The Celtics, the NBA's worst team by far, rallied from a 13-point fourth quarter deficit to avoid matching the franchise mark for most consecutive road losses. The win, against a Rockets team playing without both Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, is just their second in the last 24 games.

Houston Rockets' Juwan Howard leans into Boston Celtics' Al Jefferson (7) in the first half of NBA basketball Monday, Feb. 26, 2007 in Houston. [AP]

Boston scored eight straight points to take a 70-68 lead on a layup by Delonte West with 1:23 remaining. West blocked a shot by Juwan Howard for the fast break that led to the go-ahead score.

A three-pointer by Pierce with 25.9 seconds left pushed the lead to 73-68 and West made four free throws in the final seconds to assure the win.

Houston never trailed in the first three quarters and often led by double-digits before the Boston comeback.

Bonzi Wells led the Rockets with a season-high 27 points, starting in place of McGrady, who was out with flu-like symptoms.

It was an ugly game, filled with poor shooting, bad passes and traveling. At one point in the second half after a problem at the scoring table, Celtics coach Doc Rivers looked at the scorers and said "You guys are as bad as this game."

Houston shot a season-low 32.1 percent and Boston wasn't much better (34.2 percent). The Rockets also set a season-worst mark for three-point shooting, making just 1 of 22.

Dallas 110, Atlanta 87: Dirk Nowitzki had 27 points and eight rebounds, Jason Terry added 21 points, and the Mavericks extended their club-record home winning streak to 20 games.

Josh Howard had 20 points before leaving in the fourth quarter with a sprained right ankle, and Jerry Stackhouse added 19 points and a season-high nine assists to help the Mavericks to their 12th straight win.

Howard was helped off the court with 6:11 to play after diving for a loose ball. He has been playing with a sore right ankle.

The Mavericks are the fourth team in NBA history with three winning streaks of 10 or more in a season, having already had runs of 12 and 13 games. The Milwaukee Bucks (1970-71), Philadelphia 76ers (1980-81) and Los Angeles Lakers (1999-2000) are the other teams with three winning streaks of 10 or more games in a season.

Dallas has won 47 of 52 after losing its first four games.

L.A. Lakers 102, Utah 94: Kobe Bryant made up for a poor shooting night from the floor by making 21 free throws and scoring 35 points as the Lakers won in Salt Lake City.

Bryant made 7 of 21 from the field, but he had plenty of help from Smush Parker, who made six three-pointers and finished with 24 points.

Lamar Odom added 19 points and 14 rebounds and former Texas Longhorn Maurice Evans scored 10.

Former Laker Derek Fisher led the Jazz with 23 points and eight assists.

New York 99, Miami 93: Stephon Marbury scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, and Jamal Crawford stuck it to the Heat again with three-pointer in the closing seconds to lift the Knicks. Miami is 1-2 without Dwyane Wade and 1-3 against New York.

Orlando 94, Chicago 87: Dwight Howard scored 21 points and had 16 rebounds and Jameer Nelson added 18 points as the Magic got a rare road win. Darko Milicic had a career-high 16 rebounds for Orlando.

Denver 111, Memphis 107: Carmelo Anthony scored 33 points, Nene added 27 and Allen Iverson had 25 to help the Nuggets snap a four-game losing skid.

Philadelphia 90, Sacramento 82: Samuel Dalembert scored 20 points and grabbed 17 rebounds for the 76ers.