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Pacers stun Celtics in home opener

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-11-03 08:51

INDIANAPOLIS: The Boston Celtics will not repeat last season's 12-0 start thanks to Saturday's crushing 95-79 loss to the Indiana Pacers.

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

New signing Danny Granger scored 20 points and lost two front teeth in a tussle with Paul Pierce, while T.J. Ford, the key acquisition in the trade that sent Jermaine O'Neal to Toronto, had 19 points and four assists for Indiana as it sent out a strong message to the defending champs.

Kevin Garnett led Boston with 18 points and 14 rebounds.

At Charlotte, North Carolina, Gerald Wallace scored 34 points and Larry Brown earned his first victory in his ninth NBA head coaching job, beating Miami Heat 100-87.

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.

At Minneapolis, Dirk Nowitzki had 21 points, Jason Terry added 19, and Dallas picked up its first victory of the season with a 95-85 win over Timberwolves.

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.

At Auburn Hills, Michigan, Richard Hamilton scored 24 points for Detroit Pistons, and Rasheed Wallace added 17 points and 11 rebounds, beating Washington Wizards 117-109.

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.

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 as the Golden State Warriors defeated Nets 105-97.

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.

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 95-88 win over 76ers.

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

At Orlando, Florida, Dwight Howard had 29 points and 14 rebounds as the Magic earned its first victory of the season, a 121-103 win over Sacramento Kings.

Agencies