Nets trip Celts; Wizards break 12-game slump
BOSTON—Joe Johnson scored 18 points, Andray Blatche had 17 points and 13 rebounds, and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Boston Celtics, 95-83, on Wednesday after Rajon Rondo was ejected following a fight.
The Celtics point guard was tossed after he shoved Kris Humphries to retaliate for the Nets forward’s hard foul against Kevin Garnett. Humphries and Brooklyn forward Gerald Wallace were also ejected for their roles in the second-quarter skirmish.
Garnett had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Paul Pierce added 14 points for Boston. Rondo had three assists before he was kicked out, ending his streak at 37 games with double-digits. That is tied for secondlongest in NBA history.
The Nets led by 21 in the second half and never less than nine in the fourth quarter.
In Washington, the Wizards earned their first victory after starting the season with 12 straight losses, getting 19 points from Jordan Crawford to beat Portland, 84-82.
Washington survived a scoreless 6:47 in the fourth when Crawford hit on a 3-pointer with 2:06 to play, and the Wizards finally took the 84-82 lead on Emeka Okafor’s two free throws with 39.1 seconds remaining.
Nine teams started the season 0-13. The Nets hold the record-worst start of 0-18.
In Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant matched his season high with 37 points, and Oklahoma City beat Houston, 120-98.
OTHER RESULTS: Bulls 101, Mavericks 78; Grizzlies 103, Raptors 82; Knicks 102, Bucks 88; Pistons 117, Suns 77; Clippers 101, Timberwolves 95; Hawks 94, Bobcats 91; Spurs 110, Magic 89; Jazz 96, Hornets 84