Celtics Beat Nets With Little Fanfare

Any excitement the Boston Celtics might have felt after beating New Jersey was tempered by the knowledge that it wasn’t the victory they wanted.

“It doesn’t mean nothing,” Celtic guard Paul Pierce said Wednesday night after Boston beat the visiting Nets, 96-79, in a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference finals. “This game doesn’t put us into the NBA Finals. It’s a regular-season game, and we play Atlanta on Friday.”

Tony Delk and Shammond Williams each scored 21 points -- the first time this season that neither Pierce nor Antoine Walker led the Celtics in scoring. Pierce had 18 points and 13 rebounds, and Walker scored 16 points to help the Celtics end a two-game skid.

The game lacked the drama of last season’s playoff series, when the Nets bristled at Boston’s behavior after their 26-point collapse in Game 3. Taunts directed toward Jason Kidd’s wife and son by Celtic fans brought emotions to the boiling point before the Nets won in six games and advanced to the NBA Finals.

Although the teams are again near the top of the conference standings, neither put much importance on the early-season meeting.

“The rivalry started in the playoffs,” said Kidd, who scored 19 points, “and it will have to continue in the playoffs, not the regular season.”

Indiana 97, Toronto 95 -- Al Harrington scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half at Toronto and the Pacers tied their franchise-best start at 9-1, matching the 1969-70 team in the old ABA.

Jermaine O’Neal scored 20 points for the Pacers, who have won eight in a row since losing at New Jersey on Nov. 1.

Detroit 79, Miami 68 -- Ben Wallace had 19 rebounds, a season-best 12 points and tied Edgar Jones’ franchise record with 10 blocked shots to lead the Pistons at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Miami failed to reach 70 points for the second time in three games.

Minnesota 103, Atlanta 93 -- Troy Hudson scored 20 points at Atlanta and the Timberwolves survived an off night by Kevin Garnett.

Garnett scored 15 points on five-for-19 shooting, but had a game-high 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who beat the Hawks for the sixth consecutive time.

Utah 96, Denver 79 -- Karl Malone scored 21 points, including 16 in the second half, at Denver and the Jazz handed the Nuggets their fifth consecutive loss.

Leading, 53-41, at halftime, the Jazz took control with a 12-3 run -- including eight consecutive points -- to open the third quarter.

Portland 98, Orlando 84 -- Rasheed Wallace had 26 points and 14 rebounds, and Derek Anderson scored 26 points at Portland, Ore., as the Trail Blazers won consecutive games for the first time this season.

Orlando’s Tracy McGrady led all scorers with 33 points, the seventh consecutive game he has scored at least 30 points -- a franchise record and the ninth time this season.

Golden State 100, Chicago 94 -- Antawn Jamison scored 25 points at Oakland and the Warriors withstood a second-half scoring spree by Jalen Rose, who scored 26 of his 34 points in the half.

Philadelphia 95, Memphis 88 -- Allen Iverson scored 33 points at Memphis, Tenn., and the 76ers kept the Grizzlies (0-12) as the league’s only team without a victory.

Stromile Swift set a Memphis record with eight blocked shots. He had 12 points and 16 rebounds.