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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
BOSTON (AP) – The Boston Celtics erased the memory of an
unsuccessful road trip with a dominating performance at home.
|  | | Boston's Antoine Walker runs into Seattle's Ruben Patterson while driving in the first period. |
Antoine Walker had 25 points and 13 rebounds as Boston snapped a
four-game losing streak with an 85-82 victory over the Seattle
SuperSonics on Monday night.
"We feel like we have to be dominant at home," Walker said.
"If things aren't going well, it forces guys to step up."
After Gary Payton's 3-pointer from the left wing cut the lead to
82-80 with 13.2 seconds remaining, Randy Brown hit two foul shots
and Walker added one as the Celtics took a five-point lead.
Paul Pierce scored 24 points for Boston, which won its sixth
straight home game. The Celtics, who were coming off a 2-5 road
trip, swept the season series from Seattle for the first time since
1991-92.
"I knew we were going to have to ride Paul down the stretch,"
Celtics coach Jim O'Brien said. "Antoine came to me in the third
quarter and said, 'Let's just ride him.' I was going to ride him
anyway."
The Sonics, who have one victory since the All-Star break, lost
for the seventh time in 10 games.
"We need to be more consistent," Sonics forward Vin Baker
said. "We are like Jekyll and Hyde. When we are clicking, we're
one of the top teams, and when we're not, we are one of the worst."
Shammond Williams led the Sonics with 21 points and Payton added
20 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Patrick Ewing had 11
points and 11 rebounds.
The Celtics took a 68-62 lead on Bryant Stith's 3-pointer early
in the third quarter, but Williams kept the Sonics close by scoring
Seattle's next 10 points.
"Anytime we can have guys on the perimeter hitting shots, that
relieves Antoine and Paul of pressure each night," Stith said.
"Other teams know that if they don't double-team Antoine and Paul,
they can score 40 each night."
Williams hit three 3-pointers, giving the Sonics a 73-71 lead
midway through the fourth quarter.
The Celtics shot 12-for-24 from 3-point range. Reserve Eric
Williams, who made all three of his 3-point shots, scored 13
points.
"They made some big threes, but if we made our free throws and
layups ...," Sonics coach Nate McMillan said. "We have to find
some ways to limit our mistakes."
Walker led the Celtics with 19 first-half points. His 3-pointer
with 1:21 remaining gave Boston its biggest lead of the half,
44-34.
Boston took a 53-43 lead midway through the third quarter.
Seattle went on a 13-2 run and took a 56-55 lead with 2:21 left in
the period.
Game notes
Seattle guard Emanual Davis left the game with a sprained
left ankle and did not return. Davis was playing in place of Brent
Barry, who sat out with a strained groin. ... The Celtics activated
guard Randy Brown and forward Adrian Griffin, and placed Kenny
Anderson and Jerome Moiso on the injured list. ... Stith returned
to the Celtics' lineup after missing one game with a bruised right
hip and a strained left wrist. ... Tony Battie is scheduled to
return to practice Tuesday for the Celtics. ... Antoine Walker
became the 18th Celtics player to score more than 7,000 points in
the regular season.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Seattle Clubhouse
Boston Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 85
Seattle 82
Charlotte 82
Indiana 72
Milwaukee 98
Philadelphia 91
Golden State 84
Chicago 78
Portland 95
Houston 89
Orlando 93
Denver 86
Utah 99
Atlanta 82
Dallas 103
LA Clippers 92
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Antoine Walker takes the dish from Paul Pierce for a jam.
avi: 448 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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