BEIJING, April 7 -- The Boston Celtics played without their "Big Three" on Saturday but still clinched the National Basketball Association's best regular season record with a 101-78 victory over the New Orleans Hornets. Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen were rested, while Paul Pierce was at home after the birth of his daughter on Friday, but that did not keep Boston from securing home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

"If you could write a script on a way to clinch home court, this would probably be it," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said after Leon Powe scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds in Boston's sixth straight win.

Elsewhere in the NBA, it was: Magic 101, Cavaliers 86; Hawks 92, 76ers 85; Nets 99, Raptors 90; Kings 118, Nuggets 115; and Wizards 99, Bulls 87.

In New Orleans, Emeka Okafor had 17 points and eight rebounds for the Bobcats, who were eliminated from playoff contention.

Boston Celtics center Kendrick Perkins (R) blocks the shot of Indiana Pacers center Jeff Foster during the first quarter at the TD Bank North Garden in Boston, Massachusetts April 2, 2008

The Celtics, spurred by the offseason acquisitions of Garnett and Allen, have already added 37 victories to last year's total of 24. They have six games remaining in the regular season.

The turnaround breaks the record of the 1997-98 San Antonio Spurs, who went from a 20-62 record the previous year to 56-26 in Tim Duncan's first year in the NBA.

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