Celtics beat Pacers to record win No.40

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Boston Celtics became the first team to reach 40 wins this season with a 104-97 road victory over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday.

With starters Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins still absent through injury, Paul Pierce stepped up to score 28 points and grab 12 rebounds to help the Celtics earn their fourth win in a row and improve to 40-9.

Boston coach Doc Rivers was not getting carried away with the number of wins his team had garnered.

"I'm not looking at numbers and I didn't even know we had made 40 wins," Rivers told reporters.

"But we're getting better and better. We just need to keep improving. Every night is a new test."

Pierce, who will play in Sunday's All-Star game, also had five assists. Ray Allen had 23 points while Leon Powe added 16 points and nine rebounds. Rajon Rondo had 12 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

Danny Granger led the Pacers with 10 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots."

"This was definitely a winnable game," Granger said.

"We let it get away at the end with a lack of execution and our usual letdown in the stretch."