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Nets' ex-Celtics get better of Rivers

 
Published Dec. 13, 2013

NEW YORK — Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett share a championship with Doc Rivers and a bond that didn't break when they ended up on opposite coasts.

"I'll always have a special place for Doc," Garnett said.

Now the veterans are trying to teach a new team what they learned from their old coach.

Andray Blatche and Joe Johnson each scored 21 in the Nets' 102-93 victory over the Clippers on Thursday, making Pierce and Garnett winners in their first matchup with Rivers.

Pierce scored 10 off the bench in his second game back from a broken hand.

Pierce and Garnett went 2-0 in a reunion tour of ex-Celtics this week. They helped the Nets beat Boston here Tuesday, then Rivers made an emotional return to Boston on Wednesday.

Rivers coached Pierce and Garnett to the 2008 NBA title but wasn't interested in remaining in Boston after last season once it became clear the Celtics were heading toward a rebuilding era.

All-Star voting: Heat star LeBron James is the early leading vote-getter for the All-Star Game, edging Kevin Durant of the Thunder. James has 609,336 votes, while Durant trails by about 2,000 in the first returns announced by the league. The game is Feb. 16 at New Orleans.

Lakers Theft: Eddie Monterroso, a security guard at the team training center, was charged with felony grand theft and burglary after he was accused of taking two NBA championship rings and gift cards valued at nearly $20,000. Police could not say who the rings belonged to. … Steve Blake will be out at least six weeks with a torn ligament in his right elbow, leaving the Lakers without all three of their injured point guards (Steve Nash, nerve root irritation; Jordan Farmar, hamstring). Kobe Bryant will fill in at point guard alongside Jodie Meeks.

Knicks: Analyst Jeff Van Gundy, after consulting with ESPN executives, decided it was best that he not be part of the broadcast team when the Knicks played the Bulls on Wednesday, USA Today reported. Van Gundy, who once coached the Knicks, was listed as a potential candidate to replace coach Mike Woodson by the New York Post. Van Gundy does not comment on job speculation where his name is involved. … Point guard Raymond Felton (left hamstring strain) will miss two to three weeks, and guard Iman Shumpert (left knee) is day to day.

Around the league: Warriors backup center Jermaine O'Neal, 35, will have arthroscopic surgery on his right wrist today.

Nets 102, Clippers 93

L.A. CLIPPERS (93): Dudley 1-7 1-2 4, Griffin 2-8 8-13 12, Jordan 2-3 2-4 6, Paul 6-13 6-7 20, Green 2-6 3-4 8, Crawford 5-11 7-12 19, Jamison 3-7 0-1 6, Jackson 1-5 1-2 3, Collison 2-7 4-4 8, Hollins 2-3 3-3 7, Mullens 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-70 35-52 93.

BROOKLYN (102): Anderson 1-9 1-1 3, Garnett 1-2 0-0 2, Lopez 6-13 4-4 16, Williams 4-9 5-5 15, Johnson 8-13 1-2 21, Blatche 7-11 7-8 21, Pierce 2-7 4-4 10, Livingston 1-3 4-4 6, Plumlee 1-1 2-2 4, Teletovic 2-4 0-0 4, Shengelia 0-1 0-0 0, Taylor 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 33-74 28-30 102.

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L.A. Clippers 25 19 18 31— 93

Brooklyn 20 36 27 19— 102

3-Point GoalsClippers 6-24 (Paul 2-3, Crawford 2-6, Green 1-4, Dudley 1-4, Collison 0-1, Jackson 0-3, Jamison 0-3), Brooklyn 8-20 (Johnson 4-7, Williams 2-3, Pierce 2-5, Teletovic 0-1, Blatche 0-1, Taylor 0-1, Anderson 0-2). Fouled OutPlumlee. ReboundsClippers 59 (Jordan 12), Brooklyn 45 (Blatche 9). AssistsClippers 15 (Griffin, Crawford 3), Brooklyn 18 (Pierce 5). Total FoulsClippers 20, Brooklyn 31. TechnicalsClippers defensive three second 2, Brooklyn defensive three second 3. A15,563.