Pitino’s Celtics Proud Victors Over Bulls

Rick Pitino took over the worst team in the Celtics’ history and, in his first game, turned it into a surprise winner over the best team in the NBA.

With a pressing defense, surprisingly few rookie jitters and a confidence that built as they kept the lead, the Celtics beat Michael Jordan and the defending champion Chicago Bulls, 92-85, in Friday night’s season opener at Boston.

“I’m really proud of the way we fought. It was a scrappy effort,” said Pitino, who left Kentucky after eight seasons to succeed M.L. Carr. “We beat a great team.”

His reconstructed Celtics--there are eight first- or second-year players--overcame a 20-point deficit after one quarter and kept Jordan under control until the fourth when he scored 16 of his 30 points. Jordan missed a shot with 38 seconds left that would have cut the lead to 86-85.

“I was missing my assignment early because I was too busy watching Michael and his new shoes. Then I settled down,” Boston rookie Chauncey Billups said. “I think we opened some eyes.”

Jordan was impressed with the Celtics’ talent and hustle but didn’t lose his perspective.

“One game doesn’t mean we won’t win our sixth championship,” he said, “so I advise you not to jump to conclusions.”

New Jersey 97, Indiana 95--Coaching might prove a little more frustrating than playing for Larry Bird.

Bird lost his NBA coaching debut with the Pacers when Rik Smits missed two free throws with less than a second to play.

Not only did Smits fail Bird, but the Pacers blew a 13-point lead they held midway through the third quarter at East Rutherford, N.J.

“I hate to lose more than I like to win,” said Bird, whose team was held to 22 points in the final 16 minutes. “I feel we gave this game away. We should have won. But for us to win, six or seven guys have to contribute and play well. Tonight only four did.”

It was a big win for the Nets, who are trying to shake off a losing image.

“I thought it was a good game for us, a good win,” Coach John Calipari said. “Our intensity was pretty darn good where a year ago we would have let go of the rope. Last year we would have said: ‘At least we got it close.’ Close is not good enough this year.”

Houston 94, Cleveland 86--Charles Barkley, ending his brief retirement threat, had six points and eight rebounds in 22 minutes at Houston against the suspension-weakened Cavaliers.

Barkley entered the game with 3:43 left in the first quarter and drew a loud ovation. He played the rest of the first quarter and seven minutes of the second period.

“We won, that’s the only thing that matters,” Barkley said. “I was just glad to be out there. It’s the first time I touched the ball since Sunday. Kevin [Willis] played terrific. Everybody played terrific.”

Minnesota 129, Golden State 113--Not even Latrell Sprewell’s 45 points--or a new round of questions about his mammoth contract--could spoil the debut of the $126-million man.

Kevin Garnett, who signed the richest contract in professional sports history a month ago, was one of four players to score at least 20 points for the Timberwolves at Minneapolis.

Garnett had 25 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and six blocked shots as he began a new era of expectations for himself, brought on by the contract extension that kicks in next season.

New York 97, Charlotte 85--Larry Johnson haunted his old teammates by scoring 22 points and helped shut down Glen Rice at Charlotte, N.C.

Johnson, a former first-round draft choice of the Hornets who was traded to New York before the start of last season, made nine of 12 field-goal attempts as the Knicks won their sixth consecutive season opener.

Johnson also spent much of the evening guarding Rice, the NBA’s third-leading scorer last season. Rice missed his first eight field-goal attempts before finally connecting with 9:52 left in the game. He wound up with 11 points on 3-of-13 shooting.

“We didn’t do the whole job. I thought their team did most of the job by not coming to him as much,” Johnson said. “How many shots did he get? Thirteen? Glen needs more than 13 attempts a night.”

Atlanta 105, Orlando 99--A healthy Alan Henderson showed what he can mean to the Hawks.

The third-year pro, who missed most of last season because of illness and then was sidelined for half of the Hawks’ exhibition schedule with a knee injury, came off the bench and scored 20 points, adding eight rebounds at Orlando, Fla.

The Hawks, who never trailed, spoiled Chuck Daly’s debut as coach of the Magic by also getting 22 points from Steve Smith and holding Orlando without a field goal for three minutes down the stretch to pull away from an 88-88 tie.

“I wasn’t even sure I was going to play the way my knee had been feeling,” said Henderson, who went eight for 12 in 22 minutes.

San Antonio 107, Denver 96--David Robinson scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half and Tim Duncan added 15 in his NBA debut as the Spurs overcame a slow start at Denver.

Robinson, limited to only six games because of injuries last year, also grabbed 13 rebounds to help the Spurs spoil Bill Hanzlik’s coaching debut and win their first opener in four years.

Rookie Bobby Jackson scored 27 points to lead the Nuggets, who built a seven-point halftime lead before Robinson brought San Antonio back in the third quarter.

Miami 114, Toronto 101--Jamal Mashburn, criticized last season for his lack of offensive leadership, scored 22 points as the Heat won at Miami.

Coach Pat Riley plans to make Mashburn the Heat’s first option this season, and the forward responded by constantly driving to the basket and daring the Raptors to guard him one-on-one.

Tim Hardaway had 21 points and 11 assists and Terry Mills came off the bench to add 13 points and pull down 10 rebounds in his Miami debut.

Detroit 92, Washington 79--Fresh uniforms and a new nickname didn’t change anything. The Wizards had the same problems at The Palace at Auburn Hills, Mich., as the old Bullets did.

Lindsey Hunter’s offense and defense led the Pistons. Washington hasn’t defeated the Pistons at The Palace since Nov. 22, 1995.

Hunter had 23 points and three steals and held Washington’s Rod Strickland to six points. Strickland averaged 12.8 points during the exhibition season.

Milwaukee 103, Philadelphia 88--Ray Allen had 29 points and Glenn Robinson 20 at Philadelphia, as the Bucks won their season opener for the seventh consecutive year.

The 76ers played without last year’s Rookie of the Year, Allen Iverson, who was serving a one-game suspension following an off-season no contest plea to a weapons charge.

“Not to have him in there was easier on our defensive scheme,” Allen said. “It’s like a part of the engine. When that part is missing, the engine won’t run.’

Seattle 91, Portland 83--Vin Baker scored 17 points in his debut as the SuperSonics scored the last nine points of the game to beat the Trail Blazers at Portland, Ore.

Gary Payton added 14 points and Detlef Schrempf scored 10 of his 13 in the fourth quarter for the Sonics.

Baker, traded to Seattle from Milwaukee in the three-team deal that sent Shawn Kemp to Cleveland, scored 12 of his points in the first quarter. He also finished with eight rebounds.