Injury-riddled Celtics triumph, Bulls tear Nets
BOSTON — Paul Pierce and former Magic forward Brandon Bass each scored 19 points to carry the injury-riddled Boston Celtics to an 87-56 win over Orlando yesterday.
Boston was minus starters Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo and three bench players, drastically reducing its roster.
Dwight Howard led the Magic with 18 points and 14 rebounds. He needs eight points to surpass Nick Anderson as the Magic’s all-time leading scorer.
MAVERICKS 93, SUNS 87
At Dallas, Shawn Marion scored a season-high 29 points as short-handed Dallas stretched its home winning streak to seven games with a victory over Phoenix.
Top scorer Dirk Nowitzki and key reserve Vince Carter remain out for the defending NBA champion Mavericks (11-7), who returned home from a 2-2 road trip.
BULLS 110, NETS 95
At Chicago, Derrick Rose and Richard Hamilton each scored 22 points to lead banged-up Chicago to an easy victory over New Jersey. It was the Bulls’ fourth straight win.
76ERS 103, WIZARDS 83
At Philadelphia, Elton Brand had 17 points and nine rebounds, and Jrue Holiday also scored 17 for Philadelphia’s third win of the season against the hapless Wizards.
THUNDER 99, PISTONS 79
Article continues after this advertisementAt Oklahoma City, Russell Westbrook and reserve James Harden each scored 24 points, and Kevin Durant added 20 as Oklahoma City beat Detroit.
Article continues after this advertisementSPURS 104, HORNETS 102
At New Orleans, Tim Duncan scored a season-high 28 points, including a running hook in the lane with 1.4 seconds left, as San Antonio sent New Orleans to its eighth straight loss.
Tony Parker added 20 points and a career-high 17 assists for the Spurs, who snapped a two-game skid.
ROCKETS 107, TIMBERWOLVES 92
At Minneapolis, Kevin Martin scored 31 points as Houston won its seventh straight game, beating Minnesota in coach Kevin McHale’s first game back at Target Center since he was fired by the Timberwolves in 2009.
HAWKS 97, BUCKS 92
At Milwaukee, Joe Johnson scored 14 of his season-high 28 points in the fourth quarter, rallying Atlanta past Milwaukee for the former’s opener of a five-game road trip.
TRAIL BLAZERS 101, KINGS 89
At Portland, Oregon, Jamal Crawford scored a season-high 26 points as Portland picked up a win over Sacramento in its return from a six-game road trip.
Gerald Wallace had 20 points and eight rebounds and LaMarcus Aldridge added 13 points and 16 rebounds for the Blazers, who were coming off a 2-4 trip.
GRIZZLES 91, WARRIORS 90
At Oakland, California, Rudy Gay scored 23 points, three in the final 23 seconds, as Memphis rallied from 20 points down in the second half to beat Golden State.
Mike Conley had 20 points and nine assists for the Grizzlies, who extended their winning streak with one of the biggest comebacks in franchise history. /ap
