Celtics halt losing streak
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Dealing with a three-game losing streak and struggling against a troubled team, Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics turned to their defense to pull out a victory.
The Washington Wizards thought the Celtics got some extra help from the referees.
Garnett's 19 points led six Celtics in double figures and Boston limited Washington to 2-for-18 shooting in the fourth quarter en route to a 99-88 victory over the Wizards on Monday night.
"You're playing against the Boston Celtics so you're not going to get a lot of calls. KG's going to set illegal screens; they're not going to be called. That's just part of the game," Wizards center Brendan Haywood said. "You're going to go to the basket and if it's not basically just a straight-up WWF body slam, you're not getting the call."
Both teams took 36 foul shots. Washington were called for 24 personal fouls, one more than Boston.
Wizards co-captain Antawn Jamison was whistled for five fouls in the fourth quarter alone on an all-around rough night that started with his left knee feeling badly during warmups. He scored only eight points - 13 below his average - and shot 2 for 17 on field goals, 0 for 9 in the second half. He made 4 of 6 free throws.
"I thought the refereeing was inconsistent at times. I thought that 'Tawn got hit a few times. You don't go 2 for 17 in his situation and not get to the line more than six times," Washington coach Flip Saunders said.
"The guys were just really frustrated, especially 'Tawn, because of a lot of no-calls," Saunders said.
The Wizards led by eight points late in the third quarter but the Celtics used a 16-4 run, capped by Rasheed Wallace's 16-foot fadeaway jumper, to go up 86-82 midway through the fourth.
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