Celtics’ Griffin Stings the Hornets

The Boston Celtics have begun the season with three consecutive victories for the first time in the Rick Pitino era. And Adrian Griffin is one of the main reasons why.

Griffin, signed during the off-season after playing three years in the CBA, sparked Boston with a steal in the closing seconds of the Celtics’ 103-100 victory over Charlotte on Friday night at Boston.

Boston is 3-0 for the first time since 1990-91 despite blowing a 20-point second-half lead.

With the Celtics clinging to a 101-100 lead in the final seconds, Griffin tipped the ball away from Eddie Jones to Kenny Anderson. Anderson was fouled and made two free throws with 6.5 seconds left.

“I never heard of him before,” Jones said of Griffin. “But he’s a great role player.”

Griffin finished with eight points, a team-high 10 rebounds, six assists and five steals.

“I wasn’t surprised they were going to [Jones],” Griffin said. “He’s their go-to guy.”

Anderson finished with 24 points.

The Hornets entered the game 2-0 for the first time in their 11-year history.

Portland 95, Denver 83--One reason the Trail Blazers acquired Steve Smith from Atlanta was because he is regarded as a consistent player. He has been exactly that this season, as he scored 22 points for the third time in three games in a victory over the Nuggets at Portland.

Rasheed Wallace got the start at center for the Trail Blazers, who were trying to rest 35-year-old Arvydas Sabonis for tonight’s matchup against the Lakers’ Shaquille O’Neal. But Wallace quickly went into one of his pouting episodes after he was called for a technical foul with four minutes left in the first quarter. He finished with two points on 0-for-four shooting in only 16 minutes.

Sabonis, working hard and getting roughed up inside, had 10 points and five rebounds in 21 minutes.

San Antonio 95, Houston 85--Former Rockets Mario Elie and Avery Johnson played key roles as the Spurs won at Houston. Johnson scored 10 of his 14 points in a crucial third quarter and Elie had two crucial three-point baskets.

San Antonio took a 72-71 lead into the fourth quarter and led thereafter. Elie’s three-point basket with 7:13 to play gave the Spurs an 81-77 lead after the Rockets got within one.

With 1:42 to go and the Rockets trailing by five points, Elie made another three-point shot that ended Houston’s hopes.

New York 103, Detroit 91--Allan Houston scored 29 at Auburn Hills to lead the undefeated Knicks over the winless Pistons, the team Houston left as a free agent during the summer of 1996.

The Knicks, leading 56-40 at halftime, jumped out to a 22-point lead in the first two minutes of the third quarter on three-point shots by Charlie Ward and Houston, plus a layup by Larry Johnson.

The Pistons, who got 30 points from Jerry Stackhouse and 23 from Grant Hill, tried to make a game of it in the fourth quarter, but had too much ground to cover.

Toronto 112, New Jersey 92--Emerging star Vince Carter scored 26 points and 14-year veteran Kevin Willis added 20 as the Raptors defeated the winless Nets at East Rutherford, N.J.

Before the game, the Raptors put rookie center Aleksandar Radojevic on the injured list because of a torn ligament in his left knee.

Miami 105, Chicago 87--Voshon Lenard scored 22 points, Jamal Mashburn had 21, and Alonzo Mourning 15 points and six blocked shots as the Heat won a foul-fest at Chicago.

Miami and Chicago, still adjusting to the new defensive rules, were called for 25 and 23 fouls, respectively. Only six of the 23 players escaped without a foul.

Cleveland 104, Orlando 99--Despite Shawn Kemp making only three of 14 shots, the Cavaliers won at Orlando.

Brevin Knight and Andre Miller each had 18 points and the Cavaliers held the Magic scoreless from the field for nearly six minutes down the stretch as they overcame a 12-point, fourth-quarter deficit.

Sacramento 100, Minnesota 95--The Timberwolves got 34 points from Kevin Garnett, but the more balanced Kings won at Tokyo.