Hiehie blog

Bobcats beat Celtics, deny Allen record

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (AFP) – Gerald Wallace scored 19 points, including the free throws that sealed victory with three seconds remaining, as Charlotte dealt Boston a 94-89 NBA defeat.

Shaun Livingston on Monday added a season-high 18 points and rarely-used Eduardo Najera made a key three-pointer as the Bobcats overcame the ejection of top-scorer Stephen Jackson and snapped a six-game losing streak against the Celtics.

Ray Allen scored 25 points for Boston and made two three-pointers, leaving him two shy of breaking Reggie Miller's NBA career record of 2,560 from behind the arc.

Allen appeared on pace to break the record when he drained his first long-range effort 51 seconds into the contest.

His second three-pointer didn't come until the third quarter, and they were the only three-pointers he attempted.

Paul Pierce added 22 points and Kevin Garnett grabbed 14 rebounds for the Celtics, who had only 10 players available.

The Celtics, who were coming off emotional games against surging Dallas and Eastern Conference rivals Orlando, ran out of steam against the Bobcats.

Charlotte, coming off losses to Miami and Dallas, received a boost from unlikely quarters.

Reserve point guard Livingston came in for an ineffective DJ Augustin and capitalized on his size advantage over Boston's Rajon Rondo.

Najera drained a three-pointer with 1:57 remaining to put Charlotte ahead 89-83.

The Celtics pulled within 90-87 in the final minute, but Pierce missed a layup and Charlotte's Nazr Mohammed hit one of two free throws with 21.7 seconds left.

That appeared to seal it, but Livingston fouled Pierce as the Celtic attempted a three-pointer. Pierce hit two of the three free throws before Wallace's free throws clinched the victory for Charlotte.

Jackson was sent to the locker room with 1:38 left in the second quarter when he wouldn't stop complaining about being called for a foul on Garnett.