USA - Big three keep Celtics undefeated

Standings

NEW JERSEY (NBA) - Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen combined for 73 points, 25 rebounds and 13 assists as the Boston Celtics remained unbeaten through five games with a 112-101 victory over the New Jersey Nets in an early battle of the favourites in the Atlantic Division.

Richard Jefferson scored 26 points and Vince Carter added 17 for the Nets, who lost for the second time in six games to open the season. Carter sprained his right ankle with 1:19 left in the third quarter, when he landed on Pierce's left foot following a dunk.

Carter limped off under assistance and went directly to the locker room and did not return.X-rays proved negative. A free throw by Pierce with 5:10 left in the second quarter gave Boston the lead for good, 42-41.

But it was Pierce's 26-foot three-pointer with 3:51 left in the third quarter that capped a 20-3 run that bridged the halves and blew open the game, giving the Celtics a 75-55 bulge. Pierce finished with 28 points - all after the first period.

Allen added 27 points, nine rebounds and four three-pointers and Garnett 18 points, 14 rebounds and five assists.

Carter's lay-up pulled the Nets within 57-52 in the final minute of the first half, but Garnett's 16-foot turnaround jumper at the buzzer kicked off the decisive run.Pierce had 10 points in the run, while Allen added four.

New Jersey pulled within 105-97 with 80 seconds left, but Jason Kidd missed a lay-up and Pierce knocked down two free throws to ice it. Kidd, the other member of New Jersey's Big Three, finished with 17 points, 12 assists and six rebounds for the Nets, who started well but failed to open a big lead.

The Nets' Big Three scored all of their 27 first-quarter points, with Jefferson's 13 leading the way.Allen had 12 points and Garnett eight in the opening quarter for the Celtics, who stayed within a point despite allowing the Nets to make 10 of their first 14 shots.

Carlos Delfino scored 16 points to lead six players in double figures as the Toronto Raptors rolled to a 101-71 victory over the struggling Chicago Bulls.

Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani both netted 14 points and TJ Ford dished out 14 assists for the Raptors, who had lost 15 of their previous 17 meetings in the series.

Kevin Martin netted 29 points and Beno Udrih played well in his first game of the season as the Sacramento Kings held off the Minnesota Timberwolves 100-93.

John Salmons scored 19 points and Brad Miller added 12 and 16 rebounds for the Kings, who won for the first time in three tries at home this season.

Carmelo Anthony scored 32 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Denver Nuggets rallied for a 113-106 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Allen Iverson scored 27 points and handed out 10 assists and Linas Kleiza scored 12 of his season-high 21 in the second half for the Nuggets, who have won two straight following a three-game losing streak.

It was also the Nuggets' sixth straight win over the Pacers, including four in a row here.
Brandon Roy scored a career-high 32 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 18, leading the Portland Trail Blazers to a 91-82 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

In his NBA Rookie of the Year campaign last season, Roy averaged 16.8 points per game.

Since being limited to just seven points in a season-opening loss to San Antonio, the former University of Washington standout has averaged 23.4 since, scoring 22 or more in four of his last five games.

Andrei Kirilenko filled up the stat sheet, nearly registering a triple-double to lead Utah Jazz to a 118-94 triumph over the Memphis Grizzlies.

It was the second straight All Star-calibre performance for Kirilenko, who just one night earlier had dominated rookie Kevin Durant defensively, including a game-saving block on the final possession, as Utah outlasted Seattle 103-101 on the road.

Grant Hill scored 14 points and Leandro Barbosa added a career-high 39 to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 106-96 win over the Orlando Magic.

Hill, a 13-year veteran who spent six injury-plagued seasons in Orlando, signed a two-year contract with the Suns as a free agent after the Magic and Hill agreed to end their time together in the off-season.

However, Hill was greeted with some heckling during the national anthem and a chorus of boos whenever he touched the ball in the opening period.

That chilly reception soon melted due to the Suns' red-hot attack, which was sparked by an offensive explosion by Barbosa, who scored 16 of his 22 first-half points in the opening period.

FIBA