Boston Celtics' Paul Pierce charges into Cleveland Cavaliers' Anthony Parker (18) in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, in Cleveland. (TONY DEJAK/AP Photo)

Wednesday’s Results
Boston 95, Cleveland 89
Washington 102, Dallas 91
Portland 96, Houston 87
LA Lakers 99, LA Clippers 92

CLEVELAND (Reuters) — The Boston Celtics seized an early advantage over their Eastern Conference rival Cleveland Cavaliers with a 95-89 season-opening victory on Tuesday.

Paul Pierce recorded a team-high 23 points and 11 rebounds to help the Celtics withstand 38 points from league MVP LeBron James to record their first win in Cleveland since 2004.

With Boston holding on to a slim 87-83 lead, Pierce made two jump shots in the final 1:02 as the Celtics started the 2009-10 campaign on the right foot.

Kevin Garnett, playing his first game since a knee injury forced him out in March, scored 13 points and made 10 rebounds while new signing Rasheed Wallace chipped in with 12 points off the bench.

“I felt good. I felt eager and excited (and) I had to calm myself down,” Garnett told reporters of his return. “Cleveland has gotten better, the whole East has gotten better.

''This was a good test, we're trying to see where we're at and get things straight.”

Cleveland's major offseason acquisition Shaquille O'Neal had 10 points and 10 rebounds in his debut with his new team.

Energized by their home crowd, the Cavaliers made their first four shots and took a 19-5 lead in the first quarter.

Boston stormed back by outscoring Cleveland 30-17 in the second quarter and tallying seven three-pointers in the first half where they took a 51-45 advantage by halftime.

James kept his team in the game by scoring the last four points of the third quarter and finished with eight assists and four blocks.

The top two seeds in the Eastern Conference last season, both the Cavaliers and Celtics were elminated from the playoffs by the Orlando Magic and bolstered their rosters in the off-season.

The Celtics picked up Wallace and guard Marquis Daniels while Cleveland, in addition to landing O'Neal, acquired guard Anthony Parker and forward Jamario Moon.

''We're still a fairly new team. We're still learning each other,'' O'Neal said of the loss.

''I've been around 17 years, won the first game, lost the first game. We'll be fine.''