Celtics survive tough test from Spurs and eye Rockets

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Boston, the best team in the NBA, survived a torrid time before overturning a 22-point deficit to beat San Antonio on Monday, a day before they face the league's hottest team.

The Celtics' dramatic 93-91 win over the Spurs on St. Patrick's Day was their second victory on a five-game road trip but they now travel to Houston who won their 22nd consecutive game on Sunday.

"It's a huge game for us," Celtics forward Kevin Garnett, who scored 21 points on Monday, told reporters when asked about the meeting between Eastern Conference-leading Boston and Houston, the Western Conference's top team.

"We want to bring the energy from tonight to (the Rockets') game," he added. "We have to start the game better because we can't spot teams on the road or else it's an uphill battle.

The Celtics fell behind 33-11 in the second quarter before Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo and Sam Cassell inspired their comeback.

Pierce, who sparked a fourth-quarter rally, finished with 22 points. Rondo had 20 and new signing Cassell 17.

Cassell hit a clutch three-pointer with 46 seconds to play to give the Celtics a lead they never relinquished.

"I'm really proud of our guys," Celtics coach Doc Rivers told reporters.

"San Antonio came out and just attacked us and went after us," he added. "We didn't respond to it well as the lesson is on the road you can't ease into a basketball game against an angry great team. They had lost three in a row and you could see that they had a purpose."

Manu Ginobili scored 32 for the Spurs but received little support.

Last season's NBA champions still made it interesting, however, and even had a chance to win.

A Boston turnout gave San Antonio the ball with two seconds left and Robert Horry launched a three-pointer that would have won the game.

"I thought it was in," Rivers said. "We got lucky."

(Writing by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina; Editing by Ed Osmond)