Five days after the worst loss in their history, the Boston Celtics posted their most decisive win in 10 seasons.
Paul Pierce scored 26 points and Boston beat the visiting Seattle SuperSonics 114-74 Wednesday night, ending a four-game losing streak that included a 118-66 loss to Detroit.
“It’s good to finally put it to a team like some teams have put it to us,” Antoine Walker said.
The 40-point margin was Boston’s biggest since a 132-91 win over San Antonio on March 3, 1993. It tied for Seattle’s fourth-most lopsided loss.
It was the first meeting between the teams since an off-season trade sent Shammond Williams and Vin Baker to Boston for Kenny Anderson, Vitaly Potapenko and Joseph Forte. Baker sat out with lightheadedness, while Anderson, Potapenko and Forte combined for nine points.
Pistons sign Manning
Forward Danny Manning, 36, signed with the Detroit Pistons and played briefly Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers. He hadn’t played since averaging 4.0 points in 41 games last season with Dallas.
RESULTS, WEDNESDAY’S SYNOPSIS
Houston 102 at Cleveland 105
Ricky Davis scored 21 points and Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 20, mostly against Yao Ming. Maurice Taylor’s 30 led Rockets.
Seattle 74 at Boston 114
Jim O’Brien won his 100th game as Celtics coach. Rashard Lewis’ 15 points led SuperSonics.
L.A. Clippers 80 at Detroit 89
Pistons rookie Mehmet Okur had 19 points, 11 rebounds. Detroit All-Star Ben Wallace missed game due to mother’s death.
New Jersey 111 at Philadelphia 85
Kerry Kittles scored a season-high 35 points for Nets, who have won six of seven. Allen Iverson’s 28 led Sixers.
Portland 101 at Miami 87
2nd straight season high for Scottie Pippen: 26 points. Heat coach Pat Riley called it “absolute officiating tragedy.”
Sacramento 84 at New Orleans 108
Hornets’ Jamal Mashburn scored 26 points. For Kings, Chris Webber out, Vlade Divac left with strained back after first half.
Memphis 84 at Utah 105
Karl Malone scored 12 of his 31 points in the third quarter as the Jazz erased 11-point deficit. Grizzlies lost 7th in a row.
San Antonio 103 at Golden State 99
Tim Duncan had 30 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs. Gilbert Arenas’ 28 points led the Warriors.
