Rockets edge Celtics

Boston, we have a problem.

The Celtics dropped their third consecutive game and their sixth in the last eight last night when they fell to the Rockets at the Garden, 89-85. The loss also snapped the Celtics’ 13-game home winning streak.

Before the current skid, the Celtics (29-8) had been 93-18 in the regular season since Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen came to town, meaning the C’s have accounted for 25 percent of their losses over the last 14 months in just two weeks.

Kevin Garnett (18 points, eight rebounds) scored 10 consecutive points for the Celtics in the first quarter. Paul Pierce (26 points, five rebounds, four assists) added three 3-pointers and 11 points, and the Celtics had a 31-22 advantage after one.

But Houston abused the Celtics down low in the second and closed the half on a 9-3 run to grab a 52-49 lead.

The Rockets (22-15) hit four of their first five shots after the break while the Celtics had as many turnovers (two) as field goals. But soon after Houston took a 62-55 lead, Pierce scored nine straight Celtics points, capped by a 3-pointer from the right arc to put the C’s on top, 68-66.

Rajon Rondo’s lay-up with 1:34 to play put the C’s up, 85-84. But after Pierce was whistled for a charge, Von Wafer drilled a 3-pointer from the right corner to give the Rockets an 87-85 advantage. Yao Ming’s put-back with 12.9 seconds remaining iced Houston’s victory. The C’s scored a season-low 11 points in the fourth quarter.