NBA: Boston 99, Sacramento 81

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BOSTON, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Paul Pierce helped Boston break things open with a big second quarter Wednesday and the Celtics sailed to a 99-81 triumph over Sacramento.

Boston has won two in a row after dropping six straight. The Celtics backed up their double-overtime victory over Miami on Sunday.

Pierce scored 16 points and seized 10 rebounds while Kevin Garnett delivered 13 points and nine boards. Boston raced to a 21-point halftime lead by outscoring the Kings in the second period 37-14.

Brandon Bass, Jeff Green and Jason Terry all had 12 points off the bench for Boston, which shot 53 percent from the field.

Sacramento, loser of five out of six, got 19 points and 11 rebounds from Tyreke Evans. The Kings have lost two out of three to begin their six-game road trip that has stops remaining in Philadelphia, New York and Utah.