BOSTON, Feb. 7 (UPI) — Paul Pierce scored 24 points Thursday and led Boston to a 52-percent shooting performance in the Celtics’ 116-95 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Boston won its sixth straight, all of those games played since the Celtics lost Rajon Rondo with a torn knee ligament.
The Celtics put the game away with a 37-point third period and took a 26-point lead into the final quarter.
Pierce added seven rebounds with six assists while Jeff Green came off the bench to score 19 points. Jason Terry and Kevin Garnett both had 15 for the Celtics.
Dwight Howard returned to the Los Angeles lineup after his shoulder problems caused him to miss three consecutive games. Howard, however, fouled out in the fourth quarter and produced just nine points.
Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 27 points. Los Angeles is 3-2 on a seven-game road trip that has stops remaining in Charlotte and Miami.
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