BOSTON -- Dwight Howard did enough at the foul line to help Houston hold on Monday night. Howard had 32 points and 10 rebounds, and the Rockets beat Boston 104-92 to send the skidding Celtics to their ninth consecutive defeat. The Celtics hacked Howard, a poor free throw shooter, over and over again in the fourth quarter and sent him to the line 14 times. The big man made six and finished 10 of 18 in all. "Weve got confidence in Dwight to make those free throws when they start doing that, so I thought it was a real good win for us," teammate Chandler Parsons said. "But it wasnt perfect." As they fouled Howard repeatedly, the Celtics trimmed a 19-point deficit to seven in the fourth period before going dry in the final minutes. "I said (on TV) just now, I would probably support a change in that, that wouldnt allow that, would call it intentional or whatever you want to call it, call it like it would be called in the last 2 minutes," Boston coach Brad Stevens said. "To his credit, he made one almost -- maybe every time up to the foul line." Jeremy Lin added 16 points and nine assists for Houston. James Harden scored 16 and Parsons added 14 after missing three games with a knee injury. Parsons is having a breakout season, averaging 17.5 points (on 51.7 per cent shooting) and 5.4 rebounds. He said his knee "was really good tonight. I thought it was going to be a lot more sore." Avery Bradley had 24 points for the Celtics, on their longest losing streak since dropping a franchise-record 18 straight games in 2007 -- the season before they traded for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to join Paul Pierce as the Big Three. "Its hard to go through," Stevens said. "Its unenjoyable to go through. But that doesnt mean theres no growth." Houston outscored Boston 65-38 in the second and third quarters. Howard had 12 third-quarter points as the Rockets expanded a 52-43 halftime lead to 84-65 by the end of the period. Jerryd Bayless scored 15 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter and Brandon Bass finished with 14 for Boston. "(Bayless) gave us a chance, just as that whole second unit did," Stevens said. "Some of those guys havent played that much." But the Celtics were unable to complete the comeback and Houston held on. "We are getting a lot of experience on that, getting a lead and then giving it up," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. "So we are getting better at that." Houston blew a 25-point lead against the Wizards before rallying to win Saturday. "It seemed we played with more poise in the fourth quarter than we did against Washington," Lin said. Bradley had 14 first-quarter points, including two 3-pointers, as the Celtics opened a 27-19 lead and held the Rockets to 29 per cent shooting. Houstons second unit made some quick inroads against Bostons reserves in the second quarter, led by forwards Omri Casspi (12 points) and Parsons. The Rockets starters re-entered with the score tied at 35 and took off on a 17-8 run to build a 52-43 halftime lead. Jordan Crawford had 13 points for Boston. NOTES: Stevens said there is "nothing concrete" on a return date for rehabbing All-Star guard Rajon Rondo, but allowed that it would be "sooner rather than later." Speculation has ranged from Friday against the Lakers to after the All-Star break. ... The Rockets welcomed Parsons back but are still missing centre Omer Asik (bruised thigh) and guard Patrick Beverley (broken hand). ... The Rockets lost their two previous visits to Boston. ... Bass was scratched from the starting lineup in favour of Jared Sullinger. College Jerseys Outlet .Y. - The NFL has fined Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch $20,000 for making an obscene gesture during last Sundays NFC championship game, a person with knowledge of the fine told The Associated Press on Thursday. Fake College Jerseys .Carla Fontes hadnt cut her hair since intermediate school, but her coach at Waiakea High School, Stan Haraguchi, thought the locks flowing below her waist were interfering with the sport. https://www.ncaajerseys2020.com/ .com) - Calgary Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau has been selected as the NHLs Rookie of the Month for December, the league announced Friday. Fake NCAA Jerseys . This week, topics cover the World Series champion Red Sox, John Farrell and what to look forward to this off-season. Cheap College Jerseys 2020 .Y. -- Sore nose and all, Sidney Crosby had a goal and three assists to help Pittsburgh beat Buffalo 5-3 on Friday night, snapping the Penguins mini-slump and slowing the Sabres late-season surge.(SportsNetwork.com) - The New York Rangers hope to avoid a third straight loss on Monday night when they play host to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third matchup this season between the Metropolitan Division rivals. The Rangers have lost 11 of their last 15 meetings with the Penguins, splitting a pair of encounters this season. Henrik Lundqvist posted a 33-save shutout in a 5-0 home victory over Pittsburgh on Nov. 11, but the Penguins answered back with their own home win over the Rangers four days later. That came via a 3-2 shootout decision. Lundqvist, who is expected to start tonight, has allowed only two goals on 71 shots versus the Penguins this season. Backup Cam Talbot got the start in net for New York on Saturday versus Detroit after posting shutout wins in his previous two starts. He was looking solid again versus the Red Wings, but ended up allowing three goals on 34 shots in a 3-2 loss. With the Rangers up 2-0 thanks to goals from Kevin Klein and Rick Nash, Talbot yielded a pair of tallies 61 seconds apart late in the second period, then was beaten for the winner 7:40 into the third period. We were playing a pretty solid game. They got a couple odd-man rushes at the end of the (second) period that cost us, said Rangers defenseman Marc Staal. New York will try to avoid posting a season high-tying third straight loss for the third time tthis season and Nash could lead the charge tonight.ddddddddddddThe forward has 17 goals, tied for second in the NHL, and has posted five tallies and three assists over a seven-game point streak. Pittsburgh has won five of its last seven and bounced back from a 3-0 loss versus Vancouver with a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. An unmarked Christian Ehrhoff scored with 1:50 left in regulation, getting a cross-ice pass from Sidney Crosby before blasting a shot into the upper right corner of the net. Usually when you have that much time you think too much, said Ehrhoff. But I just knew where I wanted to put it and this time, it went right where I wanted it. Evgeni Malkin and Brandon Sutter also scored for the Penguins, who won two of three on their homestand. It was important to have a (good) rebound game, said Penguins coach Mike Johnston. Following that game (versus Vancouver), I think everybody was anxious to (go). And we didnt feel that the Vancouver game was a good game for us as a team. Craig Adams appeared in his 314th straight game for the Penguins, breaking the franchise record held by Ron Schock. He had an assist in the win. Marc-Andre Fleury made 27 saves, including two in the closing moments, in the victory for the Pens. He has allowed seven goals on 66 shots in the two games versus the Rangers this season. ' ' '