Hornets edge Celtics in emotional opener

The post-Red Auerbach era began Wednesday night with a ceremony honoring the late Celtics icon -- and a loss by the Boston team that has plummeted from the heady days of his leadership.

Despite several second-half comebacks, the Celtics couldn’t overcome New Orleans point guard Chris Paul’s 20 points and 10 assists -- or Peja Stojakovic’s two baskets in the final two minutes -- as the Hornets won, 91-87, at Boston.

Auerbach, who had seen all 56 previous Celtics season openers, died Saturday at 89. He had planned to attend.

A pre-game video showed him holding one of the 16 championship trophies the Celtics won during his tenure -- nine as a coach. A bouquet of green roses topped by a single, unlit cigar sat in Auerbach’s empty seat.

Paul Pierce led Boston with 29 points and 19 rebounds, but missed eight of his 15 free throws.

Milwaukee 105, Detroit 97 -- Michael Redd scored 37 points to lead the visiting Bucks in a game in which the Pistons’ Rasheed Wallace was ejected midway through the third quarter for arguing a call.

Wallace was scoreless on 0-for-3 shooting and had three rebounds. Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups scored 25 apiece for Detroit.

Minnesota 92, Sacramento 83 -- The Kings’ Mike Bibby, playing despite a thumb injury that was supposed to sideline him for two weeks, picked up two technical fouls and was ejected for arguing a call with about three minutes left and the Timberwolves’ Kevin Garnett finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds in a victory at Minneapolis.

Sacramento committed 12 of its 18 turnovers in the fourth quarter and Bibby (16 points) was ejected with the Kings trailing, 83-77.

Kevin Martin scored 23 points for the Kings, playing their first game under Eric Musselman.

Cleveland 97, Washington 94 -- Larry Hughes scored 27 points, LeBron James added 26 and the Cavaliers beat the visiting Wizards in a rematch of last season’s tight playoff series won by Cleveland.

Caron Butler scored 23 points for the Wizards.

Utah 107, Houston 97 -- Derek Fisher had 13 points and six assists in his Jazz debut and led a decisive 8-0 run at Salt Lake City.

Carlos Boozer had 24 points and 19 rebounds and Deron Williams added 18 points and 10 assists.

Tracy McGrady led the Rockets with 25 points.

New Jersey 102, Toronto 92 -- Jason Kidd had 14 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds and Vince Carter added 25 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets at East Rutherford, N.J.

No. 1 pick Andrea Bargnani had more fouls (three) than points (two) for Toronto.

Indiana 106, Charlotte 99 -- Jermaine O’Neal and Sarunas Jasikevicius scored 20 points apiece to help the visiting Pacers spoil the NBA debut of rookie Adam Morrison, who finished with 14 points.

Morrison, who made five of 13 shots, made a 41-footer at the end of the first quarter. Emeka Okafor had 19 points, 13 rebounds and a team record-tying six blocked shots for the Bobcats.

Portland 110, Seattle 106 -- Zach Randolph scored 30 points and rookie Brandon Roy added 20 to help the Trail Blazers overcome a 12-point deficit at Seattle. Rashard Lewis scored 25 for Seattle.

Orlando 109, Chicago 94 -- Dwight Howard had 27 points and 11 rebounds as the Magic won at Orlando, Fla. Ben Gordon had 24 points for Chicago.

Philadelphia 88, Atlanta 75 -- Allen Iverson scored 32 points and the 76ers led by as many as 23 in the third quarter of a victory at Philadelphia. Joe Johnson had 25 points for the Hawks.