The Boston Celtics bounced back from their first loss of the season to record an 86-76 victory over the winless New Jersey Nets on Saturday.
Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo each scored 16 points as the Celtics broke open a close game by outscoring the Nets (0-7) 27-15 in the fourth quarter.
“I thought we were just standing around a lot,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “It’s funny the best movement we had all game was the last five minutes of the game.”
The Celtics (7-1) had won six consecutive games to start the season before losing on Friday to the Phoenix Suns.
Brook Lopez scored 23 points and Rafer Alston 20 to keep short-handed New Jersey in the game.
Boston, who had a poor night shooting, trailed 61-59 after three quarters — which Pierce attributed to fatigue — before they outscored New Jersey 7-3 in the opening minutes of the fourth.
“I think maybe it’s starting to show,” the Boston forward said. “We knew this was going to be a tough stretch, eight games in 12 days, but we were able to get through it 6-1, so we’re happy with that.”
New Jersey, because of injuries and illness, used only eight players.
“With so many guys out, lots of guys are having to play in different spots and positions, so sometimes you don’t know where to move because you’re not used to playing that position,” Alston said.
The Nets committed 23 turnovers and the Celtics made 20 steals, five by Rondo, in defeating New Jersey for the 10th consecutive time.
“I’ve never seen a team have 20 steals,” said Nets coach Lawrence Frank, who praised the resolve of his team despite its shortcomings. “Our guys are battling ... and we will break through, we’re not discouraged.”
HAWKS 125, NUGGETS 100
At Atlanta, Georgia, Jamal Crawford scored 25 points and Josh Smith had 22 points, nine rebounds, six blocked shots and seven assists for Atlanta.
Joe Johnson added 21 points and Marvin Williams had 14.
Carmelo Anthony had 30 points for Denver and Chauncey Billups added 25. The Nuggets have lost two straight after opening 5-0.
MAVERICKS 129, RAPTORS 101
At Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki had 29 points and nine rebounds and Josh Howard scored 16 in his season debut for Dallas following ankle and wrist injures.
BULLS 93, BOBCATS 90
At Chicago, John Salmons scored 27 points, and Joakim Noah added a career-high 21 and had 16 rebounds in Chicago’s third straight win.
The Bulls had a 16-0 run in the third and fourth quarters that turned a nine-point deficit into a seven-point lead at 77-70.
KINGS 104, JAZZ 99
At Salt Lake City, Tyreke Evans scored a career-high 32 points as Sacramento held off Utah in the Kings’ first game without high-scoring guard Kevin Martin.
Evans became the focal point of the Kings’ offense in place of Martin, who averaged 30.6 points in the first five games. Martin will have surgery Monday to repair a fracture in his left wrist.
BUCKS 102, KNICKS 87
At Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Andrew Bogut scored a season-high 22 points and had eight rebounds, and rookie Jodie Meeks added 19 points for Milwaukee.
CLIPPERS 113, GRIZZLIES 110
At Los Angeles, Chris Kaman had 26 points and nine rebounds to help Los Angeles win their third straight game — equaling its longest winning streak last season.
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