The Boston Celtics rode a second-half surge to secure a 94-74 win over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday, ending the Rockets' 22-game winning streak in a battle of the NBA's top two teams.
 

Houston's streak had been the second longest in the NBA. The NBA's longest winning run was 33 games by the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers.
 

Kevin Garnett scored 22 points to pace the Celtics as the Eastern Conference leaders -- who have won 13 of their past 14 games -- raised their league-best record to 54-13.
 

The Rockets, who came into the game in sole possession of first place in the Western Conference, dropped to 46-21 and into a tie for first with the Los Angeles Lakers.
 

The Rockets went toe-to-toe with the Celtics in the first half, with both team playing smothering defense and going into the locker room tied at 40-40.
 

But the Celtics capitalised on their superior size to outscore the Rockets 32-16 in the third quarter and waltz home from there with an easy win.
 

"We didn't want to have the streak continue on us," said Boston forward Paul Pierce, who scored 20 points.
 

"This was a game that we wanted and we took care of business," he said in a happy Celtics locker room.
 

Luis Scola, who led the Rockets with 15 points and eight rebounds, said his team were outplayed by the Celtics.
 

"It's just basketball, it happens. We've got to give them credit, they played a great game," he said.
 

Rockets coach Rick Adelman said the Rockets' streak had been "a great run" but now the team must focus on the remaining 15 games of the season and try to secure a playoff spot in the tightly-bunched West.
 

Only 4.5 games separate the top eight teams in the Western Conference. Each conference has eight playoff spots.
 

"Sure it was great and we rode it a long time, and my perspective today is we've got a one-game losing streak," Adelman said.
 

"You've got to forget about it."