The Boston Celtics (4-0) defeated the visiting New Orleans Hornets (1-2) by a score of 97-87 tonight at the TD Garden in Boston. 

The Celtics, who never really developed a good rhythm until late in the game, were led by Paul Pierce's 27 points (on 10-of-14 shooting), and Ray Allen's 17 points (on 8-of-15 shooting). Paul Pierce continued his barrage from Friday night (when he was last seen dropping 20 points in the 3rd quarter--on 7 of 7 shooting--against the Chicago Bulls), scoring an efficient 20 points in the first half.  He added another crucial 5 points down the stretch in the fourth quarter as the Cs finally put the game away.  Kevin Garnett also chipped in with perhaps his most well-rounded game this season, contributing 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists in only 26 minutes.

The Hornets were led by Peja Stojakovic, who erupted for 26 points in 23 minutes, and the ever-steady Chris Paul, who scored 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting, and handed out 8 assists along with 2 steals. 

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The Boston Celtics (2-0), after thoroughly dominating the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday and holding them to a franchise-low 59 points, renew their budding rivalry with the Chicago Bulls (1-0) tonight at 8 p.m. EST at the TD Garden.

The Bulls, playing on the second night of a back-to-back, are coming off an impressive win against the San Antonio Spurs last night and look to exact a measure of revenge tonight against the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year. 

Unlike last spring's playoff tilt, both teams enter tonight's contest with their starting lineups healthy and intact.  For Chicago, small forward Luol Deng's broken right leg is fully healed, and he appears to have returned to his 2006-2007 form, when he averaged nearly 19 points and 7 rebounds a game.  For Boston, Kevin Garnett looks to be fully recovered from offseason surgery, though he still has a ways to go before he fully regains strength in and around his knee and completely regains his wind.

The Celtics, fresh off a relatively easy win in Cleveland last night, host the Charlotte Bobcats tonight at 7:30 p.m EST at the TD Garden in Boston.

The youthful Bobcats, led by wingman extraordinaire Gerald Wallace, and the point guard tandem of Ray Felton and D.J. Augustin, enter the 2009-2010 season looking to improve upon last year's 35-47 record, and possibly make a run towards the playoffs.

An extremely athletic team that has given the Celtics fits in the past (especially in 2007-2008 when the Bobcats gave Boston 2 of their 16 regular season losses), Charlotte shook things up this past offseason, exchanging starter and former #1 pick overall Emeka Okafor for Tyson Chandler of the New Orleans Hornets.  The Bobcats hope that the acquisition of Chandler helps improve their defense, an area of emphasis for Charlotte head coach Larry Brown.  Chandler, however, has been limited throughout preseason as he recovers from offseason ankle surgery, and looks to be still rounding himself into playing shape.  He is expected to play tonight, though his minutes may be limited.

The Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 95-89 tonight at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, snapping a road winless streak that stretches back to December of 2004.

The Celtics, after a sluggish start to the game, which saw Boston fall down by as much as 14 points in the opening quarter, eventually regained the lead in the 2nd quarter, and basically controlled the game from that point onwards.  Behind their new-and-improved bench, featuring newcomers like Marquis Daniels and Rasheed Wallace, the Celtics outscored the Cavs by 30-17 in the 2nd quarter, hitting 5 threes in the period on their way to a 9-19 night from long range.