NBA roundup: Garnett nearly perfect in leading Celtics past Heat

MIAMI — Kevin Garnett scored 24 points on 11 of 12 shooting, Ray Allen delivered the big blow with a 3-pointer with 1:38 left and the Boston Celtics rallied to beat the Miami Heat 92-85 on Sunday night.

Paul Pierce scored 15 points and Kendrick Perkins finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds for Boston, which opened a four-game road trip by winning its fourth straight. Rajon Rondo had 13 points and 11 assists for the Celtics, who wasted an 11-point third-quarter lead and were down by five with 9 minutes remaining.

Dwyane Wade scored 27 points for Miami, which has lost six of nine and opens a trip Tuesday in Portland. Michael Beasley added 18 and Jermaine O'Neal finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Heat, who went the final 4:26 without a field goal.

Up by 1 with 2:30 remaining, Garnett hit a jumper before Allen — who missed practice Saturday and had the option of missing the flight to Miami because his 2-year-old son is ill — perfectly used a screen by Perkins to shake free of Wade and connect from the top of the key, giving Boston an 89-83 lead.

Garnett finished it off with 38.3 seconds left, his jumper from the left elbow restoring Boston's six-point margin.

It was the third time Garnett made at least 11 field goals and shot 90 percent or better from the field in a game. He was 11 of 12 against Dallas on March 30, 1999 and 12 of 13 at Portland on Feb. 3, 2006.

Boston was in control early after halftime, before Miami got back into it with defense.

Boston missed 10 of 11 shots in a 7 1/2-minute stretch of the third quarter, turning the ball over three times in the span as well, and the Heat made the entire deficit disappear.

Naturally, Wade led the charge in what was a 14-3 run. He scored 10 of the points and found Beasley for a dunk with 3:55 left that tied it at 62.

And with Wade on the bench to open the fourth, Beasley took over the scoring load.

TIMBERWOLVES 106, NUGGETS 100: At Denver, Ryan Gomes scored 27 points, the most by a Timberwolves player this season, and Minnesota snapped a 15-game losing streak by beating the Denver Nuggets 106-100 Sunday night. Corey Brewer and Jonny Flynn each scored 16 points in helping Minnesota rally from 17 points down in the first half and register their first win since a season-opening victory against New Jersey.