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.

"But it's going to get thrown out the window, if we don't win the championship again."

Allen agreed the main focus is to repeat as world champions.

"It's a great accomplishment. It's a lasting impression of the legacy that we'll leave," he said, referring to record-setting start. "But we talked about being a team that's not a one-hit wonder. We're building something great here."

Eddie House scored 14 points off the bench, including four three- pointers in a late game-sealing 20-3 surge, in Boston's longest run since winning 14 in a row during the 1985-86 title season.

Kendrick Perkins added 12, while Kevin Garnett finished with 11 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists before sitting out the final quarter.

"Our goal is not to have the best start," House said. "It's to be there at the finish."

Caron Butler scored 19 points, while Antawn Jamison and Juan Dixon had 17 points apiece for Eastern Conference-worst Washington
(4-16) which equaled the club's slowest start since it was known as the Baltimore Bullets in 1966-67.

"I think that we just saw the best team in the league," said Wizards interim head coach Ed Tapscott, who dropped to 3-6 since taking over for fired Eddie Jordan on November 24. "We have to give a lot of credit to the Celtics because they came out and they played hard."

Scoring early and often, Boston wasted little time jumping on the Wizards. With Allen hitting for 16 points and Pierce adding 14, the visitors built a commanding 63-39 halftime cushion.

"I thought the first half was some of our best basketball, but the third quarter we had a letdown," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "Washington doesn't quit. That's the one thing that they've done all year, they've come back in games."

Stepping up their effort, the Wizards forced eight turnovers and pulled to within 84-74 on Butler's 18-foot jumper with a minute left in the third quarter.

However, Leon Powe made two free throws, and House nailed a three- pointer to close the period, giving the Celtics an 89-74 advantage.

Boston started the fourth frame on a 15-3 run. Pierce scored six quick points, and House followed with three more triples as the lead grew to 104-77 lead with just over 7.5 minutes remaining, sealing the Celtics' ninth consecutive road win.

"Once they made their run," House said, "we got back with it and we closed the game out."

Elsewhere:

Dallas Mavericks 95, Charlotte Bobcats 90:

German juggernaut Dirk Nowitzki had 23 points, 13 rebounds and a back-breaking three-pointer with 28 seconds left as the Mavericks slipped past the short-handed Bobcats.

Dallas led 90-89, when Nowitzki drilled his triple from the right wing, and Jason Terry added the final two free throws with 19 seconds left, helping the hosts improve to 10-0 all-time against the Bobcats.

Terry scored 26 points to pace Dallas (12-9), which rebounded from a 133-126 double overtime loss to San Antonio on Tuesday night for its 10th win in the last 12 games

Emeka Okafor had a season-high 27 points and 17 rebounds, while Raymond Felton added 16 points for Charlotte (7-16) which dropped its fifth in a row.

The Bobcats were without Raja Bell, Boris Diaw and Sean Singletary, acquired from Phoenix on Wednesday, in exchange for Jason Richardson, Jared Dudley and a 2010 second-round draft pick.

Utah Jazz 97, Portland Trail Blazers 88

Turkey's Mehmet Okur scored 21 of his 27 points in the opening half, and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Jazz tuned out the visiting Trail Blazers.

Paul Millsap added 17 points and 12 rebounds while Deron Williams contributed 14 points and 11 assists for Utah (15-9) which led virtually the entire contest.

Brandon Roy poured in 33 points, and LaMarcus Aldridge added 22 for Portland (15-9) which has dropped both meetings to its Northwest Division rivals this season. (dpa)