Los Angeles - The Boston Celtics have never been better to start a season, but they're looking for an even bigger finish.

Paul Pierce and Ray Allen scored 22 points apiece as the Celtics rolled to their season-high 13th consecutive victory, 122-88 over the woeful Washington Wizards on Thursday night.

With their most lopsided victory of the season, the Celtics improved to a league-best 21-2 mark - a record start for the famed franchise, which has won 17 NBA titles.

"It's always nice to make history when you're part of a storied franchise," Pierce said. "There aren't a lot of record-breaking opportunities with the Celtics with the history that we have.

Los Angeles - For one quarter, Carmelo Anthony went into attack mode, and then into the NBA history books.

Anthony erupted for 45 points, including a league record-tying 33 in the third quarter, carrying the Nuggets to a 116-105 home victory over the slumping Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.

"That was one of the greatest quarters I've ever been apart of," said Anthony, who added 11 rebounds to his ninth career game of 40 or more points. "The most important thing is we won the game tonight."

Los Angeles - It's only December but the Phoenix Suns are already doing their spring cleaning.

The Suns sent Raja Bell, Boris Diaw and rookie Sean Singletary to the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday, in exchange for shooting guard Jason Richardson, second-year forward Jared Dudley and a 2010 second draft choice.

Los Angeles - Looking to pull themselves out of the Eastern Conference cellar, the Washington Wizards on Wednesday picked up a pair of backup guards in a three-team trade with the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Hornets.

The Wizards (4-13), who recently fired head coach Eddie Jordan due to their slow start, acquired Javaris Crittenton from the Grizzlies and Mike James from the Hornets.

Los Angeles - With the Detroit Pistons failing to click on all cylinders recently, help has returned in an effort to get them charged up again.

Antonio McDyess has re-signed with the Pistons for the remainder of the season, the club announced on Tuesday.

On November 3, McDyess, along with starting point guard Chauncey Billups and Cheikh Samb were dealt to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for high-scoring guard Allen Iverson.

Los Angeles - Randy Wittman became the latest NBA coaching casualty, after the bottom-feeding Minnesota Timbwervolves fired him and named vice president of basketball operations, Kevin McHale, as his replacement.

Wittman's dismissal comes on the heels of a five-game losing streak, including a 29-point drubbing by the New Jersey Nets, and a 23-point embarrassment at the hands of the equally-abysmal LA Clippers (4-16) over the weekend