Celtics keep firing

"If that's what they decide to do, that's what they decide to do," said Garnett about the Pistons perhaps resting their All-Stars the rest of the way. "Doc [Rivers] hasn't communicated anything to us that we are going to do something like that. We are forming this thing here around something special to get some consistencies going into the playoffs.

"We can't worry about what other teams are doing or copy them. Doc hasn't said anything to the leaders of this team or the vets of this team. We're going to keep on keeping on and trying to win as many games as we can."

The decision to rest Billups, Hamilton, and Wallace came from Pistons general manager Joe Dumars and coach Flip Saunders. Detroit (53-21) has eight regular-season games remaining. Rivers has said that his starters' minutes might taper off during the final eight games, but he doesn't plan on sitting them.

Asked about Detroit's move, Rivers said, "I don't coach the Pistons. That's it. I don't coach the Pistons. They do what they want to do. We are going to do what we want to do.

"I'm not going to get into all that stuff. We like what we are doing. We like the rhythm of our team. We are going to keep doing what we're doing."

The Celtics swept the four-game season series against Chicago for the first time since 1986-87. With a win tonight against Indiana at TD Banknorth Garden, they not only will reach 60 wins for the first time since 1985-86, they will have the third-best record in franchise history through 75 contests.

The Celtics nailed 14 of 25 3-point attempts (56 percent), with Allen hitting five, Pierce four, and James Posey (11 points, 7 rebounds) three. "It was great," said Rivers. "It bailed us out. We made timely threes, too."

Said Allen, "The 3-point line can be very tricky at times because you have so many open looks. I know I'm capable of making them. Paul knows he's capable of making them. But I think there is a stigma attached that when you shoot too many threes you're settling."