assists, and Channing Frye scored 20 points as Portland beat Denver.

Allen Iverson had 38 points for Denver, which has lost two straight after a three-game winning streak.

Carmelo Anthony struggled from the field again and finished with 19 points on 6-of-17 shooting, while Kenyon Martin had 14 for the Nuggets.

Travis Outlaw contributed 17 points for the Trail Blazers, who recorded their first victory in Denver since Feb. 26, 2003, to snap the Nuggets' nine-game home winning streak against Portland. Denver had won 15 of the last 17 meetings at home dating to the 1999-2000 season.

The Blazers, who shot 54.5 percent from the field, took control early in the second half and led by a double-digit margin the rest of the way.

Pistons 109, Warriors 87

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Tayshaun Prince scored 23 points, and Antonio McDyess had 14 points and 11 rebounds as Detroit beat Golden State.

Chauncey Billups added 19 points for the Pistons, while Richard Hamilton had 13 points and six assists.

Stephen Jackson was the only Warrior to reach double figures, and he scored nine of his 13 points in the first quarter. Golden State's leading scorer, Baron Davis, had only two points on 1-of-8 shooting.

Lakers 113, Clippers 92

LOS ANGELES - Kobe Bryant scored 32 points and Sasha Vujacic scored all of his 14 points in the fourth quarter, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Andrew Bynum, ejected from last Thursday's win over San Antonio after a couple of run-ins with Spurs center Fabricio Oberto, channeled his aggression in a constructive manner with 14 points, 9 rebounds and 6 blocked shots in his anticipated matchup against Chris Kaman.

Marbury at practice.

New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury returned to practice after mourning the death of his father, Donald, on Dec. 2. Marbury plans to play today when the Knicks host the Indiana Pacers.