Originally published Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 12:00 AM

NBA | Charlotte stuns Celtics

Hardly anyone — except for maybe Charlotte's Jason Richardson — could have seen this coming. The Boston Celtics were rolling...

By The Associated Press

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CHARLES KRUPA / AP

Bobcats guard Jason Richardson, right, had 34 points Wednesday in Boston.

BOSTON — Hardly anyone — except for maybe Charlotte's Jason Richardson — could have seen this coming.

The Boston Celtics were rolling at home and the Bobcats were miserable on the road.

Richardson had 34 points and nine rebounds, Gerald Wallace had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and the Bobcats stunned the Celtics 95-83 for just their fourth loss of the season on Wednesday night.

"I'm not surprised because we're a pretty good team," Richardson said. "It just doesn't show in our record."

And it really didn't in road results.

The Bobcats, who entered with an Eastern Conference-worst 1-11 road mark, also got 16 points and eight assists from Raymond Felton. But it was Richardson, who went 14 for 22 from the floor, that hurt the Celtics most.

"Jason Richardson was fantastic, just tremendous," Boston coach Doc Rivers said.

The loss snapped a nine-game winning streak for Boston (29-4) and spoiled its bid for the fastest start in team history to 30 wins. The 1959-60 Celtics started 30-4 before going on to win the NBA title.

Kevin Garnett had 24 points and eight rebounds for Boston, which played without ex-Sonic Ray Allen (pinched nerve in neck). Paul Pierce scored 13 points on 4-for-14 shooting.

"We aren't going to win every game of the season," Pierce said. "We have to expect everybody's best, and it was one of Charlotte's best games."

The Celtics' only other loss at home came when Detroit's Chauncey Billups hit two free throws with 0.1 seconds left in an 87-85 win on Dec. 19. Boston is 16-2 at home.

Charlotte lost the previous game between the teams at home on Nov. 24 when Allen hit a three at the buzzer.

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