NBA roundup: New-look Pacers top Boston

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers couldn't have scripted it better.

Pacers president Larry Bird brought in seven new players in the offseason to improve the team's talent level and overhaul its image after numerous off-the-court incidents the past several years.

The payoff was immediate. Danny Granger scored 20 points, new point guard T.J. Ford added 19, and a sellout crowd watched the Pacers beat the defending champion Boston Celtics 95-79 on Saturday night in their home opener.

"I certainly think the fans saw a full-out effort for 48 minutes," Indiana coach Jim O'Brien said. "Nobody would say that the Indiana Pacers left anything on the court."

Well, except teeth. Granger lost his two front teeth in the fourth quarter when Paul Pierce fell on him while they were diving on the floor after a loose ball.

"It was a hell of a hustle play," O'Brien said. "He pressured up on Pierce, got a deflection, dove face first. I went out to say, 'great job,' he smiled at me and he didn't have any teeth."

The Pacers noticed that Granger's effort came a day after he signed a lucrative contract extension.

"It's a play made by a guy that just signed a long-term deal here," O'Brien said. "He made a statement that he wants to help this franchise get back into the playoffs and to the next level."

Pacers veteran Jeff Foster was impressed.

"Losing his teeth when we're up by 16 just shows the commitment he has, and the commitment everybody else has to have, to make this climb back up the mountain."

Ford, the key acquisition in the trade that sent Jermaine O'Neal to Toronto, also had four assists. Backup point guard Jarrett Jack, picked up in a trade with Portland, added 11 points and seven rebounds.

Kevin Garnett led Boston with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Pierce scored 15 points, but shot 3-for-15 from the field. Ray Allen finished with 10 points on 4-for-10 shooting.

BOBCATS 100, HEAT 87: At Charlotte, N.C, Gerald Wallace scored 34 points and Larry Brown earned his first victory in his ninth NBA head coaching job. After a winless preseason and an ugly loss at Cleveland to open the regular season, Wallace, Jason Richardson and Emeka Okafor powered the Bobcats to a sharp performance that gave the well-traveled Brown his 1,011th career win.