Boston Celtics defeat Houston Rockets, 97-93

After Kevin Garnett put the game away with a late jumper, teammate Paul Pierce jumped on his back for a ride.

The way the "Big Ticket" carried the Celtics in the fourth quarter, the rest of the team should have jumped on, too.

Boston improved to an NBA-best 27-3 with a tough, 97-93 victory over the Houston Rockets last night at a sold-out TD Banknorth Garden. The Celtics are only the sixth team in NBA history to win 27 of its first 30 games, the last being the 1995-96 B...

Source: Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff Added by: Boston.com

They are the biggest story in the NBA but not the dominant sports topic in their own hometown.

They lead the nightly sportscast when they visit other NBA arenas. Not here.

They are front-page sports news when they win at Sacramento and Salt Lake City. Not here. Not most days, anyway.

It's nobody's fault. The Celtics just happen to be racking up wins at a time when the local professional football team is contending for greatest team ever. So, Messrs. Garnett, Allen...

Source: Dan Shaughnessy, Globe Columnist Added by: Boston.com