Pacers beat Celtics 95-79 to give defending champs first loss

Source: Agencies  |   2008-11-2  |     ONLINE EDITION

THE Boston Celtics started last season 12-0 but won't duplicate that early success because of poor fundamentals in a 95-79 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the NBA yesterday.

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

Danny Granger scored 20 points, and T.J. Ford, the key acquisition in the trade that sent Jermaine O'Neal to Toronto, had 19 points and four assists for Indiana.

Kevin Garnett led Boston with 18 points and 14 rebounds.

Bobcats 100, Heat 87

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

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.

Mavericks 95, Timberwolves 85

At Minneapolis, Dirk Nowitzki had 21 points, Jason Terry added 19, and Dallas picked up its first victory of the season.

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.

Pistons 117, Wizards 109

At Auburn Hills, Michigan, Richard Hamilton scored 24 points for Detroit, and Rasheed Wallace added 17 points and 11 rebounds.

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.

Warriors 105, Nets 97

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 for Golden State.