NBA: San Antonio 87, Boston 86

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BOSTON, April 4 (UPI) -- Matt Bonner scored the winning points with 49 seconds left Wednesday and the San Antonio held on to beat Boston 87-86 for their ninth straight win.

The Celtics had an eight-game home winning streak snapped, San Antonio clinching the victory when Tim Duncan forced Paul Pierce into a difficult shot that misfired as the buzzer sounded.

Bonner's jumper gave the Spurs a four-point cushion but Ray Allen hit a 3-pointer for the Celtics with 44 seconds left.

San Antonio's Danny Green then missed a 3-point try at the end of the shot clock, giving Boston plenty of time to set up a potential game-winning attempt. Pierce, however, could not shake free from Duncan and was forced to toss up a well-contested effort.

Green scored 14 points for the Spurs, who won despite hitting just 41 percent of their field goal attempts. Gary Neal had 13 while both Duncan and Bonner had 10.

San Antonio took an 11-point halftime lead but then scored just nine points in the third quarter.

Avery Bradley led Boston with 19 points. Rajon Rondo had 17 and Kevin Garnett produced 16.

Boston, which had won five in a row overall, remained 1 1/2 games in front of Philadelphia for the lead in the Atlantic Division.