Celtics defeat Bucks in impressive reaction

In a very remarkable demonstration, Paul Pierce made a season-high 32 points, as Kevin Garnett had an easy 15 with 7 rebounds Friday night. This help Boston Celtics overcame Ray Allen’s absence to beat the visiting Milwaukee Bucks, 104-82.

“I just wanted to be a little bit more aggressive,” Pierce explained. “Especially with Ray out.”

Indeed, with Allen resting a sore ankle, Tony Allen started and scored 11 points. Rajon Rondo scored 17, a point short of his season high, and had 8 assists for Boston, which also won its first 12 home matches in 1984 en route to the 1985 N.B.A. finals.

Boston Celtics pulled away when they outscored Milwaukee by 32-15 in the third quarter. Boston will try to set the team record Wednesday against the powerful Pistons.

And for the second consecutive game — and only the second time this season — the Celtics were without their regular starting five. Ray Allen is expected to miss a game or two with a sore right ankle that he has been trying to play with for eight encounters.