Suns knock Celtics from unbeatens, 110-103

BOSTON — Jason Richardson bounced back from his worst game of the season to score 34 points with 10 rebounds, and the Phoenix Suns rebounded from their only defeat to beat the Boston Celtics 110-103 on Friday night.

Kevin Garnett had a season-high 26 points for Boston — the most he’s scored since missing the end of the 2008-09 season and the playoffs with strained ligaments in his right knee.

Steve Nash had 16 points with 12 assists for Phoenix, shaking loose to hit a 3-pointer with 51 seconds left after Boston closed an 11-point fourth-quarter gap to four points. Amare Stoudemire added 22 points, while Richardson finished 6 for 7 from 3-point range.

Boston was trying to start 7-0 for the second time in three years. The Celtics won their first eight games in 2007-08 — and first 13 at home — en route to their record 17th NBA title.

Rajon Rondo scored 14 with 11 assists, and Paul Pierce and Ray Allen each scored 16 points for Boston. Rasheed Wallace had eight points, missing all six 3-point attempts — five of them in the fourth quarter, when Boston trailed entering it for the first time all season.

Richardson, who was suspended the first two games of the season because of his arrest and conviction on drunken driving charges, scored the first eight Phoenix points in the fourth quarter while Boston went more than four minutes without scoring. It was 96-85 with 7:57 left before Wallace made a pair of baskets and Allen hit a 3-pointer to make it a four-point game.

The Suns led 104-100 with a minute left, then Nash got open for a 3-pointer and Pierce missed one of two free throws.

Rondo scored on a breakaway, but Stoudemire made a pair of free throws and Wallace missed another 3 try with 13 seconds left that could have cut it to three points.

The Suns led by as many as 11 in the second quarter before the Celtics closed the difference to 57-51 at the half.

NOTES: Celtics F Brian Scalabrine did not play because of back spasms. … The Celtics won their first eight games two years ago en route to their 17th NBA title. … Suns coach Alvin Gentry earned his 200th win. … The Suns last started 4-1 in 2000-01. … Red Sox slugger David Ortiz took in the game from courtside and participated in a dunk stunt between quarters. … Former Boston College star Jared Dudley led all bench players with 10 points. … The referees had to separate Channing Frye and Kendrick Perkins at the halftime buzzer. The players were given matching technicals.