Boston Celtics beat Cleveland 95-89 in the NBA season opener, spoiling the hyped debut of the Cavaliers with LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal.

James, the league MVP, and O'Neal were shaded by Boston's reunited Big Three. Paul Pierce scored 23 points, Ray Allen 16 and Kevin Garnett 13 in his first regular-season game since last March.

Pierce made two crucial jumpers and two free throws in the final 1:03 to pace the Celtics, whose drive to a second straight NBA title was derailed when Garnett injured his knee late last season. Rasheed Wallace, added as a free agent during the offseason, had 12 points.

James scored 38 and O'Neal added 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers.

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