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Allen's 36 points help Celtics end slide

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-01-12 09:58

TORONTO - The Boston Celtics found a cure for their recent woes in holding off the Toronto Raptors 94-88 on Sunday behind the hot shooting of Ray Allen.

Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen (20) drives around Toronto Raptors forward Joey Graham, right, during second-half NBA action in Toronto on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009. The Celtics won 94-88.[Agencies]

The Celtics guard hit his initial six three-pointers, spurring the Atlantic Division leaders to their first win in five games. He finished with a season-high 36 points, making eight of 10 shots behind the arc.

"We just rode his hot hand tonight," the Celtics' Paul Pierce told reporters after Boston won for just the third time in 10 games.

Allen said his team mates were responsible for the big game.

"We were moving the ball," Allen told reporters. "When we move the ball I am the recipient of a lot of the shots."

Rajon Rondo contributed 14 points and 11 assists with Kevin Garnett adding 10 points and 11 rebounds in a strong defensive game.

"I thought Kevin defensively was a star tonight," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers.

Paul Pierce was also in double figures, scoring 11 points.

The Celtics have now beaten the Raptors four consecutive times in Air Canada Center and in seven of their past eight overall meetings.

Italian Andrea Bargnani led a balanced Toronto attack with 17 points and nine rebounds.

Chris Bosh had 15 points and 11 rebounds with Jamario Moon also scoring 15 points. Reserves Jason Kapono and Joey Graham added 12 each.

The Raptors trailed by 20 points in the third quarter before outscoring the Celtics 33-19 in the final period. They reeled off the opening six points of the fourth and pulled within four on Kapono's 12th point of the period with nine seconds to play.

"We can't start the game off slow like that (trailing 32-20 after the first quarter) and then expect to come in the second (half) and crank things up," Moon told reporters.

Allen sealed the win with two free throws with seven seconds left as the Celtics improved to 7-1 in the division.

"He made shots and for a long while we couldn't make shots," Moon said of Allen's performance. "They just pulled away a little bit and the lead got a little too far ahead of us."

The two teams play again on Monday in Boston where the Celtics have won 18 of 20 games this season.