SPORTS> North America
Blake's late 3 lifts Blazers past Raptors 98-97
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-08 15:17
TORONTO - LaMarcus Aldridge scored 20 points and Steve Blake made a clutch 3-pointer with 8 seconds left as the Portland Trail Blazers spoiled Toronto coach Jay Triano's home debut with a 98-97 victory on Sunday.

Toronto Raptors forward Jermaine O'Neal (R) knocks down Portland Trail Blazers defender Greg Oden while going up for a shot during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Toronto, December 7, 2008. [Agencies]

Jermaine O'Neal scored a season-high 24 and blocked six shots and Chris Bosh added 19 points, but it wasn't enough to give Triano his first win.

A basket by Brandon Roy pulled the Blazers even at 95-95 with 48 seconds left, but Bosh stepped back to sink a 14-foot jumper with 27 seconds to go. Blake then drained his 3 over Jose Calderon, and Bosh missed his final shot. Blake finished with 19 points.

Calderon had 15 points and 13 assists for Toronto.

The 50-year-old Triano, a former Canadian national team player and coach, became the NBA's first Canadian head coach on Wednesday when he replaced Sam Mitchell on an interim basis. Celtics 122, Pacers 117, OT=

At Indianapolis, Ray Allen scored a season-high 35 points to lead Boston past Indiana and push the Celtic's winning streak to 12 straight _ their longest since 1986.

Kevin Garnett had 17 points, 20 rebounds and five steals, Paul Pierce had 17 points and eight rebounds and Eddie House had 15 points for Boston (20-2).

Marquis Daniels led Indiana with a season-high 26 points. Danny Granger scored 20 points, but shot just 7-of-22 from the field.

Indiana is one of two teams to beat Boston this season, and the Pacers nearly pulled it off again by shooting 50 percent from the field against the league's top defensive team. It was the most points the Celtics have allowed this season. Knicks 104, Pistons 92=

At New York, Chris Duhon had 25 points and nine assists, Quentin Richardson scored 23, and New York blew most of a 29-point lead before holding on to snap a three-game losing streak.

Wilson Chandler and Al Harrington hit key 3-pointers for the Knicks, who dropped the Pistons to 0-5 on Sundays.

Harrington finished with 18 points and Chandler had 17 for the Knicks, who avoided their first four-game skid of the season. David Lee had 12 points and 19 rebounds as all but nine points came from New York's starters.

Tayshaun Prince had 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons, who fell to 7-8 since Allen Iverson's debut with the team. Iverson and Arron Afflalo each finished with 17 points for the Pistons, who are 11-3 on the other days of the week. Lakers 105, Bucks 92=

At Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant had 20 points and a season-high eight assists, Derek Fisher added 19 points and the Los Angeles Lakers equaled the best 19-game start in franchise history.

The Lakers also started the 1985-86 season 17-2. This was the sixth time the team has won 17 of its first 20 games, including the championship seasons of 1971-72 and 2001-02.

All the Lakers' starters scored in double digits, something none of the Bucks' starters did.

Bryant shot 6-for-13, sitting out the final 4 minutes of the third quarter after getting treated for a cut just above his left wrist. He started the fourth and was removed with 7:41 to play and the Lakers up by 19.

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