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Celtics lose fifth straight, 119-104, to Thunder






Russell Westbrook scored 31 points and Kevin Durant added 28 as the host Oklahoma City Thunder won their fourth straight game and handed the Boston Celtics their fifth straight defeat, 119-104.

James Harden and Daequan Cook scored 17 points apiece for the Thunder, who broke Boston's streak of 29 straight games of holding opponents under 100 points en route to their 11th consecutive home victory.

Oklahoma City is tied with the Miami Heat for the NBA's top record at 26-7.

Kevin Garnett had 23 points and 13 rebounds, Paul Pierce scored 23 points and Ray Allen added 21 for the slumping Celtics, who have lost seven of eight to drop to two games below .500.

Garnett was back in the lineup after missing two games due to personal reasons. Boston was without point guard Rajon Rondo, who was serving the second of a two-game suspension for throwing a ball at an official.

The Celtics recovered from a 26-point, third-quarter deficit and were within 108-102 with 3½ minutes to play before Harden hit two free throws and Durant hit a 15-footer as the Thunder put the game away with a game-ending 11-2 run.

Boston led 23-14 with under five minutes left in the first quarter before Oklahoma City took charge with a quarter-ending 21-2 run. The Thunder then scored the first seven points of the second quarter - completing a stretch of 21 consecutive points - to take a 42-25 advantage with 10:14 left in the first half.

Oklahoma City led 72-49 at halftime, but the Celtics trailed by just 14 points entering the final quarter after finishing the third with a 16-4 run.

Notes: Westbrook has topped 30 points in three straight games and is averaging 34 points during the span ... Boston frontcourt players Brandon Bass (knee), Jermaine O'Neal (wrist) and Chris Wilcox (thigh) all sat out with injuries ... Oklahoma City forward Nick Collison (quadriceps) sat out his second straight game.

Rondo tabbed for All-Star Game

Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo will replace injured Atlanta Hawks' point guard Joe Johnson on the Eastern Conference All-Star team, according to multiple reports.

Johnson was diagnosed with tendinitis in his left knee and will miss the annual event, which is being held this year at the Amway Center in Orlando.

Rondo joins an Eastern Conference squad that includes Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard.

Rondo is averaging 14.8 points, 9.5 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 37 minutes per game.
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