Celtics rally to remain perfect

BOSTON — Kevin Garnett had 26 points and 11 rebounds, Paul Pierce made the go-ahead layup with 25 seconds left after Boston blew a 15-point fourth-quarter lead, and the Celtics beat the Miami Heat 92-91 on Friday night to improve to 8-0.

Pierce scored 12 points, Ray Allen had 19, and Rajon Rondo had nine points and 10 assists for Boston, which had not started a season with eight straight wins since the 1972-73 team won its first 10. Miami dropped to 1-8, but only after scoring 15 straight points in the fourth to tie it.

The Heat took a 91-90 lead on Udonis Haslem's free throw with 33 seconds left. But Pierce muscled his way to the basket to give the Celtics back the lead.

Dwyane Wade, making his first start after offseason knee and shoulder surgery, dribbled out most of the clock before missing Miami's last shot.

The Celtics face their biggest challenge so far on Sunday when they play the Southeast Division-leading Magic in Orlando.

Wade, who came off the bench and played 24 minutes for his first appearance on Wednesday, scored 23 for Miami. He also missed five free throws and the Heat shot just 16-for-28 from the line. Shaquille O'Neal had 17 points and nine rebounds.

SUPERSONICS 126, HAWKS 123 (2OT): At Atlanta, rookie Kevin Durant made a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the second overtime, and Damien Wilkins scored a career-high 41 points for Seattle. With Al Horford guarding him at the top of the key, Durant pumped once to get the defender in the air before shooting over his outstretched arm. Durant, the No. 2 overall draft pick, finished with 21 points. Seattle improved to 2-8 following a victory on Wednesday night at Miami. Joe Johnson had a season-high 39 for the Hawks.

MAGIC 95, NETS 70: East Rutherford, N.J., Dwight Howard had 21 points, 19 rebounds and became the NBA's youngest player to reach 3,000 rebounds, leading Orlando past New Jersey. Rashard Lewis added 27 points, and Jameer Nelson hit two 3-pointers in a decisive third-quarter spurt that carried the Magic to a franchise record-tying sixth straight road win. Orlando's 8-2 start is its best since the lockout-shortened 98-99 season.

Orlando never trailed after the opening minutes and the only question was whether Howard (21 years, 343 days old) would get his 3,000th rebound. He corralled it with 6:25 to play, breaking the old mark set by Shaquille O'Neal, when he was 23-plus years old and also playing for the Magic.

New Jersey's Jason Kidd recorded the 89th triple-double of his career with a career-high 19 rebounds, 11 points and 10 assists.