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NBA: Celtics open season with a win

Samuel Dalembert, front, of the Philadelphia 76ers goes for a dunk past Ben Wallace of the Chicago Bulls during their NBA game at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Friday. Photo: AFP

Kevin Garnett had 22 points, 20 rebounds and five assists to help Boston open its season with a 103-83 win over Washington on Friday.

Paul Pierce scored 28 points and sparked Boston's take-charge rally in the first half. Add 17 points from Ray Allen, another veteran newcomer, and the Celtics looked nothing like the teams Pierce played for in his first nine seasons with Boston. Those teams won just three playoff series.

Gilbert Arenas scored 21 points and Caron Butler had 18 for the Wizards.

Cavaliers 110, Knicks 106

In Cleveland, LeBron James scored a record-breaking 45 points to lead Cleveland over the New York Knicks.

Daniel Gibson made four three-pointers in just over two minutes in the fourth quarter to rally the Cavaliers.

James scored the most points ever by a Cleveland player against New York. World B. Free dropped 39 on the Knicks in 1984.

Jamal Crawford scored 25 points for the Knicks, who were finally playing a meaningful game following a turbulent offseason.

Raptors 106, Nets 69

In East Rutherford, New Jersey, Andrea Bargnani scored 21 points to lead Toronto over New Jersey in the first meeting between the teams since the Nets ousted the Raptors in last season's playoffs.

Chris Bosh had 15 points for Toronto which set a team record for margin of victory in a road game. Their previous best was 33 at San Antonio in 1997.

Richard Jefferson was the one bright spot for Nets with 27 points.

Hawks 101, Mavericks 94

In Atlanta, Joe Johnson scored 28 points and Atlanta beat Dallas in its season-opener.

The Hawks opened the season with a home win for the first time since the 1998-1999 season, the last time they appeared in the playoffs.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 28 points for Dallas.

Pistons 116, Magic 92

In Orlando, Florida, Chauncey Billups had 18 points and seven assists to lead Detroit to a second straight victory without Richard Hamilton, downing Orlando.

The Magic were looking to avenge eight losses against Detroit last season, the last four of which swept Orlando from its first playoff appearance in four years.

Hamilton also missed Thursday's victory over the Miami Heat for personal reasons, but again others picked up offensively.

Rashard Lewis scored 21 points for Orlando.

Pacers 87, Heat 85

In Indianapolis, Danny Granger was 10-of-13 from the field and had 25 points and nine rebounds to help Indiana beat Miami.

The Pacers have opened 2-0 under new coach Jim O'Brien.

Rookie Daequan Cook, who didn't play in the season-opening loss to Detroit, led Miami with 17 points.

Bobcats 102, Bucks 99

In Charlotte, North Carolina, Raymond Felton had 26 points and 12 assists and hit two free throws with 0.1 seconds left to preserve Charlotte's win over Milwaukee.

The Bobcats won their opener despite hitting just 22 of 43 free throws.

Michael Redd scored 17 of his 21 points in the first half for the Bucks in their second straight loss.

Spurs 96, Kings 80

In San Antonio, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker scored 15 points apiece and San Antonio beat Sacramento to remain unbeaten.

The Spurs are 3-0 for the first time since the 2000-2001 season, when they finished with the best record in the league. The Kings have yet to win a game this season.

Kevin Martin scored 22 points for the Kings, who never led.

Nuggets 99, Timberwolves 91

In Minneapolis, Minnesota outplayed Denver for most of the night, but couldn't come up with the big shots down the stretch and Carmelo Anthony scored 33 points to rally the Nuggets.

Playing the first game in 13 years without Kevin Garnett, the Timberwolves raced to an early lead, but Anthony and the Nuggets rode an overwhelming advantage at the free throw line to the win.

Rashad McCants led the Wolves with 23 points.

76ers 96, Bulls 85

In Chicago, Andre Miller scored 25 points and Philadelphia hung on to beat winless Chicago.

Andre Iguodala added 11 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter.

It was a disappointing home opener for the Bulls, who played like a team that could use star power, even if general manager John Paxson put to rest the Kobe Bryant trade rumors the previous day. Some fans made it clear they would like to see Bryant in a Chicago uniform, chanting "Kobe! Kobe!" in the closing seconds.

Ben Gordon led Chicago with 25 points.

Hornets 113, Trail Blazers 93

In New Orleans, Chris Paul scored 19 points as sharp-shooting New Orleans beat Portland.

Peja Stojakovic added 18 for the Hornets, who drained 11 three-pointers in a victory that was not in doubt from midway through the third quarter on.

After scoring only seven points in Portland's opening loss at San Antonio, Brandon Roy led the Blazers with 23.

Lakers 119, Suns 98

In Phoenix, Vladimir Radmanovic made all four of his three-pointers and scored 19 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a stunning rout of listless Phoenix.

Kobe Bryant added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who shot 57 percent, 8-of-13 from three-point range.

Phoenix, the three-time defending Pacific Division champion, fell behind by 17 in the second quarter, 29 in the third and an embarrassing 33 in the fourth, giving up a seemingly endless series of layups, dunks and open jumpers.

Leandro Barbosa led the Suns with 23, 17 in the fourth quarter.

Clippers 120, Warriors 114

In Los Angeles, Chris Kaman had 26 points and 18 rebounds and the Los Angeles Clippers opened their season by beating Golden State.

Cuttino Mobley hit a pair of fadeaway jumpers in the final 76 seconds. Mobley, who finished with 21 points, made a 16-footer for a 115-112 lead with 1 minute, 16 seconds left, then added a 15-footer off the glass for a five point lead with 48 seconds to go.

Kelenna Azibuike had 33 points and eight rebounds for the Warriors.
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