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NBA:Celtics outpaced in Indianapolis 95-79

Boston Celtics guard Paul Pierce, right, drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger during the first quarter of their NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Saturday. PHOTO: AP

The Boston Celtics started last season 12-0 but won’t duplicate that early success because of poor fundamentals in a 95-79 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the NBA on Saturday.

The defending champions had 24 turnovers and shot 21-for-35 from the free-throw line against Indiana in their third game.

Danny Granger scored 20 points, and T.J. Ford, the key acquisition in the trade that sent Jermaine O’Neal to Toronto, had 19 points and four assists for Indiana.

Kevin Garnett led Boston with 18 points and 14 rebounds.

BOBCATS 100, HEAT 87

At Charlotte, North Carolina, Gerald Wallace scored 34 points and Larry Brown earned his first victory in his ninth NBA head coaching job.

After a winless preseason and an ugly loss at Cleveland to open the regular season, Wallace, Jason Richardson and Emeka Okafor powered the Bobcats to a sharp performance that gave the well-traveled Brown his 1,011th career win.

Charlotte controlled the boards and took advantage of Dwyane Wade’s off night to spoil Miami rookie coach Erik Spoelstra’s 38th birthday.

MAVERICKS 95, TIMBERWOLVES 85

At Minneapolis, Dirk Nowitzki had 21 points, Jason Terry added 19, and Dallas picked up its first victory of the season.

Josh Howard had 14 points for the Mavericks, who have won nine straight over Minnesota.

Rashad McCants led Minnesota with 18 points. Al Jefferson scored 14 and grabbed 12 rebounds.

LAKERS 104, NUGGESTS 97

Kobe Bryant scored 33 points to lead Los Angeles to a 104-97 win over Denver in the NBA on Saturday, as the Lakers almost became the first team in three years to hold Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony to single digits.

Coming off a two-game suspension, Anthony scored 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter. He made two 3-pointers with under a minute left, extending his NBA-best streak of double-digit games to 208. Anthony hasn’t been held below 10 points since 2005, when he played just 90 seconds in a game due to an ankle sprain.

Anthony was held to a single score until sinking consecutive baskets which helped cut the deficit to 93-91 with 4 minutes left.

PISTONS 117, WIZARDS 109

At Auburn Hills, Michigan, Richard Hamilton scored 24 points for Detroit, and Rasheed Wallace added 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Hamilton and Wallace, both former Washington players, were the only Detroit starters to play well, but Walter Herrmann had 16 points as the Pistons reserves scored 55 points.

WARRIORS 105, NETS 97

At East Rutherford, New Jersey, Andris Biedrins had 23 points and 11 rebounds and Stephen Jackson scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half for Golden State.

Corey Maggette added 20 points and 10 rebounds in the Warriors’ first win in three games.

Vince Carter had 20 points and Josh Boone added 17 points and 14 rebounds in the game that featured 60 personal fouls, including 39 against New Jersey in its home opener.

HAWKS 95, 76ERS 88

At Atlanta, Joe Johnson scored 35 points, including a long 3-pointer that clinched it with 11 seconds remaining, as Atlanta battled back from a 23-point deficit to get the win.

The Hawks improved to 2-0 in their home opener, the team’s best start in a decade.

HORNETS 104, CAVALIERS 92

In New Orleans, Chris Paul had 24 points and 15 assists as New Orleans made it three wins from as many games in the new season, beating Cleveland.

BULLS 96, GRIZZLIES 86

In Chicago, rookie Derrick Rose had his best game, scoring 26 points, as Chicago downed Memphis.

Kirk Hinrich added 18 for the Bulls, who struggled at times in its half-court set but came away with the win.

The Bulls trailed Memphis by eight at halftime but pulled it out thanks to Rose.

The Chicago native and No. 1 draft pick scored 10 points in the second quarter to keep the Bulls close enough and kept it going in the second half. He scored four points during a 9-1 run midway through the fourth quarter that increased Chicago’s lead to 90-81.

SUNS 107, TRAIL BLAZERS 96

In Phoenix, Amare Stoudemire scored 16 of his 23 points in the decisive third quarter as Phoenix defeated Portland.

Terry Porter got his first home victory as Suns coach.

All five Phoenix starters reached double figures as the Suns beat Portland for the 10th straight time, their longest active streak against any opponent. It’s also the Blazers’ longest current losing streak against any team.

ROCKETS 89, THUNDER 77

In Houston, Tracy McGrady had 22 points as Houston notched its third straight win by downing Oklahoma.

Yao Ming added 16 for the Rockets, who weren’t sharp offensively — shooting just 36 percent — but led almost the entire way with excellent free-throw shooting (27-of-31). Houston got to the line 19 more times than Oklahoma City.

JAZZ 101, CLAIPPERS 79

In Salt Lake City, Carlos Boozer had 25 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season as Utah pulled away with a 30-4 run in the second half to down Los Angeles.

The Jazz set a team record with just five turnovers and improved to 2-0.

MAVERICKS 95, TIMBERWOLVES 85

In Minneapolis, Dirk Nowitzki had 21 points as Dallas picked up its first victory of the season with a win over Minnesota.

Jason Terry added 19 for the Mavericks, who have won nine straight over the Timberwolves.

The Timberwolves were within two early in the fourth quarter before Dallas had a 13-4 run to secure victory.

RAPTORS 91, BUCKS 87

In Milwaukee, Jose Calderon scored a career-high 25 points, including a huge 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter, to lead Toronto over Milwaukee.

The Raptors spoiled new Bucks coach Scott Skiles’ home debut.

Toronto also improved to 3-0 for the first time for four years.

MAGIC 121, KINGS 103

At Orlando, Florida, Dwight Howard had 29 points and 14 rebounds as Orlando earned its first victory of the season.

Howard was one of four starters to score 20 or more points as Orlando’s offense finally came alive in the third game of the season. Rashard Lewis had 26 points, Hedo Turkoglu scored 21 and Mickael Pietrus added 20.

Kevin Martin broke out of a shooting slump with 31 points for Sacramento.
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