Big Three lifts Celtics over Cavs

CLEVELAND - The reunited Big Three - and Rasheed - are one up on the Big Two.

Paul Pierce scored 23 points, Ray Allen 16 and Kevin Garnett 13 in his first regular-season game since last March as the Boston Celtics beat Cleveland 95-89 last night in the NBA season opener, spoiling the hyped debut of the Cavaliers with LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal.

Pierce made two crucial jumpers and two free throws in the final 1:03 to pace the Celtics, whose drive to a second straight title was derailed when Garnett injured his knee late last season. Rasheed Wallace had 12 points.

James scored 38 and O'Neal added 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who won their first 23 home games last season but are already 0-1 on their floor.

Garnett looked fully recovered from surgery to repair his right knee. Allen stroked a couple of 3s, and Pierce was his cold-blooded best down the stretch. After James missed a 3-pointer that would have cut Cleveland's deficit to one, Pierce stuck a 15-footer to make it 89-83.

Pierce had 11 rebounds, Garnett 10 and Rajon Rondo added 10 assists for Boston.

In another game:

WIZARDS 102, MAVERICKS 91: Gilbert Arenas had 29 points and nine assists, helping lift Washington to an early lead and keep it ahead throughout the final three quarters in a win at Dallas.

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