Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce (R) dunks the ball past Chicago Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas in the first quarter of their NBA basketball game in Boston, Massachusetts October 30, 2009. (BRIAN SNYDER/REUTERS)

BOSTON (AP) — Paul Pierce scored 20 of his 22 points in the third quarter as the Boston Celtics rolled to a 118-90 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Friday in the teams’ first matchup since last spring's thrilling seven-game playoff series.

Ray Allen had 20 points for Boston and Kevin Garnett, who missed the final 25 games of the regular season and the playoffs with strained ligaments in his right knee, added 16. Rajon Rondo had 16 assists and eight rebounds as the Celtics improved to 3-0.

John Salmons led the Bulls (1-1) with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Jannero Pargo had 13 points, and Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah 10 apiece.

Cavaliers 104, Timberwolves 87
At Minneapolis, LeBron James scored 24 points and had nine rebounds and six assists for Cleveland to avoid his first 0-3 start in five years.

Mo Williams added 20 points, Zydrunas Ilgauskus had 11 of his 15 points in the first half to help make up for some early lulls, and Daniel Gibson drained three 3-pointers during a 3-minute stretch of the fourth quarter.

Al Jefferson, working his way back into form from knee surgery last February, had a quiet 12 points and eight rebounds with Shaquille O'Neal jockeying for room with him underneath.

Thunder 91, Pistons 83
At Auburn Hills, Michigan, Kevin Durant scored 11 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter as Oklahoma City downed Detroit.

Ben Gordon, starting for the injured Richard Hamilton, had 25 points in his home debut for Detroit after scoring 22 in their season-opening win at Memphis.

Heat 96, Pacers 83
At Indianapolis, Jermaine O'Neal had 22 points and 12 rebounds against his former team as Miami beat Indiana.

The Pacers traded O'Neal before the 2008-09 season as they focused on rebuilding with younger players.

Dwyane Wade scored 32 points for the Heat, who have won their first two games by a combined 35 points.

Danny Granger led the Pacers with 22 points.

Magic 95, Nets 85
At East Rutherford, New Jersey, Vince Carter returned to New Jersey and scored 16 points before leaving the game against his former teammates in the second quarter with a practicesprained left ankle.

All-Star center Dwight Howard more than made up for Carter's absence with 20 points, 22 rebounds and four blocks as the Magic won their second straight and handed the Nets their second straight loss.

Courtney Lee, traded to Nets along with Rafer Alston and Tony Battie in the draft-day deal for Carter, had 18 points.

Hawks 100, Wizards 89
At Atlanta, Josh Smith scored 20 points and reached a blocked shots milestone as Atlanta held off Gilbert Arenas and Washington.

Arenas had 23 points and Brendan Haywood added 19 for Washington.

The 23-year-old Smith rejected a shot by Arenas in the fourth quarter to become the youngest player in NBA history to block 900 shots. Shaquille O'Neal was 24 years old when he reached 900.

Bobcats 102, Knicks 100, (2OT)
At Charlotte, North Carolina, D.J. Augustin made two free throws with 2.5 seconds left in the second overtime as Charlotte recovered from blowing an 18-point, fourth-quarter lead.

After Chris Duhon's tying layup with 7.7 seconds left, Augustin was fouled by Al Harrington on a drive to the basket. Augustin had missed two free throws 16 seconds earlier, but this time calmly sank both.

Grizzlies 115, Raptors 107
At Memphis, Tennessee, Zach Randolph scored 30 points to lead Memphis to its first victory of the season.

Marc Gasol added 19 points for Memphis, which lost by 22 to the Pistons in the opener Wednesday night. O.J. Mayo had 18 points, and Rudy Gay finished with 17 points and nine rebounds.