BOSTON (AP) – Ricky Davis and Paul Pierce each scored 26 points to help the Boston Celtics hand the Toronto Raptors their season-opening ninth straight loss, 100-93 on Friday night.

Pierce added 11 rebounds and five assists, and Davis had seven assists in leading Boston to its seventh victory in its last eight games against Toronto.

Mark Blount scored 14 points for the Celtics, including two big baskets down the stretch, and Delonte West added 13.

Toronto’s Morris Peterson hit a 3-pointer from the baseline to pull the Raptors to 88-87, but Blount scored off Pierce’s miss to give the Celtics a 90-87 lead. Following Chris Bosh’s dunk that again cut the lead to one, Blount hit a shot in the paint for a 92-89 lead.

After Bosh converted one of two free throws to cut it to 92-90, Pierce answered with a jumper and Blount hit two free throws.

Bosh had 24 points and 14 rebounds for his sixth straight double-double and seventh of the season. Charlie Villanueva scored all 18 of his points in the first half and was not a factor after picking up three fouls in the third quarter.

Peterson added 16 points for the Raptors. Coming off his first scoreless night in more than seven years, Jalen Rose scored 11 points, and Mike James, following a career-high 38 points, was limited to 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting.

Villanueva was 3-of-4 from beyond the arc to give the Raptors a 48-44 halftime lead. The Raptors lead by as many as 10 points in the half, but West’s 3-pointer and a 12-foot jumper by Davis cut the halftime deficit to four.

Notes: With signing of Darrick Martin, the Raptors have five players who shoot left-handed: Martin, Bosh, Peterson, Rose and Aaron Williams. … Boston’s Raef LaFrentz reached 5,000 career points with a free throw with 4:34 left.

AP-ES-11-18-05 2232EST