Pierce lifts Celtics past Lakers in OT

Reuters, Boston

Paul Pierce's 28 points helped the Boston Celtics become the latest team to take advantage of the depleted Los Angeles Lakers's lineup, downing the three times defending champions 98- 95 in overtime Thursday.

Pierce's three-pointer with 1:54 left in overtime put the Celtics ahead to stay and gave Boston (3-2) its third successive victory after opening the season with two losses. The Lakers lost for the fourth time in six games.

The Lakers, without Shaquille O'Neal (injured toe) and Rick Fox (serving the final game of his six-game suspension), rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit to force overtime but could not avoid another loss on the heels of their worst offensive display in four decades at Cleveland Tuesday.

Tony Delk added 26 points for Boston while Eric Williams had 16 points and eight rebounds. Antoine Walker added 13 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Kobe Bryant had 41 points in a losing cause for the Lakers while Samaki Walker had 10 points and 12 rebounds. Los Angeles outscored Boston 36-17 in the third quarter to get back into the game after trailing 50-35 at the half.

Bryant was a one-man show for the Lakers, attempting 47 shots from the field and making 17. He was 0-for-8 from three-point range however, and missed 10 consecutive field goal attempts in the fourth quarter and overtime.

In Minneapolis, Kevin Garnett had 28 points and 24 rebounds to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves past the Milwaukee Bucks 114-110.

Garnett tied the franchise record for rebounds in one game and also matched his personal best as Minnesota improved to 4-2.

The Timberwolves have beaten the Bucks the last seven times they have met.

Wally Szczerbiak returned to the Minnesota lineup and added 19 points while Troy Hudson had 15 points and 11 rebounds. The Timberwolves are now 4-0 at home and 0-2 on the road.

Sam Cassell had 32 points for the Bucks while Ray Allen added 27 points.

Milwaukee's Toni Kukoc was ejected with 5:54 remaining in the second quarter after picking up two technical fouls.

In Denver, Chauncey Billups had 21 points and Richard Hamilton added 15 as the Detroit Pistons coasted to an 89-63 win over the struggling Nuggets.

Clifford Robinson added 10 points for Detroit, now 5-1 to start the season, while Ben Wallace pulled down 13 rebounds and added six points.

Denver (1-4) has not won at home in three tries this season. James Posey had 21 points for the Nuggets while Nene Hilario added 10.