Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009

SAN ANTONIO (AP) Kevin Garnett paid no mind to the Boston Celtics winning their sixth straight game Thursday night, claiming he's not even conscious of the streak.

But the Celtics are on a roll, right?

"We've got a little rhythm," Garnett said.

Garnett scored 20 points and the Celtics improved to an NBA-best 8-1 away from home, beating the San Antonio Spurs 90-83. They'll wrap up a four-game road swing Friday at Oklahoma City, when Boston will go for a season-best seventh consecutive win.

"That's the make or break of the trip," Celtics forward Rasheed Wallace said. "It'll be a downer if we don't go in there tomorrow and come out with a W."

San Antonio also had won five in a row, but the Celtics came away with what Spurs coach Gregg Popovich acknowledged was a bit of a litmus test. Of the nine teams San Antonio has beaten this season, only four had winning records entering Thursday.

Rookie DeJuan Blair had a career-high 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs, who will get another test against a division leader Saturday against Denver.

San Antonio committed 18 turnovers, shot a season-worst 7 of 17 from the free-throw line and made just 2 of their 16 attempts from behind the 3-point line.

"It's one of those bad games," Spurs guard Tony Parker said.

Boston matched its longest winning streak of the season, when the Celtics started 6-0. Only the Los Angeles Lakers, who've won seven straight, have a longer streak going.

Rockets 111, Warriors 109

In Oakland, Aaron Brooks hit two free throws with 2.1 seconds left and Houston rallied to spoil Golden State coach Don Nelson's return.

Brooks finished with 25 points to lead seven Rockets players in double figures.

Monta Ellis had 24 points, eight assists and six rebounds for Golden State. The Warriors welcomed back Nelson after he missed five games because of pneumonia.

Nuggets 114, Heat 96

In Denver, Carmelo Anthony scored 22 points and the Nuggets routed Miami, dropping Heat star Dwyane Wade to 0-6 in Denver in his seven NBA seasons.

Wade, who snapped an 0-11 skid at Indiana this season, had 25 points.

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