BOSTON -- Instant reaction after the Boston Celtics posted a 96-87 triumph over the New Jersey Nets Friday night at the TD Garden:

How the game was won: Ray Allen scored a team-high 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting, including a trio of trifectas, over a manageable 33 minutes, while Rajon Rondo added 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting and 11 assists in a game-high 44 minutes for the Celtics. The Nets more than held their own for three-plus quarters with Brook Lopez contributing a team-high 19 points to pace all five New Jersey starters in double figures.

Turning point: The Celtics trailed by a point with under 10 minutes to play when Eddie House caught fire. House, scoreless to that point, scored 10 of Boston's next 16 points, including a pair of 3-pointers (a third was erased under video review as it came after the 24-second clock expired) as Boston's lead ballooned to 88-81 with 3:40 to play. House produced four baskets during that stretch and nearly a fifth on a steal/layup combo (that Ray Allen cleaned up).

Stat of the game: The Nets shot 63.3 percent in the first half (19 of 30), but finished at 44.1 percent (30 of 68). Boston finished at 50 percent (36 of 72 overall).

Unsung hero: Glen Davis logged 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting with 3 rebounds and 2 assists in 20 minutes off the bench.

What it means: For three-plus quarters the Celtics were at risk of enduring their worst loss of the season as the four-win Nets not only hung tough, but blistered the parquet with their hot shooting. But, as has been the case all season, Boston won ugly, utilizing a House-fueled spurt to win their third straight game. An ugly win is an ugly win is an ugly win for a Celtics team that is building a little momentum with the Orlando Magic coming in for a Super Sunday showdown.