NEW YORK -- For Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, seeing Deron Williams back far outweighed seeing the Celtics again. Williams scored a season-high 25 points in his return to the lineup, Brook Lopez added 24, and the Brooklyn Nets beat Boston 104-96 Tuesday night in the first matchup for Pierce and Garnett against their former team. "D-Will set the tone for how we were going to play tonight," Garnett said. Garnett had 11 points, just his third time in double figures this season, and grabbed nine rebounds. Pierce finished with four points and seven rebounds in his first appearance off the bench in six years after making a quick recovery from a broken right hand. But the key was Williams, who had missed nine straight games and 11 overall with a sprained left ankle, and hadnt been sharp in the games in which he did appear. "Hes the head of the snake," Pierce said. "I mean hes one of the most important pieces of what were trying to do here, what were trying to build and trying to win a championship." The Nets won consecutive games for the first time this season, a stunning stat for a team that considered itself a championship contender after acquiring Pierce and Garnett in a blockbuster that was agreed to on draft night. Both veterans had struggled, with the 12.4 points per game and .368 shooting by Pierce easily the lowest of his career before he was hurt on Nov. 29. The Nets had lost six straight at home, their longest skid since moving to Brooklyn. "Were starting to get whole and its definitely good to have everybody back," Williams said. "Even though Paul didnt start, I thought he came in and gave us a big boost off the bench. It seemed like our energy level was a lot better. More intensity on both ends of the floor." Avery Bradley scored 22 points and Jeff Green had 19 for the Celtics, who have been competitive after trading away two of their most important players from their 2008 NBA championship team. Boston had a three-game winning streak snapped and its Atlantic Division-leading record fell to 10-13. "The players that they had come back tonight, I still feel like they were a very good team. But obviously having two of their leaders as in Deron Williams and Paul, you know that definitely helps them out a lot," Bradley said. The Celtics had started with 14-0 and 12-0 leads in their last two games, the latter eventually ballooning to a 45-point bulge in a 114-73 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday that was the NBAs most lopsided game this season. Brooklyn got off to the strong start in this one, pulled away again after Boston tied it, and put it away when Williams, who came in averaging just 9.3 points, scored eight in the final period. "They played great tonight. Played really hard, really together. They took us out of what we wanted to do," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. "Like I said, we werent playing the New Jersey Nets that played without D-Will for those 10 games. That is their team and theyre a good basketball team." Pierce was expected to miss two to four weeks, but sat out only four games before returning to practice Monday. He received a nice ovation when he checked in with a protective glove covering his hand midway through the first quarter, no doubt aided by the many Boston fans that were noticeable all around Barclays Center. He said hes still getting used to the glove, joking he might take it out to the movies, and might have to get used to a new role. Coach Jason Kidd said he would consider whether Pierce would remain with the second unit. Garnett gave a pat on the head and a little hug before the opening tip to Bostons starters, who go on to face former coach Doc Rivers and the Clippers on Wednesday. The Nets led 31-20 after one, their largest lead after the opening quarter this season, and 56-47 at the half. Boston quickly tied it at 60, but the Nets responded with 10 straight points, going ahead 70-60 on Williams jumper, and the lead reached 85-68 on Pierces free throw with 1:14 left. NOTES: It was the first time Garnett played against the Celtics since March 4, 2007, for Minnesota. ... Boxer Paulie Malignaggi was presented with the championship of Brooklyn belt by Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark in the second quarter after beating fellow Brooklyn product Zab Judah in a welterweight bout here Saturday. Tigers Jerseys 2020 . It led to his downfall on Tuesday. The Major League Soccer club fired Rennie after a second straight up-and-down season that saw the Whitecaps start strong before limping across the finish line. Custom Detroit Tigers Jerseys . PETERSBURG, Fla. https://www.cheaptigers.com/ . Roma has a game in hand but now second place is even at risk for the capital side as Napoli moved to within three points with the win. "The result is not always fair," Roma coach Rudi Garcia said. "If we play like this until the end we will win many matches. Wholesale Tigers Jerseys . The defeat leaves the 41-year-old Nestor to concentrate on the mixed-doubles event after winning 12 straight matches and winning Australian titles in Brisbane and Sydney with two different partners. "This was a little bit of a let down, but all credit to them," said Nestor. Stitched Tigers Jerseys . -- Floridas smothering defence returned to form just in time for the third-ranked Gators to keep their winning streak going. NEW YORK -- The only thing Jenrry Mejia popped Monday night was his fastball. Showing off a sizzling heater with wicked movement, Mejia pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning and led the New York Mets over the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0. Mejia (3-0) bounced back well from a torn blister on his right middle finger that limited him to five innings in his last start. The 24-year-old righty began the game by getting Matt Carpenter to look at three straight strikes, and rarely was in trouble. "Coming off the blister ... we werent sure what he was going to give us," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "He gave us more than we expected, for sure." David Wright lined an early RBI single that extended his hitting streak to 12 games and Kyle Farnsworth earned his first save as the New Yorks newest closer. On an evening when the Mets debuted new camouflage tops to salute the military, they looked sharp, particularly on a double play started by shortstop Ruben Tejada. The Cardinals lost for the third time in four games. "Their shortstop kind of stopped any kind of rally from happening," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "Being frustrated, I dont think theres anything wrong with that," he said after the NL champions were shut out for the third time this year. "I think the bigger story is that our offence will get going on a consistent basis." Mejia struck out seven in 6 2-3 innings and walked three. He stretched his scoreless streak to 13 2-3 innings. Mejia said the blister was hardly a concern. The St. Louis hitters were the ones having trouble, not him. "They know my fastball moves," he said. Scott Rice and Carlos Torres each got two outs before Farnsworth, the Mets third closer this year, pitched the ninth for his first save. Farnsworth inherited the role after Bobby Parnell needed Tommy John surgery and Jose Valverde struggled. Farnsworth had two saves last season for Pittsburgh. Tyler Lyons (0-1) lost in his first major league game of the season. Promoted from Triple-A Memphis earrlier in the day to take the rotation spot of injured Joe Kelly, he allowed two runs and six hits in six innings.dddddddddddd A 26-year-old lefty with a big-breaking slider, Lyons struck out seven. Hes another in the long line of tall, homegrown pitchers developed by the Cardinals, and went 2-4 last year in his first big league season. Lyons struck out the first two batters in the third before Eric Young Jr. singled for the Mets first hit. Slumping Curtis Granderson was hit by a pitch and Wright singled for a 1-0 lead. Lyons throwing error on a tapper set up another run in the sixth. Daniel Murphy walked, later stole third and scored on a single by Travis dArnaud. Mejia escaped his biggest jam in the sixth when, with runners at the corners and one out, he retired Matt Holliday on a popup and Matt Adams on a grounder. The previous inning, the Mets backed Mejia with a sweet double play. Tejada dived to stop Jon Jays grounder up the middle and flipped to Murphy, and the second baseman made a barehanded catch and spun quickly for the relay. "Tremendous double play," Collins praised. NOTES: Wright has eight hits in his last three games. He has eight RBIs in eight games. ... Murphy has been safe on 25 straight steal tries. ... Cardinals C Yadier Molina stretched his hitting streak to 12 games. ... Granderson struck out three times. Hes hitless in his last 19 at-bats and is in a 4-for-47 slump that includes 17 strikeouts. ... St. Louis SS Jhonny Peralta was hitless in three at-bats and is in an 0-for-15 rut. ... The Mets promoted 40-year-old OF Bobby Abreu from Triple-A. He didnt get into the game. ... St. Louis RHP Eric Fornataro made his major league debut and pitched a perfect eighth. Molina waited outside the dugout to pat him on the head. ... Cardinals RHP Adam Wainwright (3-1, 1.80) starts Tuesday night against RHP Dillon Gee (1-0, 3.71). ... Kelly strained his left hamstring trying to beat out a bunt last week and was put on the 15-day disabled list. ... The Mets have thrown three shutouts this season. ' ' '