Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008

BOSTON (AP) Rajon Rondo made things look easy in the third quarter. Kind of like how the Boston Celtics are making NBA games look.

Passing by: Hawks guard Joe Johnson drives around Pistons guard Richard Hamilton during their game on Sunday in Atlanta. The Hawks won 85-78. AP PHOTO

Rondo scored 18 of his 26 points in the quarter to help the Celtics tie a franchise record with their 18th straight win, beating the New York Knicks 124-105 Sunday night.

The win improved Boston's record to 26-2, matching the NBA mark for the best start by a team with two losses. The Celtics can break the record at home against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night.

"Rondo was unbelievable the third quarter," Kevin Garnett said. "He totally took the game over. He had almost a perfect game."

Coincidentally, Boston tied the Knicks and 76ers at 26-2. New York did it in 1969-70 and Philadelphia in 1966-67. Both teams went on to win NBA titles.

The Knicks trailed 69-63 before Rondo took advantage of some poor interior defense, driving past defenders — mostly Chris Duhon and Quentin Richardson — for layups and all of Boston's points in a 10-4 run that put the Celtics ahead by 12.

He was 12-of-14 from the floor for the game.

"I think eight of them were layups. So, hah, I make my layups," Rondo said.

Ray Allen had 18 points, Paul Pierce 17, Garnett 12 and Kendrick Perkins 12 for the Celtics.

The Celtics, who have a number of scoring options with the new Big Three, can break the club record for consecutive wins set by Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish's Celtics.

Boston's 1981-82 team also won 18 consecutive games.

Richardson led the Knicks with 29 points and Nate Robinson had 23. Duhon added 20 with 10 assists.

"He was more aggressive He's not usually as aggressive as he was tonight," Richardson said of Rondo.

"Tonight he was trying to go to the rim."

New York lost its fourth straight and eighth in a row to Boston.

Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni knew that stopping Rondo wasn't a priority with all of Boston's other scorers, and the guard made his team pay for it.

"Well, Rondo's good, that's how he does it," he said. "He's fast and he's playing with some good guys."

Cavaliers 102, Thunder 91 In Oklahoma City, LeBron James scored 31 points, Mo Williams added 20 and Cleveland finished a four-game road trip.

James eclipsed 30 points for the fourth straight game. Kevin Durant scored 26 for the Thunder. Russell Westbrook added 22 points and matched his career-high with 11 assists and Jeff Green scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Mavericks 97, Wizards 86

In Washington, Jason Terry scored 25 points and Dirk Nowitzki had 23 to help Dallas send the Wizards to their sixth straight loss.

Washington tied a 42-year-old franchise record for worst start — the 1966-67 Baltimore Bullets also started 4-21.

Hawks 85, Pistons 78

In Atlanta, Mike Bibby put an end to Detroit's domination of the Hawks, scoring a season-high 27 points.

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