Hot Celtics make the Heat sweat - Philadelphia Inquirer

Paul Pierce scored 27 points, Kevin Garnett added 24 points and nine rebounds, and the Boston Celtics made their first eight shots of the fourth quarter to hold off the Heat, 115-107, on Tuesday night in Miami.

Rajon Rondo posted double-digit assists for the 18th straight game, extending the NBA's longest such streak in 20 years with an 18-point, 15-assist effort.

LeBron James finished with 36 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists for Miami, which got 20 from Dwyane Wade and 18 from Mario Chalmers.

The Celtics beat Miami by 91-72 in Boston on April 1, a game the Heat called "unacceptable."

This one won't sit any better with the reigning Eastern Conference champions, who ousted the Celtics in five games from last year's playoffs and could see them in the second round of the postseason.

Wizards do Magic

Kevin Seraphin took advantage of Dwight Howard's absence from Orlando's lineup, getting career highs of 24 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Wizards to a 93-85 victory over the Magic in Washington.

Jordan Crawford scored 21 points, John Wall had 15, and Cartier Martin and James Singleton - both on 10-day contracts with the Wizards - added 12 points apiece. Seraphin also matched a career high with four blocks.

Jameer Nelson scored 19 points and J.J. Redick added 15 for the Magic, who shot 36.6 percent from the field.

Howard missed his second straight game due to back spasms, and fourth in Orlando's six April games. The Magic have lost three of four in his absence.

Record D-League call-ups

Despite the shortened season, the NBA Development League had 50 players called up to NBA teams this season, 10 more than its previous high.

The NBA D-League also had 64 players assigned from NBA clubs, surpassing its record of 56 set last season. The previous high of 40 call-ups was set in the 2009-10 season.

Every NBA team has at least one former D-Leaguer, with the New York Knicks turning their season around in February behind point guard Jeremy Lin, who had been sent down to Erie and recalled earlier in the season. Twenty-five percent of NBA rosters are D-League alums.

The NBA D-League wrapped up its 11th season by surpassing 1 million in attendance for the third straight year. The eight-team playoffs begin Wednesday.

- Associated Press