Dec 8 2010 - Kevin Garnett Paul Pierce Celtics NBA Nuggets.AVI

BOSTON -- Ray Allen scored 18 of his game-high 28 points in the first half and Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett each added 17 as the Celtics won their eighth straight with a 105-89 win over the Denver Nuggets Wednesday night at TD Garden. Nuggets superstar Carmelo Anthony did not play due to inflammation in his right knee.

The Celtics shot a scorching 68 percent in the first quarter, making 13-of-19 from the field, on their way to building a 19-point lead. It was 30-11 with 2:47 left in the first quarter before the Nuggets closed to within 14, 35-21, heading into the second quarter. The Nuggets continued their hot shooting in the second, hitting 11-of-19 to close to within one, 51-50, on Ty Lawson's lay-up. The basket capped a 39-20 run that got Denver back into the game. The Celtics put the game away in the third quarter with a 10-2 run. Glen Davis had 16 points to lead the Boston bench effort.

In winning their eighth straight, the Celtics improved to 17-4 and 10-1 at home. The Celtics play Thursday night in Philadelphia in the opener of three-game road trip that will take them to Charlotte on Saturday and New York next Wednesday. The Celtics don't play at home again until Dec. 16 against Atlanta.

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