EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -Ray Allen and the Boston Celtics wasted no time turning a rematch with the Nets into another rout.

Allen scored 25 points to lead the Celtics to a 105-85 win on Saturday afternoon. The Celtics put the game away in the opening quarter, taking an 18-2 lead behind nine points from Allen. Boston had beaten New Jersey by 32 points at home on Wednesday.

Advertisement

``From our vantage point, we didn't look at this as a game that would play out like it did in Boston,' Allen said. ``They have been playing well together and they've won some big games. We know first hand that if teams get out and get confidence, they can keep it going the whole game. We've lost a couple of games this year that way. It was a group effort, and a four-quarter effort.'

Devin Harris and Vince Carter, the Nets leading scorers, had front row seats for the entire second half to watch the Celtics road show as New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank benched his two stars.

``I was totally embarrassed by our performance,' Frank said. ``It starts with me and goes on to our main players. It was an embarrassing start to the game I decided to go in another direction.'

Paul Pierce and Eddie House both had 13 points for the Celtics, while Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe each had 12. Rajon Rondo came close to a triple double with eight points, nine rebounds and 14 assists.

``It was a great start,' Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. ``It's one of the things we talked about. If you get off to a good start, it gives you a chance to play well the whole game. I thought the whole team was running well.'

The defending champions have won four straight, all at the expense of the Nets and the Toronto Raptors. The Celtics have won seven straight from the Nets.

Brook Lopez led New Jersey with 28 points and Jarvis Hayes added 15 for the Nets, who dropped their third straight game. Harris had seven points and Carter finished with five.

Carter understood Frank's decision.

``He made the call so I have to live with it,' Carter said. ``It's not easy to do but he felt like we weren't giving much to the team and he made a decision to go with a different unit. It's like that sometimes.'

The Nets started 1-for-9 from the field. Carter, who had the only New Jersey basket in the run, picked up two quick fouls and was replaced by Hayes.

Boston led 29-15 after the first quarter, shooting 11-for-18 from the field. Allen had 14 of those points.

The Celtics led 68-39 at the half.

Notes: Carter witnessed the dramatic landing of the U.S. Airways jet in the Hudson River on Thursday from his apartment on the New Jersey side of the river. ``It looked like it was out of a movie,' Carter said. ... House played for the Celtics despite rolling an ankle Wednesday. The Boston inactives were Tony Allen (right ankle strain), Kendrick Perkins (sore left shoulder) and J.R. Giddens. ... The Nets inactives were Yi Jianlian (broken finger), Stromile Swift (personal reasons) and Sean Williams. ... Eduardo Najera was called for a flagrant foul on a hard takedown of Allen with 2:49 left in the first. Bill Walker of the Celtics picked up flagrant against Ryan Anderson with 4:23 remaining in the fourth.