Celtics Win First on OT Buzzer-Beater

Wednesday, November 8th 2006, 10:15 pm

By: News On 6

BOSTON (AP) _ Delonte West made a jumper at the overtime buzzer, Paul Pierce and Wally Szczerbiak each scored 35 points, and the Boston Celtics earned their first victory of the season by beating the Charlotte Bobcats 110-108 Wednesday night.

Ryan Gomes added his first career triple-double as the Celtics kept the Bobcats winless in Boston.

Pierce drove the lane with time winding down and kicked the ball to a wide-open West, who knocked down a 20-footer.

Brevin Knight, who finished with 22 points, missed a jumper with 7.6 seconds left in overtime for the Bobcats, who are 0-5 in Boston.

Gerald Wallace tied the game at 100 with 10.5 seconds left in regulation after Sean May's shot was blocked by Theo Ratliff and on his second rebound, Wallace laid it in.

Pierce's 18-foot jumper as regulation time expired clanked off the side of the rim.

Emeka Okafor continued his strong comeback after playing in only 26 games last season with 28 points and a career-high 18 rebounds.

Gomes had 10 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high 10 assists for the Celtics.

Boston overcame 25 turnovers to avoid starting the season 0-4 for the first time since 1969-70. Pierce had a career-high 12 turnovers.

Szczerbiak scored 20 points in the third quarter on 6-of-7 shooting, including four 3-pointers, as the Celtics outscored Charlotte 37-25 to take an 82-74 lead after three.

Othella Harrington's fallaway jumper capped a 13-5 run and tied the game for Charlotte at 87 with 5:16 remaining.

Boston trailed 24-17 after the first quarter while shooting 7-of-23 from the field with eight turnovers.

The last four games between the Celtics and Bobcats have been decided by three points or less.

West was 2-of-9 from the field before hitting the game-winner.

Notes: Celtics forward Al Jefferson is expected to miss at least two weeks after having his appendix removed. ... Raymond Felton left the game with a strained back and did not return for the Bobcats. ... Ratliff played his first game for Boston after being acquired from Portland in a multi-player trade in the offseason. Szczerbiak had a career-high 22 points in a quarter in 2003... Boston used its fourth starting lineup in four games.