Associated Press
The NBA roundup …
BOSTON ó Jermaine O’Neal scored 19 points as he and the Boston Celtics ended a dismal start to their season with a 96-85 win in their home opener over the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.
O’Neal, who played passively in totaling just eight points in the first three games, all losses, was aggressive throughout. He had 10 points in the first half, which ended with Boston on top 50-43. Then he scored seven in the third quarter when the Celtics took an 86-64 lead.
The closest the Pistons came after that was the 11-point final margin.
Ray Allen and Brandon Bass added 17 points apiece for Boston and Paul Pierce had 12 in his debut after being sidelined with a bruised right heel. O’Neal, injured much of last season, his first with the Celtics, had seven rebounds.
Heat 103, TíWolves 101
MINNEAPOLIS ó Dwyane Wade hit a jumper from the wing, then scored on an inbounds pass from LeBron James with 4.6 seconds to play to lift the undefeated Miami Heat to a 103-101 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Wade finished with 19 points, while James had 34 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.
Ricky Rubio had 12 points, 12 assists and six rebounds, and Kevin Love had 25 points and 12 boards for the Timberwolves.
Grizzlies 113, Rockets 93
MEMPHIS, Tenn. ó Zach Randolph scored 23 points, Marc Gasol added 20, and the Memphis Grizzlies earned their first victory of the season, beating the Houston Rockets 113-93.
Suns 93, Hornets 78
NEW ORLEANS ó Hakim Warrick scored 18 points in a reserve role, and the Phoenix Suns won for the first time this young season while handing the New Orleans Hornets their first loss, 93-78 on Friday night.
Channing Frye added 10 points and 16 rebounds for the Suns, who had opened the season with two losses.
Pacers 98, Cavaliers 91, OT
INDIANAPOLIS ó Danny Granger scored nine of his 22 points in overtime to help the Indiana Pacers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91.
Tyler Hansbrough added 11 points and 12 boards for Indiana.
Rookie guard Kyrie Irving led Cleveland with 20 points in his best game so far, but missed a layup that would have won the game at the end of regulation.
Hawks 105, Nets 98
ATLANTA ó Jeff Teague scored 22 points, Joe Johnson added 21 and the Atlanta Hawks won their third straight game to open the season, beating the New Jersey Nets105-98.
Deron Williams finished with 23 points and rookie MarShon Brooks added 21 to lead the Nets, who have dropped three straight and fell to 1-3.
Mavericks 99, Raptors 86
DALLAS ó Reserve center Ian Mahinmi scored a career-high 19 points, Dirk Nowitzki contributed 18, and the reigning NBA champion Dallas Mavericks rallied for their first victory of the season, 99-86 over the Toronto Raptors.
Bucks 102, Wizards 81
MILWAUKEE ó Brandon Jennings scored 15 of his 22 points in the second half to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 102-81 victory over the winless Washington Wizards Ersan Ilyasova had 16 points, and Carlos Delfino added 15 off the bench for Milwaukee (2-1).