Celtics' streak extends to 13 games

Celtics' streak extends to 13 games

At this rate, Rajon Rondo can take the rest of the winter off.

Without their starting point guard in the lineup for the second game in a row, the Boston Celtics continued to cruise past the rest of the competition in the Eastern Conference, beating Indiana, 99-88, Sunday behind Paul Pierce’s first triple-double in four years.

Pierce finished with 18 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds as the Celtics won their 13th consecutive game dating back to late November.

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Rondo sat out again with a sprained ankle – an injury sustained four days ago in a win over the Knicks – but Shaquille O’Neal returned from his calf injury and finished with 11 points. Nate Robinson, who started in place of Rondo, and Glen Davis scored 18 points apiece. The Celtics are 22-4 overall and 12-1 at home; they haven’t lost since Nov. 21 at Toronto.

Boston turned the ball over 18 times, but also shot 54 percent from the field while limiting the Pacers (12-14) to just 35 percent. The Pacers hung tough despite being outsized and actually pulled to within 85-81 before the Celtics closed the game on a 14-7 run.

Danny Granger led Indiana with 18 points while Roy Hibbert finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds. The Celtics will attempt to extend their winning streak to 14 games Wednesday at home against Philadelphia. Boston beat the 76ers on the road on Dec. 9 when Kevin Garnett hit the game-winning jumper with 1.4 seconds remaining.