Among the Celtics' mantras this season is taking games one at a time. But their fans were not buying into that last night, chanting "Beat LA" late in the final quarter of a 110-91 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, the Celtics' franchise-record 19th consecutive victory.

At 27-2, the Celtics also surpassed the NBA record for best start shared by Philadelphia (1966-67) and New York (1969-70), which began seasons with 26 victories in 29 games.

There was some symmetry to this milestone, the Sixers having snapped the 1981-82 Celtics' 18-game streak with a 116-98 win March 22, 1982, then going on to eliminate them in a six-game playoff series.

The Celtics improved to 17-1 at home with their 12th straight win at TD Banknorth Garden, a sendoff for a four-game trip that begins tomorrow against the Los Angeles Lakers.

A Kevin Garnett 18-footer signaled the start of an 10-2 Celtic spree that gave them a 58-44 lead at the half.

The Sixers pulled within 60-50 on Andre Miller's jumper 2:55 into the second half. Then a 14-2 Celtic run over a 3:24 span extended the lead to 74-52, capped by Garnett's left-hand tip of a Paul Pierce lob with 4:32 left in the third quarter.

The Sixers responded with 10 successive points and a 14-4 spree, concluding the quarter with Marreese Speights's dunk to cut their deficit to 78-66 with 21 seconds to play.

The Celtics' second unit, plus Ray Allen, got off to an 11-4 start in the first 4:26 of the final quarter. Leon Powe's free throw for an 89-70 advantage with 7:47 remaining made Doc Rivers feel safe enough to replace Ray Allen with Gabe Pruitt, who confirmed that faith with a 3-pointer for a 93-71 lead with 6:57 to play.

The "Beat LA" chants started soon after that.