Pierce leads Celtics by Nets

Boston's Paul Pierce looks for help as he runs into heavy traffic from New Jersey Nets defenders. The Celtics won, 107-94.
Boston's Paul Pierce looks for help as he runs into heavy traffic from New Jersey Nets defenders. The Celtics won, 107-94. (CHARLES KRUPA / Associated Press)
Posted: March 03, 2012

Paul Pierce scored 27 points and Kevin Garnett added 20 to lift the Boston Celtics over the visiting New Jersey Nets, 107-94.

The Nets' Brook Lopez led all scorers with 28 points.

Devin Harris' three-point play with 4.5 seconds to go gave the Utah Jazz a 99-98 win over the visiting Miami Heat. . . . Luol Deng led five players in double figures with 24 points to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 112-91 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Antawn Jamison led the host Cavs with 22 points. . . . Chris Kaman's 20 points led six scorers in double figures as the host New Orleans Hornets shocked the Dallas Mavericks (Rodrigue Beaubois 25), 97-92. . . . The visiting Denver Nuggets defeated the Houston Rockets, 117-105, as Ty Lawson's 22 points led seven players in double figures. Houston's Kevin Martin led all scorers with 35 points.

Tony Parker led a balanced attack with 15 points, and the San Antonio Spurs routed the Charlotte Bobcats, 102-72. Rudy Gay scored 23 points, and Marc Gasol and Mike Conley added 21 apiece to lead the visiting Memphis Grizzlies over the Toronto Raptors (Jerryd Bayless 18), 102-99. . . . The Atlanta Hawks, led by Josh Smith's 24 points, defeated the visiting Milwaukee Bucks (Brandon Jennings 34), 99-94.

Hawks' Johnson out

The Atlanta Hawks will be without all-star guard Joe Johnson for at least two games, including Friday night's game against the Bucks.

After missing two games and the All-Star Game because of tendinitis in his left knee, Johnson returned to lead Atlanta with 18 points in Wednesday night's 85-82 loss to Golden State. Johnson's knee was stiff after playing more than 37 minutes.

The Hawks will be shorthanded at shooting guard. Backup Willie Green did not play against the Bucks after leaving Wednesday night's game with lower back spasms.

The Bucks also were without top reserve Mike Dunleavy, who has returned to Milwaukee to be with his wife, who is having a baby.

Cavs re-ink Harris

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard Manny Harris to a second 10-day contract. Harris' first 10-day deal with the Cavs expired Thursday. Harris played in just one game over the stretch, which included the All-Star break.

On the mend

Lamar Odom will play at least one game in the NBA Development League before rejoining the Dallas Mavericks.

The Mavericks said Friday that Odom had been assigned to the Texas Legends. Odom last played for the Mavericks on Feb. 20.

Oklahoma City Thunder reserve Lazar Hayward will make his return from an eye injury with the team's NBA developmental league affiliate, the Tulsa 66ers.

Hayward has missed the past six games after suffering an orbital floor fracture when he was poked in his left eye Feb. 17 against Golden State.

- Associated Press

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