BOSTON (AP) – Eric Williams scored 18 points and Paul Pierce added 14 as the Boston Celtics beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 96-80 Wednesday night in a preseason game, their first since trading Antoine Walker to Dallas.

Newly-acquired center Raef LaFrentz scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds in 19 minutes for Boston (3-4), which has now won three straight heading into Friday’s exhibition finale at home against New Jersey.

The Celtics broke the game open with a 14-0 run early in the second quarter. Minnesota (3-4) threw away a pair of passes, committed an offensive foul and had a Troy Hudson shot blocked by Marcus Banks on four straight trips down the floor.

Boston capitalized, helped by a 3-pointer from Lafrentz and a pair of layups from Banks, to grab a 31-16 lead in the second quarter.

Mike James hit a 3-pointer with 1:27 left in the half to put the Celtics ahead 44-26 at the break. Paul Pierce, who had nine rebounds and eight assists in the game, gave Boston a 58-31 lead in the third, its largest in the game.

LaFrentz, who was second in the NBA in blocked shots in 2001-2002, brought the crowd and his teammates to their feet by rejecting a Gary Trent putback late in the third quarter.

Trent led Minnesota with 14 points and seven rebounds, and Latrell Sprewell added 12 points.

Notes: Tonight’s game marked Boston’s first appearance at the FleetCenter since losing Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals to New Jersey. … Mark Madsen returned to the Minnesota lineup after leaving Monday’s game against Milwaukee with a mild concussion.

AP-ES-10-22-03 2148EDT