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Collison Leads Hornets Past Celtics, 93-85

New Orleans Hornets guard Darren Collison (2) and Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo (9) run for a loose ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)
New Orleans Hornets guard Darren Collison (2) and Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo (9) run for a loose ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

Darren Collison scored 13 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, helping the New Orleans Hornets hold on for a 93-85 victory over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.

Peja Stojakovic scored 20 for New Orleans and Morris Peterson had 16 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double in more than two seasons. David West added 15 points to help the Hornets go into the All-Star break with two wins in their last three games.

Paul Pierce scored 15 points for the Celtics, who played without starting guard Ray Allen (back spasms) in their second straight loss. Marquis Daniels added 14 points for Boston, which missed 11 free throws and was unable to protect a 12-point halftime lead.

Trailing for much of the first half, New Orleans seized the momentum in the third quarter by hitting six 3-pointers, including three by Stojakovic and two by Peterson.

The Hornets surged into the lead with an 11-0 run on Stojakovic's fourth 3 of the game, Peterson's three-point play on a tough transition layup, Collison's 3 and Stojakovic's jumper, which made it 72-65.

The Celtics shot 5 of 19 from the field and only 2 of 9 from the foul line during the quarter.
Daniels briefly got Boston's offense rolling again, scoring three baskets during an 8-2 run that pulled the Celtics to 76-75 early in the fourth quarter.

However, New Orleans didn't wilt as it did two nights earlier in Orlando, when the Magic overcame a 17-point deficit.

Collison hit a double-pump runner and followed it with a driving floater through a crowd as he was fouled. He added a jumper and then split Eddie House and Glen Davis on the dribble for another layup to make it 85-78.

The game was sloppy and play often seemed frantic and disjointed. The teams combined for 47 turnovers, with the Hornets committing 24, including a franchise-high 10 by Collison.

The Hornets' rookie point guard missed a dubious triple-double by one assist.

Pierce committed eight turnovers and scored only two points in the second half. Kevin Garnett had seven points and seven rebounds in 26:29 and did not score in the second half, missing an open but rushed fastbreak layup in the final minute when Boston trailed by six.

Peterson was starting for a fourth straight game because of Marcus Thornton's bruised lower back. Thornton returned as a reserve against Boston for 9 minutes after missing the previous three games, but scored only two points in 9 minutes. Peterson, meanwhile, had one of his best games since signing with the Hornets for the 2007-08 season. His double-double was his first since April 17, 2007, (14 points, 13 rebounds) when he was playing for Toronto.

New Orleans led 27-25 when Collison hit a tough right-handed hook shot running diagonally away from the hoop at the end of the first quarter.

Boston quickly surged into the lead in the second period while the Hornets struggled to hit shots.

Songaila was the only Hornets player to make a field goal in the period. He went 5 of 7 for 10 points in the period, but the rest of the Hornets were a combined 0 for 11.

Boston, meanwhile, shot 61 percent (11 of 18) with former LSU star Davis scoring all of his nine points in the period.

In the final half-minute before halftime, Garnett turned a tough baseline jumper as he was fouled into a three-point play, giving Boston a 55-43 lead.

This program aired on February 11, 2010. The audio for this program is not available.

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