BOSTON (Ticker) -- Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics literally jumped on the back of Kevin Garnett to ride to a hard-fought win over the Houston Rockets. Garnett scored nine of his 26 points in a furious four-minute span to lead the Celtics to a 97-93 victory over the Rockets on Wednesday at the TD Banknorth Garden. Pierce added 19 for the Celtics, who won their seventh straight game. Bonzi Wells scored 25 off the bench to lead the Rockets, who were without star Tracy McGrady - missing his fourth straight game with left knee tendinitis. The Celtics (27-3), who just finished a rare undefeated four-game West Coast road trip, looked weary in the second half after building a 20-point first-half lead. But Garnett hit several key shots in a fourth-quarter spurt that proved enough to hold off Houston. Boston's new star hit four field goals in a four-minute span, including one with 1:14 to go, to give Boston a 94-89 lead. Garnett drilled a 19-footer with 22 seconds remaining, and Pierce jumped on Garnett's back in celebration as Houston called a timeout. Even without their leading scorer, the Rockets made life much more difficult than expected for the Celtics. In what has been a rarity this season at home, Boston fell behind in the game's opening minutes. Rafer Alston made consecutive baskets to give the Rockets an early 7-2 advantage with 9:35 remaining in the first. But Garnett's 10-foot turnaround fadeaway jumper started the Celtics on a 13-0 run that gave them early control of the contest. Boston would finish the quarter shooting 68 percent, making 13-of-19 shots from the field and building their lead up to as many as 14. Houston, meanwhile, went cold and shot just 7-of-24 for the quarter. With a 30-16 lead after one, the Celtics continued their hot shooting early in the second, pushing the advantage to 40-20 on Glen Davis' putback with 8:30 remaining in the second. But Houston failed to roll over, outscoring Boston, 22-13, to close the quarter and draw to within 53-42 at halftime. The Rockets continued their steady comeback in the third quarter, drawing to within five at 69-64 on Yao Ming's layup and free throw with 2:59 remaining in the period. But Boston scored seven of the final 11 points in the quarter to take a 76-68 lead into the fourth. Alston connected on a layup and was fouled with 8:56 remaining in the fourth. His free throw completed a three-point play and gave Houston its first lead, 79-78, since the first quarter. The Rockets would build their lead to 84-81 before Garnett took over. Ray Allen added 13 points and grabbed two big offensive rebounds in the final minutes, and Rajon Rondo added 13 and nine assists for the Celtics, who shot 53 percent (41-of-77) for the game.
