Brown Helps Celtics Get Even With Lakers

Dee Brown scored half of his 28 points in the first quarter to lead the Boston Celtics to a 117-107 victory Saturday night over the Lakers, evening their exhibition season-opening series at 1-1.

The Lakers won, 118-104, Friday night in Boston.

Brown led the Celtics to a 32-25 lead after one quarter. Then, with the Lakers resting starters Magic Johnson and James Worthy, the Celtics’ first-round draft choice, Rick Fox of North Carolina, sparked a 21-6 surge.

Fox, who finished with 15 points, led Boston to a 61-43 halftime lead.

Johnson returned, scoring 16 points, to lead a third-quarter rally for the Lakers, cutting Boston’s advantage to 79-72 late in the quarter when he made a three-point basket.

But Fox again responded, this time with back-to-back assists to Brown and Robert Parish, and the Celtics led after three quarters, 86-78.

Johnson led the Lakers with 16 points. Worthy scored 15 points and Vlade Divac added 14. Sam Perkins didn’t play.

Larry Bird, again showing no pain from back surgery in the off-season, played 28 minutes, scoring 10 points with eight assists. Parish added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Celtics.