He also had nine rebounds and eight points

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Boston Celtics chalked up their fourth consecutive victory by crushing New Jersey Nets 105-85 on Saturday. SportsRay Allen scored 25 points and five other Celtics were in double figures for the Atlantic Division leaders, who had lost seven of nine games before beginning their winning streak.Allen collected 20 of his points in a one-sided first half which Boston led 68-39. The Celtics were 18-2 ahead after only seven minutes."We know first hand that's when teams get confident, early on, and keep it going throughout the game," Allen told reporters. "We've lost a couple of games this year that way, from not coming out with the right energy."Rajon Rondo had 12 assists by halftime and finished with 14.

He also had nine rebounds and eight points.Kevin Garnett contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds, Paul Pierce and Eddie House each scored 13 points, Leon Powe had 12 and Brian Scalabrine 11.TOTALLY EMBARRASSEDBrook Lopez topped New Jersey with 28 points and 10 rebounds. "It's hard to fathom."Lopez credited Boston's defense for the way the Nets played."They pressured us, made us change the way we play our offense," he said. "Defensively they were getting whatever they wanted."The loss was the third in a row for the third-placed Nets, who dropped to 13 1/2 games behind the Celtics in the division.(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina; editing by Tony Jimenez) Sports. BEIRUT (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Saturday he was relieved about an Israeli ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and urged the Jewish state to withdraw all of its troops as soon as possible.

World"I am relieved that the Israeli government has decided to cease hostilities as of midnight GMT," Ban told reporters. "This should be the first step leading to the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza," he said, adding that he wanted the withdrawal "as soon as possible."He said that Hamas militants also needed to do their part to bring an end to the violence by halting their rocket attacks against southern Israel."Hamas militants must stop firing rockets now," he said.Ban said that humanitarian access for the people of the Gaza Strip was the top priority and the United Nations was ready to act immediately."Any durable solution must include the reopening of the (Gaza border) crossings and the prevention of illicit trafficking in arms," he said.(Reporting by Louis Charbonneau; editing by Myra MacDonald) World. WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The United States welcomes Israel's ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and expects all parties to stop hostile actions immediately, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Saturday. "The goal remains a durable and fully respected ceasefire that will lead to stabilization and normalization in Gaza," she added in a written statement after Israel called off its three-week offensive in the area.