The Boston Celtics blasted the Chicago Bulls 118-90 on Friday to maintain their unbeaten start to the new NBA season.
Paul Pierce and Eddie House each scored 22 points while Ray Allen contributed 20 as the Celtics improved to 3-0.
The meeting was a rematch of the epic seven-game series between the teams in the first round of last year’s playoffs.
Boston outscored the Bulls 67-44 over the second and third quarters to seize control.
“We buckled down on defense and offensively took our time,” Allen told reporters. “When we have [our bench playing well] it takes a lot of pressure off of us and other teams don’t know where our attack is coming from. We definitely like the way we look right now.”
Joakim Noah had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Jannero Pargo had 13 points for the Bulls, who appeared sluggish in their second game in as many nights.
Chicago opened the season with a 92-85 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday.
Kevin Garnett had 16 points for the Celtics as he continues his comeback from a knee injury that forced him to miss 25 games including the playoffs last year.
Boston were without their All-Star forward in last season’s playoffs matchup with the Bulls that included four overtime games before the Celtics ultimately prevailed.
At full strength this year, Boston began their campaign with an opening win over the Cleveland Cavaliers and a 92-59 blowout of the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday.
Offseason signing Rasheed Wallace has provided the team with added depth so far, and he chipped in seven points while point guard Rajon Rondo collected 16 assists and eight rebounds.
The Celtics took a 50-35 lead into halftime before stepping on the gas in the third where Pierce scored 20 and made five three-pointers.
Last season’s Rookie of the Year, Derrick Rose, had a quiet 10 points as the Bulls shot just 41 percent from the field.
MAVERICKS 94, LAKERS 80
At Los Angeles, Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 points as Dallas shot 25 of 32 from the free throw line to trounce Los Angeles for its first win of the season.
Nowitzki made 10 of 11 from the line and grabbed 10 rebounds, Shawn Marion added 18 points and Jason Terry 16 to end the Mavs’ six-game losing streak against the defending NBA champions.
Erick Dampier had 10 rebounds and Jason Kidd had 11 assists.
Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 20 points and Andrew Bynum had 14 points and 10 rebounds.
SUNS 123, WARRIORS 101
At Phoenix, Steve Nash scored 18 points and had the sixth 20-assist game of his career in Phoenix’s rout of Golden State.
All five Phoenix starters scored ina double figures, led by Leandro Barbosa’s 24 points. Channing Frye added 22, including making 6 of 7 3-pointers, four in the fourth quarter.
Monta Ellis led the Warriors with 19 points, while Kelenna Azubuike added 17.
HEAT 96, PACERS 83
At Indianapolis, Jermaine O’Neal had 22 points and 12 rebounds against his former team as Miami beat Indiana.
The Pacers traded O’Neal before last year’s season as they focused on rebuilding with younger players. Dwyane Wade scored 32 points for the Heat.
Danny Granger led the Pacers with 22 points.
CAVALIERS 104, TIMBERWOLVES 87
At Minneapolis, LeBron James scored 24 points and had nine rebounds and six assists for Cleveland to avoid his first 0-3 start in five years.
Mo Williams added 20 points, Zydrunas Ilgauskus had 11 of his 15 points in the first half and Daniel Gibson drained three 3‑pointers during a 3-minute stretch of the fourth quarter.
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