Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce (right) powers his way against Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh (left) during their NBA game on Saturday in Boston. The Celtics won, 116-103. (REUTERS)

BOSTON (AP) - The Boston Celtics opened a yawning 5-1/2 game gap over Toronto atop the NBA’s Atlantic Division with a 116-103 win over the Raptors on Friday.

Ray Allen scored 20 points for Boston while Paul Pierce and Kendrick Perkins had 18 apiece.

The Celtics won three in a row for the first time since opening the season with six straight victories.

Toronto’s Chris Bosh had 20 points and 13 rebounds.

Mavericks 113, Pacers 92
In Indianapolis, Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points to lead Dallas over Indiana.

Nowitzki, who entered the night sixth in the NBA at 26.9 points per game, made 10 of 14 field goals and 11 of 13 free throws. Jason Terry scored 17 for the Mavericks, winners of five straight road games.

Indiana’s Danny Granger, who missed the previous game with a sprained knee ligament, finished with 20 points.

Bobcats 94, Cavaliers 87
In Charlotte, North Carolina, Gerald Wallace had 31 points and 14 rebounds while outplaying LeBron James and leading Charlotte over Cleveland.

The surprising Bobcats won their third straight game following a seven-game losing streak, mostly thanks to Wallace, who beat James in numerous 1-on-1 matchups in the post. Wallace topped 30 points for the second straight game, while James scored 25.

The Cavaliers looked disjointed in Shaquille O’Neal’s return from a shoulder injury. O’Neal missed five of his first seven shots and finished with 11 points and eight rebounds. Cleveland fell to 6-4 when he plays and 5-1 when he’s out.

Hawks 100, 76ers 86
In Philadelphia, Jamal Crawford scored 11 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to lead Atlanta past Philadelphia.

Mike Bibby added 21 for the Hawks, who responded with a road win a day after struggling in a loss to Orlando.

Thaddeus Young scored 22 points for the out-of-touch Sixers, who have dropped five in a row.

Spurs 92, Rockets 84
In Houston, Tim Duncan and Antonio McDyess recorded double-doubles as San Antonio notched its first road win of the season at Texas rival Houston.

Tony Parker had 19 points and seven assists, and San Antonio Spurs earned its first road win of the season.

Duncan had 21 points and 12 rebounds, and McDyess added 15 points and 14 boards. Tony Parker had 19 points and seven assists.

For the Rockets, Luis Scola had 18 points and 12 rebounds. Houston shot just 36 percent from the field and had a season-low point total.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
ATLANTIC
Boston (12-4)
Toronto (7-10)
Philadelphia (5-11)
New York (3-13)
New Jersey (0-16)

SOUTHEAST
Atlanta (12-4)
Orlando (12-4)
Miami (9-6)
Charlotte (6-9)
Washington (5-9)

CENTRAL
Cleveland (11-5)
Milwaukee (8-6)
Chicago (6-8)
Indiana (6-8)
Detroit (5-11)

WESTERN CONFERENCE
SOUTHWEST
Dallas (12-4)
San Antonio (8-6)
Houston (8-8)
New Orleans (7-9)
Memphis (6-10)

NORTHWEST
Denver (12-4)
Portland (12-6)
Oklahoma (9-7)
Utah (8-7)
Minnesota (1-15)

PACIFIC
Phoenix (13-3)
LA Lakers (11-3)
Sacramento (7-8)
LA Clippers (7-10)
Golden State (5-9)

Saturday’s results
Washington 94, Miami 84
Charlotte 94, Clev eland 87
Atlanta 100, Philadelphia 86
Boston 116, Toronto 103
Dallas 113, Indiana 92
LA Clippers 104, Detroit 96
San Antonio 92, Houston 84
Denver 128, New York 125
Oklahoma City 108, Milwaukee 90
Phoenix 120, Minnesota 95
Sacramento 109, New Jersey 96
Memphis 106, Portland 96