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Paul Pierce scored 22 points, Kevin Garnett had 21 and the visiting Celtics overcame an early 22-point deficit to slip past the slumping San Antonio Spurs 93-91 on Monday night when Robert Horry missed a potential game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer.

 "For a team that hasn't gone through anything, if you could script a game for us it would be this one," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "We didn't panic. We didn't change anything offensively or defensively. We just ran our stuff and the trust starting coming later."

   Rajon Rondo scored 20 points while recently-acquired Sam Cassell added 17 off the bench for the league-best Celtics (53-13) who without All-Star guard Ray Allen (bruised heel) earned their 11th victory in the last 12 games.

 The Celtics head to Houston in an attempt to snap the Rockets' 22-game winning streak - the second longest in NBA history - on Tuesday night.

 Argentine Manu Ginobili had 32 points and Frenchman Tony Parker added 17 for the defending NBA Champion Spurs (44-23) who had their seven-game home winning streak snapped with their season-high fourth straight loss.

 "It's a rough time right now, but these are the times you really figure out what type of team you have," Spurs forward Bruce Bowen said. "We're a team that competes and we're not lackadaisical out there. It's the little things that are between our heads - not physical - but the mental part that we have to get better on."

   The Spurs wasted a 22-point second quarter lead and found themselves trailing 89-87 on Cassell's three-pointer with 46 seconds left.

 Garnett missed a wide-open jumper, but Rondo grabbed the rebound and sank two free throws with 16 seconds remaining after being fouled.

 Two free throws by Ginobili pulled the Spurs within two, but Eddie House hit both of his tosses at the other end, making it 93-89 with 9.6 seconds left.

 After Parker raced in for an uncontested layup with 4.5 ticks remaining, Bowen stole Garnett's inbound pass. Instead of calling timeout, he spotted Horry. But "Big Shot Bob's" desperation game-winning three-point try missed at the buzzer.

 "We got lucky," Rivers said. "I played with the guy and when it was in the air you just assume ... like Tiger (Woods)."

   Horry didn't think the outcome should have rested on his desperation shot.

 "I'm just mad because we blew it," he said. "We should have been able to shut the door and win the game, especially when we're up 22 and at home.

 "I don't care who we're playing. We're playing Boston, which has the best record in the league, but you still have to protect home court. We didn't take advantage of it."

   Elsewhere:    New Orleans Hornets 108, Chicago Bulls 97    Chris Paul had 37 points with 13 assists and the Hornets outscored the visiting Bulls 33-13 in the fourth quarter to pull within one-game of idle Houston atop the Western Conference standings.

 Ben Gordon led the Bulls (26-40) with 31 points while Drew Gooden had 23 points and 12 rebounds.

 Orlando Magic 104, Cleveland Cavaliers 90    Dwight Howard collected 23 points with 13 rebounds and the Magic made 14 three-pointers en route to their fifth straight victory.

 LeBron James paced the visiting Cavaliers (38-30) with 30 points and nine rebounds.

 Utah Jazz 96, Toronto Raptors 79    Deron Williams scored 21 points and the Jazz opened the fourth quarter on a decisive 24-4 run to match a 12-year-old franchise record with their 19th straight home victory.

 Argentine Jose Calderon had 16 points for the Raptors (34-33) whose losing streak reached a season-high five games.

 Atlanta Hawks 105, Washington Wizards 96    Mike Bibby scored 23 points, Joe Johnson had 18 points with 10 assists, helping the Hawks move one-half game ahead of idle New Jersey for eighth place in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

 Antawn Jamison scored 25 points for the Wizards (33-33) whose three-game winning streak ended.

 Indiana Pacers 110, New York Knicks 98    Mike Dunleavy matched his career high with 36 points, Danny Granger had 26 with 11 rebounds, and the Pacers handed the lowly Knicks their ninth loss in the last 10 games.

 Zach Randolph topped the visiting Knicks (19-48) with 21 points and 14 rebounds.

 Memphis Grizzlies 98, Charlotte Bobcats 80    Spaniard Juan Carlos Navarro scored 21 points, while Mike Miller had 18 and 13 rebounds, helping the Grizzlies end a four-game slide.

 Derek Anderson had a season-high 17 points for the visiting Bobcats (24-43) losers of three straight.

 Minnesota Timberwolves 99, LA Clippers 90    Al Jefferson had 22 points with 14 rebounds, leading the Western Conference co-cellar dwelling Timberwolves (16-50) to their fourth win in the last six games.

 Corey Maggette had 34 points for the Clippers (21-45) who finished 1-4 on their road trip.

By Paul Levine, dpa