Pierce has big night as Celtics down Bobcats

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Paul Pierce had 31 points, 10 assists
and eight rebounds as the Boston Celtics got past the Charlotte
Bobcats 109-106 in National Basketball Association play on
Wednesday in Boston.

The Celtics shot 57 percent from the field and scored 100
or more points for the eighth straight game, although they have
won just twice in their last six games after going 1-4 on their
recent road trip.

Orien Greene’s layup with 57.5 seconds left put the home
team ahead for good and Ricky Davis added 23 points for the
Celtics, who have won three straight home games.

“I knew they would probably be looking for me to just pass
the ball to the man rolling back, so I just went to the
basket,” Greene told reporters after the game.

Mark Blount added 18 points and had eight rebounds.

Delonte West added 11 points and had eight rebounds and six
assists for the Celtics, who took advantage of injuries to
Charlotte’s Emeka Okafor, Sean May and Melvin Ely.

The Bobcats lost their third straight after winning four
out of five previously and had a chance to tie the game at the
buzzer, but Bernard Robinson missed his three-point attempt.

Boston led by as many as 16 points in the second half, but
the Bobcats rallied to tie the game after three quarters and
kept it close right up until Greene’s winning basket.

Jumaine Jones led six Bobcats in double-figures in scoring
with 21 points, while Gerald Wallace added 20 points and nine
rebounds.

Brevin Knight added 18 points and 12 assists for Charlotte.

In Milwaukee, LeBron James had a triple-double – 32 points,
11 rebounds and 11 assists – as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat
the Bucks 91-84.

Drew Gooden added 18 points for the Cavaliers and James had
17 of his points in the fourth quarter to help the Cavs end a
seven-game losing streak.

Michael Redd scored 28 points and Andrew Bogut added 14
points and had 13 rebounds for the Bucks.

In Toronto, Charlie Villanueva scored 24 points as the
Raptors beat the Orlando Magic 121-97.

Mike James added 17 points for the Raptors.

Jameer Nelson scored 31 points and DeShawn Stevenson added
12 points for the Magic.

In Minneapolis, Kevin Garnett scored 23 points and had 10
rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Dallas
Mavericks 91-78.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points and Marquis Daniels added 16
for the Mavericks.

In Oklahoma City, Desmond Mason scored 24 points as the New
Orleans Hornets beat the Miami Heat 107-92.

Dwyane Wade scored 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists
for the Heat.

In San Antonio, Tim Duncan scored 18 points and had 13
rebounds as the Spurs beat the Portland Trail Blazers 106-75.

Tony Parker added 18 points for the Spurs.

Jarrett Jack scored 15 points and Juan Dixon added 12 for
the Trail Blazers.

In Phoenix, Steve Nash scored 24 points as the Suns beat
the Philadelphia 76ers 105-85.

Allen Iverson scored 16 points and Samuel Dalembert added
14 points and had 22 rebounds for the 76ers.

In Chicago, Rashard Lewis scored 21 points as the Seattle
Supersonics beat the Bulls 101-97.

Ray Allen scored 20 points for the Supersonics.

Ben Gordon scored 21 points and Darius Songaila added 20
points for the Bulls.

In Denver, Earl Boykins and Carmelo Anthony scored 23
points each as the Nuggets beat the Indiana Pacers 106-86.

Stephen Jackson scored 21 points and Danny Granger added 12
points for the Pacers.