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Pierce has big night as Celtics down Bobcats

Posted on: Thursday, 5 January 2006, 00:10 CST

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.

Source: REUTERS

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