From Deseret News archives:
Charlotte keeps Celts slumping
Beaten by their surprising nemesis for the second time in two seasons, the defending champions came undone in OT, and they've quickly gone from unbeatable to vulnerable.
After a team-record, 19-game winning streak and an NBA-record 27-2 start, the Celtics lost for the fifth time in seven games, leaving battered, bruised and angry by Larry Brown's upstart Bobcats.
Paul Pierce scored 28 points, but had a key turnover in overtime. Ray Allen scored 20 points on 7-of-20 shooting for the Celtics.
The Bobcats, who also got 23 points from Gerald Wallace and 13 points and 17 rebounds from Emeka Okafor, were able to neutralize Kevin Garnett.
Playing despite a sore calf, Garnett had 14 points and 13 rebounds, but shot only 7-of-18 and was called for traveling in OT.
Augustin's 3-pointer and two free throws came in a 7-0 run that put Charlotte ahead 108-101. Pierce later dribbled the ball out of bounds, giving a slight shove to Augustin to end Boston's chances in a physical game that saw the Celtics unable to close out one of the Eastern Conference's worst teams.
The Bobcats, despite entering with a 44-72 record over the past two seasons, have always played the Celtics tough. Charlotte won in Boston last season, lost on Allen's buzzer-beater in another game, and dropped a close game in the first meeting this season in November.
Tuesday was another thriller, as the Celtics rallied from a 10-point, third-quarter deficit, took 79-72 lead in the fourth quarter, then allowed the Bobcats to get back in it.
HORNETS 116, LAKERS 105: At Los Angeles, Chris Paul scored 32 points and had 15 assists as New Orleans stunned the Lakers in California depite a 39-point night from Kobe Bryant.
The Hornets got 40 points and 11 rebounds from David West.
MAGIC 89, WIZARDS 80: At Orlando, Fla., Hedo Turkoglu scored 22 points and Orlando held off a late scoring burst by Caron Butler to beat Washington. Butler had 29 points, all in the second half, but the recently energized Wizards (7-26) failed in their bid to win for the fourth time in six games. Orlando center Dwight Howard had his league-leading 25th double-double, with 15 points and 16 rebounds. Jameer Nelson added 14 points for the Magic, who rebounded from their loss at Toronto on Sunday.
