Celtics 100, Bobcats 89: Rajon Rondo recorded his third triple-double of the season as host Boston defeated struggling Charlotte for its sixth consecutive victory.

Rondo finished with 17 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds to pace the Celtics, who are enjoying their best stretch since reeling off 14 straight wins from Nov. 22-Dec. 22, 2010. Paul Pierce led all scorers with 19 points while Avery Bradley added 16 on the strength of four 3-pointers.

Hakim Warrick and Ramon Sessions poured in 16 points apiece for Charlotte, which has dropped 23 of 25 since a 7-5 start to the season. Kemba Walker added 12 points but shot just 4-for-16 from the field.

The Bobcats had no answer for Rondo, who shot 4-for-4 from the field with seven rebounds and six assists as the Celtics went into the break ahead 56-45. Charlotte opened the third quarter on a 13-2 run - capped by rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist's dunk - to draw even, but Boston replied with the next seven points and rode that momentum to a 76-70 advantage entering the fourth.

The Celtics stretched the lead to 13 on five straight points from Courtney Lee, and Rondo completed the 26th triple-double of his career with a rebound of a Walker miss with 3:38 remaining and the game well in hand.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Rondo was in on Boston's first eight field goals, racking up seven points and five assists in the opening six minutes. ... Charlotte came into the game averaging just 83.2 points in its previous 10 encounters with the Celtics. ... Boston's Kevin Garnett shot just 2-for-11 for seven points, marking the first time this month he has failed to reach double digits.