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NBA: Boston blow healthy lead but still win

Kevin Garnett had 26 points and 11 rebounds, Paul Pierce made the go-ahead layup with 25 seconds left after Boston blew a 15-point fourth-quarter lead, and the Celtics beat the Miami Heat 92-91 in the NBA on Friday to improve to 8-0.

Pierce scored 12 points, Ray Allen had 19, and Rajon Rondo had nine points and 10 assists for Boston, which had not started a season with eight straight wins since the 1972 team won their first 10. Miami dropped to 1-8, but only after scoring 15 straight points in the fourth to tie it.

The Heat took a 91-90 lead on Udonis Haslem's free throw with 33 seconds left. But Pierce muscled his way to the basket to give the Celtics back the lead.

Dwyane Wade, making his first start after offseason knee and shoulder surgery, dribbled out most of the clock before missing Miami's last shot. Wade scored 23 and missed five free throws. The Heat shot just 16-for-28 from the line. Shaquille O'Neal had 17 points and nine rebounds.

Cavaliers 99, Jazz 94

At Cleveland, LeBron James scored 40 points -- 34 in the second half -- and made a crucial block on former teammate Carlos Boozer in the final seconds to help Cleveland end Utah's winning streak at five games.

James missed another triple-double, finishing with 10 rebounds, nine assists and three blocks. He made 13 of 15 free throws, including four straight in the final 3.8 seconds as the Cavs sealed it.

James, who had 16 points in the third and 18 in the fourth, either scored or assisted on 15 of Cleveland's 19 baskets in the second half. However, his biggest play was the block with 12.8 seconds left on Boozer, who is still regarded as a villain by Cleveland fans for reneging on a promise and leaving as a free agent.

Boozer led Utah with 26 points and 11 rebounds.

SuperSonics 126, Hawks 123, 2OT

At Atlanta, Kevin Durant made a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the second overtime, and Damien Wilkins scored a career-high 41 points for Seattle.

With Al Horford guarding him at the top of the key, Durant pumped once to get the defender in the air before shooting over his outstretched arm.

Durant, the No. 2 overall draft pick, finished with 21 points.

Magic 95, Nets 70

At East Rutherford, New Jersey, Dwight Howard had 21 points, 19 rebounds and became the NBA's youngest player to reach 3,000 rebounds, leading Orlando past New Jersey.

Rashard Lewis added 27 points, and Jameer Nelson hit two 3-pointers in a decisive third-quarter spurt that carried the Magic to a franchise record-tying sixth straight road win. Orlando's 8-2 start is their best since the lockout-shortened 98-99 season.

Orlando never trailed after the opening minutes and the only question was whether Howard (21 years, 343 days old) would get his 3,000th rebound. He corralled it with 6:25 to play, breaking the old mark set by Shaquille O'Neal, when he was 23-plus years old and also playing for the Magic.

New Jersey's Jason Kidd recorded the 89th triple-double of his career with a career-high 19 rebounds, 11 points and 10 assists.

Spurs 90, Rockets 84

At San Antonio, Tim Duncan had 25 points and 13 rebounds, Manu Ginobili added 19 points and Michael Finley had 17 for San Antonio.

Luis Scola, whose rights were traded from the Spurs to Houston over the summer, had a breakout game, scoring 20 points. Shane Battier added 16.

Houston, without the injured Tracy McGrady, tied it at 80 with 3:48 to play on Scola's jumper. But even with Yao Ming's eight points in the quarter, the Spurs were able to pull away.

76ers 92, Trail Blazers 88

At Philadelphia, Louis Williams scored all 19 of his points in the second half to help Philadelphia overcome a 25-point deficit.

The 76ers missed 15 straight shots spanning the first two quarters, and scored only 27 points in the first half.

LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy each scored 25 points for Portland.

Hornets 120, Grizzlies 118, OT

At Memphis, Tennessee, David West scored a career-high 40 points, including the go-ahead 15-footer with 8.3 seconds left in overtime, for New Orleans.

Chris Paul added 28 points and 13 assists in the victory that ran New Orleans' record to 8-2, the best start in franchise history. The win wasn't assured until Rudy Gay missed an 11-footer with about 2 seconds left in overtime.

West was 17-of-29 from the field. Peja Stojakovic finished with 17 points, and Bobby Jackson had 14. Tyson Chandler had 12 points and 17 rebounds.

Raptors 110, Pacers 101

At Toronto, Chris Bosh scored 22 points, and Jose Calderon added 15 points and 10 assists for Toronto.

Anthony Parker and T.J. Ford each scored 15 points to help Toronto end a three-game home losing streak. Troy Murphy and Jamaal Tinsley each scored 20 points for Indiana, who lost their sixth straight.

Wizards 105, Timberwolves 89

At Minneapolis, Caron Butler scored a season-high 29 points, and Gilbert Arenas added 27 for Washington.
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