Celtics bounce back vs. Nets

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce each scored 16 points, and the Boston Celtics bounced back from their first loss of the season to beat the winless New Jersey Nets, 86-76, on Saturday night

Ray Allen came alive after three dismal quarters to score eight of his 12 points in the fourth quarter for the Celtics (7-1), who lost, 110-103, to Phoenix on Friday, allowing 20 more points than in any previous game.

Their defense was back Saturday – and it needed to be, because the Celtics couldn’t shoot for most of the night. Boston finished with 20 steals, five by Rondo, scoring 19 points off New Jersey’s 24 turnovers.

Brook Lopez scored 23 points for the Nets (0-7).

Hawks 125, Nuggets 100: At Atlanta, Jamal Crawford scored 25 points, and Josh Smith had 22 points, nine rebounds, six blocked shots and seven assists for Atlanta as the Hawks defeated Denver.

Mavericks 129, Raptors 101: At Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki had 29 points and nine rebounds, and Josh Howard scored 16 in his season debut for Dallas after ankle and wrist injures.

Kings 104, Jazz 99: At Salt Lake City, Tyreke Evans scored a career-high 32 points, and Sacramento held off Utah in the Kings’ first game without guard Kevin Martin.

Martin, who averaged 30.6 points in the first five games, will have surgery Monday to repair a fracture in his left wrist.

Bucks 102, Knicks 87 At Milwaukee, Andrew Bogut scored a season-high 22 points and had eight rebounds, and rookie Jodie Meeks added
19 points for Milwaukee.

Clippers 113, Grizzlies 110: At Los Angeles, Chris Kaman had 26 points and nine rebounds, and Los Angeles beat Memphis for its third consecutive win.