Celtics defeat Cavaliers in season opener

CLEVELAND (AP) - 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.

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.

Lakers 99, Clippers 92:Kobe Bryant scored 33 points and Andrew Bynum added 26 on his 22nd birthday as the reigning NBA champions opened defense of their title by beating their Staples Center co-tenants, who played without injured No. 1 overall draft pick Blake Griffin.

Ron Artest scored 10 points in his debut in the starting lineup. Pau Gasol sat out with a strained right hamstring and was replaced by Lamar Odom, who had 16 points and 13 rebounds.

Eric Gordon scored 21 points for the Clippers, who lost their ninth in a row to the Lakers. Chris Kaman added 18 points and 16 rebounds, Marcus Camby had 14 points, and reserve Craig Smith 12. Baron Davis was held to two points on 1 of 10 shooting.

Trail Blazers 96, Rockets 87: Reserve Travis Outlaw scored 23 points and Portland beat Houston in the season opener.