NBA Capsules
October 28th, 2009 Posted in NBA basketball newsCLEVELAND – Paul Pierce scored 23 points, Ray Allen 16 and Kevin Garnett 13 in his first regular-season game since last March as the Boston Celtics beat Cleveland 95-89 on Tuesday night in the NBA season opener, spoiling the hyped debut of the Cavaliers with LeBron James and Shaquille ONeal.
Pierce made two crucial jumpers and two free throws in the final 1:03 to pace the Celtics, whose drive to a second straight title was derailed when Garnett injured his knee late last season. Rasheed Wallace, added as a free agent during the offseason, had 12 points.
James scored 38 and ONeal added 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who won their first 23 home games last season but are already 0-1 on their floor.
Wizards 102, Mavericks 91
DALLAS – Gilbert Arenas had 29 points and nine assists, helping stake Washington to an early lead over revamped Dallas in Flip Saunders debut as Wizards coach.
Arenas shot 10 of 21 and made 8-of-9 free throws for his most points since Nov. 14, 2007. He played only 13 games that season, then had a total of 26 points in two games last season, all because of knee problems. Hes feeling so good now that hes not even wearing a brace.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 34 points, but was only 10 of 25. He was 12 of 13 from the foul line – all in the first half. Shawn Marion had 16 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in his Dallas debut, but didnt have any baskets in the middle two quarters.
