(Best E Casino) - After opening the season with two impressive wins at home, the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics try their luck on the road for the first time in 2008-09 as they travel to Indiana for the Pacers' home opener.

Kevin Garnett posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds to help lead the Celtics in a 96-80 rout of the Chicago Bulls at TD Banknorth Garden on Friday.

Garnett, who became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 1,000 career games against the Bulls, was 7-of-11 from the field while Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen each contributed 14 points.

Pierce had nine boards and Rondo dished out six helpers for Boston, which celebrated its championship from last season before Tuesday's season-opening 90-85 home victory over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Indiana wasn't as lucky in its opener. Detroit's Tayshaun Prince finished with a team-high 19 points to lead the Pistons to a 100-94 win over the Pacers on Wednesday.

Budding star Danny Granger, who signed a contract extension on Friday, had a game-high 33 points and Troy Murphy brought down 15 boards to go with 13 points for the Pacers, who last season finished just 36-46.

T.J. Ford, who came to Indiana in an offseason trade with Toronto that sent former Pacers mainstay Jermaine O'Neal to the Raptors, totaled 10 points and five assists.

Indiana stayed close in the game despite the absence of its second leading scorer from a year ago, sharp-shooter Mike Dunleavy. Dunleavy is sidelined with knee tendinitis and will also miss tonight's contest.

The Celtics swept the season series with Indiana a year ago, winning all three games.

Saturdays contest is the second leg of a brutal season-opening stretch for the Pacers. After playing the two Eastern Conference finalists in the first two games, Indiana moves on to face two more serious playoff contenders next week, the Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers.