体坛英语新闻：Ray Allen leads Celtics past Nuggets

BEIJING, Feb. 25 -- The Boston Celtics handed the Nuggets one of the worst home losses in their history Monday night, routing Denver 114-76 behind 26 points from Ray Allen.

    It was Boston’s second game since Kevin Garnett strained a muscle in his right knee that is expected to sideline him for at least two weeks.

Paul Pierce added 22 points for the Celtics, who raced to a 60-37 halftime lead that rendered the second half a let’s-get-it-over-with exercise.

Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen shoots past the Denver Nuggets in their NBA basketball game in Denver February 23, 2009. Allen was the high scorer for the Celtics in the game.

    This was Denver’s worst home loss since Feb. 2, 1998, when the Nuggets were routed by Chicago 111-72. The 38-point margin of defeat tied for the second-biggest home loss since Denver joined the NBA in 1976.

    “I think it was a championship team (that) wanted to kick somebody’s butt,” Nuggets coach George Karl said.

    The Celtics were certainly motivated to avenge their 94-85 loss to the Nuggets at the Garden in November, one of just four losses at home for Boston this season.

    “We’ve been pretty sour about that all year,” Allen said. “We felt as though we should’ve won that game, they stole it from us. We remembered it. It’s tough to really try to make a connection because from then to now, both teams are playing totally different basketball. We were focused on what we needed to do because we’re a different team now with Kevin out.”

    Rajon Rondo (14 points) said coach Doc Rivers “gave a great motivational speech. He told us they bullied us last time.”

    J.R. Smith had 19 points and Carmelo Anthony added 18 for the Nuggets, who lost for the third time in four nights and saw their lead over second-place Portland trimmed to a single game in the suddenly up-for-grabs Northwest Division. Third-place Utah has sliced its six-game deficit in half in five nights.

    “It’s a tough patch right now, it really is,” Nuggets floor leader Chauncey Billups said.

    The Celtics overpowered the Nuggets from start to finish, never letting up until the final seconds when they bypassed an easy bucket to run out the clock.

    Reserve Leon Powe added 16 points for Boston, which led 86-58 heading into the fourth quarter.