Toronto Raptors’ guard Jose Calderon (left) drives on Dallas Mavericks’ guard Jason Kidd during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Dallas, Texas, yesterday. RIGHT: New Jersey Nets’ forward Sean Williams loses the rebound as forward Eduardo Najera (14) collides with him in their game against the Boston Celtics in East Rutherford, New Jersey, yesterday.

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey: The Boston Celtics bounced back from their first loss of the season to record an 86-76 victory over the winless New Jersey Nets yesterday.

Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo each scored 16 points as the Celtics broke open a close game by outscoring the Nets (0-7) 27-15 in the fourth quarter.

“I thought we were just standing around a lot,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers told reporters. “It’s funny the best movement we had all game was the last five minutes of the game.”

The Celtics (7-1) had won six consecutive games to start the season before losing on Friday to the Phoenix Suns.

Brook Lopez scored 23 points and Rafer Alston 20 to keep short-handed New Jersey in the game.

Boston, who had a poor night shooting, trailed 61-59 after three quarters — which Pierce attributed to fatigue — before they outscored New Jersey 7-3 in the opening minutes of the fourth.

“I think maybe it’s starting to show,” the Boston forward said. “We knew this was going to be a tough stretch, eight games in 12 days, but we were able to get through it 6-1, so we’re happy with that.”

New Jersey, because of injuries and illness, used only eight players.

“With so many guys out, lots of guys are having to play in different spots and positions, so sometimes you don’t know where to move because you’re not used to playing that position,” Alston said.

The Nets committed 23 turnovers and the Celtics made 20 steals, five by Rondo, in defeating New Jersey for the 10th consecutive time.

“I’ve never seen a team have 20 steals,” said Nets coach Lawrence Frank, who praised the resolve of his team despite its shortcomings. “Our guys are battling ... and we will break through, we’re not discouraged.”

Germany’s Dirk Nowitzki scored a game-high 29 points as the Dallas Mavericks romped past Toronto 129-101 yesterday.

Nowitzki added nine rebounds and dished out four assists. Jason Terry and Shawn Marion scored 19 and 18 points for Dallas, who have won four of their past five games.

Josh Howard added 16 points, and James Singleton came off the bench to score 10 points for Dallas at the American Airlines Center arena.

Chris Bosh led Toronto with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Andrea Bargnani scored 22 points, while Jose Calderon had 13 and seven assists in the loss.

Dallas broke the game open by scoring 10 unanswered points early in the third quarter to take a 70-52 lead.