BOSTON (AP) – Tony Allen led Boston’s backups on a 14-point run early in the second quarter and the Celtics rolled to a 119-101 win Monday night over Orlando after the Magic traded starting guard Cuttino Mobley.
Allen, a rookie guard, had two field goals and two steals in the surge that increased a 32-28 lead to 46-28 with 3:14 gone in the period. The Celtics led by at least 14 points – and as many as 27 – the rest of the way and stopped Orlando’s three-game winning streak.
Mobley was replaced in the starting lineup by Stacey Augmon. At halftime, the Magic announced that Mobley and forward Michael Bradley, who is on the injured list, had been traded to the Sacramento Kings for guard Doug Christie.
The deal deprived Orlando of their third leading scorer. Mobley is averaging 16 points per game, nearly nine more than Christie, who should improve the team’s defense and passing. The Magic have allowed the most points per game in the NBA.
Several of his teammates wore black armbands with Mobley’s No. 5 on them.
The Celtics improved to 8-2 in their last 10 home games and were led by Paul Pierce with 18 points, Allen with 16 and Gary Payton, Ricky Davis and Raef LaFrentz with 15. Rookie Jameer Nelson had a career-high 19 points and Steve Francis added 18 for the Magic, who lost for the sixth straight time in Boston.
Allen started the second-quarter run with a 22-foot basket and Al Jefferson converted a tip. Then Marcus Banks blocked Francis’ shot and hit a 3-pointer at the other end of the court for a 39-28 lead.
A steal by Allen led to a three-point play by Jiri Welsch on a driving layup and a free throw. Allen then stole the ball again and fed Kendrick Perkins for a dunk. Banks then stole the ball from Francis and set up Allen for a layup.
The run ended when former Celtic Tony Battie made two free throws.
Boston led 65-50 at halftime and opened the third quarter with a 12-6 surge.
that made it 77-56 on Welsch’s 3-pointer.
Nelson led a fourth-quarter rally with 15 points that cut the lead to 105-91 with about four minutes left, but they came no closer as Davis followed with a 3-pointer.
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