MIAMI — A week ago, the Boston Celtics beat the Miami Heat with defense. This time, they did it with offense.

Paul Pierce scored 27 points, Kevin Garnett added 24 points and nine rebounds, and the Celtics made their first eight shots of the fourth quarter to hold off the Heat 115-107 on Tuesday night.

Rajon Rondo posted double-digit assists for the 18th straight game, extending the NBA’s longest such streak in 20 years with an 18-point, 15-assist effort. Brandon Bass added 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Avery Bradley scored 11 for the Celtics, who shot a season-high 61 percent and survived two possessions where Miami could have tied the score in the final quarter.

“We talk about it in fighting terms,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “We told them today before the game, you’re in a boxing match, you expect to get hit. They’re going to hit you. They did and we withstood it. I thought that was important for our team.”

LeBron James finished with 36 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for Miami, which got 20 from Dwyane Wade and 18 from Mario Chalmers. Chris Bosh finished with 13 on five-for-13 shooting for Miami, which has gone 5-5 in its past 10 games.

The Celtics beat Miami 91-72 in Boston on April 1, a game the Heat called “unacceptable” after establishing season-lows in scoring and shooting.

“We left Boston feeling awful at our performance,” James said. “I don’t feel as bad tonight. Those guys, they were locked in. Not only did they make their open shots, they made their contested shots. … When you’ve got it going like that, just tip your hat off. We tip our hat off to them tonight. They won it.”

Boston improved to 18-7 since the All-Star break, and dealt Miami a blow in the race for the No. 1 seed in the East. The Heat fell three games behind Chicago.

Also on Tuesday:

Wizards 93

Magic 85

WASHINGTON — Kevin Seraphin took advantage of Dwight Howard’s absence from Orlando’s lineup, getting career highs of 24 points and 13 rebounds to lead Washington.

Mavericks 110

Kings 100

DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki and Rodrigue Beaubouis each had 15 points to lead six Dallas players in double figures, and the Mavericks beat struggling Sacramento. DeMarcus Cousins had 25 points and 18 rebounds for the Kings.

76ers 107

Nets 88

NEWARK, N.J. — Spencer Hawes came off the bench for the first time and scored a season-high 19 points to lead slumping Philadelphia.

Cavaliers 103

Bobcats 90

CLEVELAND — Lester Hudson scored 25 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, and Cleveland beat league-worst Charlotte.

Bulls 98

Knicks 86

CHICAGO — Richard Hamilton scored 20 points, Luol Deng added 19 and Chicago beat New York despite Carmelo Anthony’s 29 points for the Knicks.

Blazers’ Aldridge to have hip examined

PORTLAND — Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge is traveling to Colorado to have his sore right hip examined.

The team says trainer Jay Jensen was set to accompany Aldridge to the examination Tuesday in Vail, Colo. Aldridge had an MRI on the hip late last month, but the results were negative. He has blamed the soreness on the grind of the lockout-shortened season and physical play.

A first-time All-Star this season, Aldridge leads the Blazers with 21.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

Aldridge’s status is questionable for Portland’s home game against Golden State today at 7:30 p.m.

— The Associated Press