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WASHINGTON - Paul Pierce scored 19 points and handed out seven assists Monday to lead the Celtics to an 87-56 victory over Orlando in Boston, the Celtics' first win over a winning team in this lockout-shortened NBA season.

 

The Celtics overcame a host of injury absences, including starting guards Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen.

 

Rondo missed his third straight game with a sprained right wrist, while Allen hurt his left ankle in a win over Washington Sunday.

 

The Celtics were also without French forward Mickael Pietrus -- who is nursing a shoulder injury -- guard Keyon Dooling and center Chris Wilcox.

 

Brandon Bass helped fill the void, delivering 19 points off the bench, and veteran Kevin Garnett chipped in 14 points with 10 rebounds for the Celtics, who had been 0-6 this season against teams with winning records.

 

Dwight Howard led Orlando with 18 points and 14 rebounds, but no other Magic player scored in double figures.

 

Howard came into the contest needing 26 points to surpass Nick Anderson as the Magic's all-time leading scorer but was limited to 18 on 4-of-15 shooting.

 

His struggles were emblematic of the Magic's shooting troubles. Orlando shot just 24.6 percent from the floor en route to a club record for fewest points in a game. — AFP