Boston Celtics cruised past New Orleans 94-82 to boost their National Basketball Association winning streak to 14 games on Friday.

Paul Pierce scored 28 points and Kevin Garnett added 19 with Pierce scoring 13 points in the third quarter as the reigning NBA champions shrugged off a slow first half and improved to 22-2.

This is the best start in team history and the longest winning streak since the 1985-1986 season.

Kendrick Perkins scored all nine of his points in the second half and grabbed 13 rebounds while Eddie House came off the bench to score nine for Boston, which made a season-low 14 assists in downing the Hornets.

David West scored 23 points and Chris Paul finished with 20 and 14 assists for the Hornets, who fell to 12-7.

Serbian sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic was limited to a season-low two points on 1-of-6 shooting for the Hornets, failing to make a 3-pointer for the first time in 64 games since January.

James Posey, a top reserve for Boston's championship team last season, scored nine points in his return to the Celtics home arena as a member of the Hornets.

(Xinhua News Agency December 13, 2008)