NBA ROUNDUP : Pacers Beat Celtics, Then Call for a Boston Plumber

Enough of this lore stuff. There’s no more magic at Boston Garden.

Also, no hot water.

After Indiana defeated the Celtics, 103-99, Wednesday night, assuring Boston of a losing record at home for the first time in a quarter-century, the Pacers found only one working shower in the visitors’ locker room at ancient Boston Garden--and it had ice-cold water.

“It’s freezing. That’s a damn shame,” snapped Byron Scott, preparing to head out into a wintry, windy 39-degree night.

Other Pacers loudly cursed the Boston Garden, which is to be torn down at the end of next season.

Rik Smits had 21 points, and five teammates also scored in double figures for Indiana, which won at Boston Garden for the first time since Nov. 24, 1990.

“I’ve watched Boston play, and they certainly aren’t the team they were in the past,” said Pacer Coach Larry Brown, who got his 700th pro coaching victory. That total includes 230 in the ABA.

Rick Fox had 28 points and 11 rebounds for Boston, which has lost five in a row at Boston Garden. The Celtics have lost 21 of 25.

Pacer point guard Pooh Richardson suffered a separated right shoulder in the second quarter when he collided with Celtic forward Xavier McDaniel.

New Jersey 111, Miami 101--Kenny Anderson scored nine points in a 21-7 spurt at the end of the third quarter and the Nets moved ahead of slumping Miami in the standings by handing the Heat their sixth consecutive loss.

The victory was the eighth in a row at home for New Jersey (37-32) and moved the Nets into sixth place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game ahead of the Heat (37-33).

Houston 114, Golden State 104--Vernon Maxwell scored 28 points in leading the Rockets to a victory at Oakland.