Allen delivers with a complete game

Celtics guard Tony Allen wasn't coming out of last night's game, a decision coach Doc Rivers made in the second quarter.

"I told our coaches, 'unless Tony asks me to come out, he's not coming out,' " Rivers said.

Allen was the one player Rivers wanted to guard forward Carmelo Anthony, who is the league's second-leading scorer.

So Allen played 48 minutes and even with Anthony scoring a game-high 42 points, Rivers considered Allen's performance "amazing" in the Celtics' 119-144 victory at TD Banknorth Garden.

"[Anthony's] just one guy that is just so good right now," Rivers said. "He is such a tough cover for anybody."

Along with his defensive efforts, Allen found a way to contribute offensively.

He scored a career-high 30 points, eclipsing the 23 he had against Cleveland last season.

"He scored the right way," Rivers said. "He attacked the basket."

Allen did a little bit of everything as the Celtics claimed their fourth consecutive victory.

Allen was all over the court. He went to the basket and drew fouls. He drained free throws (6 for 6). He blocked a shot.

And when the Nuggets made a push late in the fourth quarter, Allen was there. He converted 3-point plays and moved in for steals.

In the fourth quarter, as a pass glided toward Anthony, Allen swatted it away and drove the length of the court for a dunk to boost Boston to a 101-93 lead with 4:02 left.

"He tried to do everything he could out there," Anthony said. "He tried to make it hard for me out there."

Allen said he was prepared when told he would be responsible for Anthony, who, at 6 feet 8 inches, is 4 inches taller.

"He's a long piece of work, man," Allen said. "I knew I had my hands full before I even went in there."

Allen was perfect shooting in the first half, converting 7 of 7 from the field, including two 3-pointers. He had hit just one 3-pointer all season before last night.

One improvement he pointed to was his health.

"I think I have a little more strength in my knee," Allen said. "That is one of the reasons I have been able to be so aggressive."

Allen credits teammate Paul Pierce for pushing him in practice. He considers Pierce one of his biggest critics.

"He don't say anything good to me in practice," Allen said. "I take that as a positive."

Allen said Pierce reminds him to play hard and to "not take plays off."

"Sometimes, you got to push these guys because you know the type of potential they got," Pierce said. "I don't push him any harder than I know he can take. He has to guard me a lot [in practice] and he does a good job on me. I just try to challenge him."

Monique Walker can be reached at mwalker@globe.com