BOSTON — Stephon Marbury had more than 13 months to imagine how it would feel when he got back into an NBA game.
“It went the way I was praying for it to go,” the former Knicks castoff and newly acquired Celtics backup said Friday night, after scoring six points during a key, 9-0 fourth-quarter run that helped Boston beat the Indiana Pacers 104-99.
“The whole satisfaction of the whole night for me is that we won.”
Ray Allen added 30 points and Rajon Rondo matched his career high with 17 assists for Boston. Glen “Big Baby” Davis, starting in place of the injured Kevin Garnett, scored 18, and Kendrick Perkins had 11 rebounds.
Marbury finished with eight points and two assists in under 13 minutes — just hours after clearing waivers and signing with the Celtics for their push toward the playoffs and a try at back-to-back NBA titles. It was also the first home game for Mikki Moore since he was waived by the Sacramento Kings and signed by the Celtics on Tuesday.
Marbury, who had about an hour of practice with the Celtics before putting on his new uniform, hit three baskets in a 9-0 run at the beginning of the fourth quarter to turn a four-point game into a 92-79 lead.
Wizards 113, Bulls 90
WASHINGTON — With President Barack Obama courtside, last-place Washington embarrassed the First Fan’s hometown team, beating Chicago.
Suns 133, Raptors 103
PHOENIX — Shaquille O’Neal scored 45 points in his biggest offensive performance in six years, powering Phoenix to an easy win a week shy of his 37th birthday.
Nuggets 90, Lakers 79
DENVER — J.R. Smith scored 22 to help Denver end a nine-game skid to Los Angeles.
76ers 108, Knicks 103
NEW YORK — Thaddeus Young scored 23 points for Philadelphia and blocked Chris Duhon’s layup attempt with 30 seconds left to help preserve the win.
Trail Blazers 102,
Timberwolves 82
MINNEAPOLIS — Brandon Roy scored 19 points in another stellar outing against the team that originally drafted him, and Portland pounded Minnesota.
Bobcats 112, Warriors 109
OAKLAND, Calif. — Raymond Felton had 26 points and nine assists, Boris Diaw made a key 3-pointer down the stretch and Charlotte rallied in the fourth quarter.
Pistons 93, Magic 85
ORLANDO, Fla. — Richard Hamilton had 31 points and six assists in his return to the starting lineup, and Detroit ended its eight-game losing streak. Rodney Stuckey had 22 points and Tayshaun Prince added 17 for the Pistons, who were playing without Allen Iverson after the star guard returned to Detroit to have his stiff back examined.
Hawks 91, Heat 83
ATLANTA — Joe Johnson scored 24 points and Al Horford had 21 points and 22 rebounds to help Atlanta expand its lead to 2½ games over Miami for fourth in the Eastern Conference.
Hornets 95, Bucks 94
NEW ORLEANS — Tyson Chandler tipped in a missed shot with 3.3 seconds remaining for New Orleans, which had blown a a 17-point lead with four minutes remaining.
Mavericks 110,
Thunder 108 (OT)
DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki scored 17 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, and Dallas rallied from a late 12-point deficit. Oklahoma City played most of the game without Kevin Durant, who sprained his right ankle and left the contest with 4:21 remaining in the first quarter.
Cavaliers 97, Spurs 86
SAN ANTONIO — LeBron James had 30 points and 14 rebounds, helping Cleveland to a win over San Antonio.
Kings 98, Clippers 86
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kevin Martin scored 20 points to help Sacramento snap a three-game skid.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
