Celtics see off Hornets in battle of conference leaders

BOSTON (Reuters) - The NBA-leading Boston Celtics pulled away from Western Conference leader New Orleans in the third quarter for a 112-92 victory on Friday.

Paul Pierce scored 27 points and Kevin Garnett added 21 points and 13 rebounds to spark the Eastern Conference-leading Celtics, who rallied from a 60-56 halftime deficit to snap a five-game winning streak by the Hornets.

"Great win for us on both ends," Boston coach Doc Rivers told reporters after his team improved to 57-15 and avenged last week's 113-106 loss to the Hornets.

"When you shoot 60 per cent, basically, and score 112 against a good defensive team, you're thrilled to death," Rivers added.

"(Rajon) Rondo and Kevin (Garnett)'s energy in the second half, denying (Chris) Paul the ball, basically turned it for us," Rivers said.

The victory gave Boston a win over every team in the NBA this season and completed back-to-back triumphs over key Western opponents Phoenix and New Orleans.

"What better way to do it (than) against the quality teams in the NBA," Pierce told reporters. "I mean there is not too many teams we are going to play that's over .500 but it doesn't matter we want to go into the playoffs playing well."

Paul finished with 22 points and 10 assists with Peja Stojakovic scoring 17 points for New Orleans.

The Hornets' defense inside disappointed coach Byron Scott, however.

"When you play a team as good as they are, if you allow that many points in the paint (76) they will beat you every time," Scott told reporters.

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