Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce each scored 16 points as the Boston Celtics bounced back from their first loss of the NBA season to beat the winless New Jersey Nets 86-76 Saturday. Their defense was back – and it needed to be, because the Celtics couldn't shoot for most of the game. Boston finished with 20 steals, five by Rondo, scoring 19 points off New Jersey's 24 turnovers. The Celtics beat the Nets for the 10th straight time. Brook Lopez scored 23 points for the Nets. Hawks 125, Nuggets 100: At Atlanta, Jamal Crawford scored 25 points, and Josh Smith had 22 points, nine rebounds, six blocked shots and seven assists for Atlanta. Joe Johnson added 21 points, and Marvin Williams had 14. Carmelo Anthony had 30 points for Denver, and Chauncey Billups added 25. The Nuggets have lost two straight after opening 5-0. Mavericks 129, Raptors 101: At Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki had 29 points and nine rebounds, and Josh Howard scored 16 in his season debut for Dallas following ankle and wrist injures. Jason Terry added 19 points, and Shawn Marion had 18 points and eight rebounds for Dallas. Dallas native Chris Bosh had 26 points and 12 rebounds for Toronto. Bulls 93, Bobcats 90: At Chicago, John Salmons scored 27 points, and Joakim Noah added a career-high 21 and had 16 rebounds in Chicago's third straight win. The Bulls had a 16-0 run in the third and fourth quarters that turned a nine-point deficit into a seven-point lead at 77-70. Boris Diaw led Charlotte with 20 points. Other results: Kings 104, Jazz 99; Bucks 102, Knicks 87; Clippers 113, Grizzlies 110.
