Memphis, Tenn. ? Paul Pierce is back.

Pierce, who missed Boston’s previous two games because of lower back pain, scored 31 points and grabbed 13 rebounds Monday as the Celtics defeated Memphis 111-110.

“It felt very good,” Pierce said of his back. “It’s not 100 percent, but it’s good.”

Pierce, the former Kansas University standout, had played in 257 straight games before his injury. He connected on 12 of 19 shots from the field as the Celtics won for the third time in four games. The loss snapped a three-game home winning streak for Memphis.

J.R. Bremer helped keep the Celtics ahead in the fourth quarter, when he scored 10 of his 23 points. Bremer was 5-of-6 from behind the three-point line while Pierce was 3-of-5. Antoine Walker added 17 points and 14 rebounds for Boston.

Seven Grizzlies scored finished in double figures, led by Pau Gasol’s 23 points and 17 rebounds. Shane Battier had a season-high 21 points, while Wesley Person added 18.

Memphis center Lorenzen Wright missed his second game due to the death of his 11-month-old daughter, Sierra, on Saturday.

Magic 104, Bulls 89

Chicago — Tracy McGrady scored 26 points, tied his career high with 13 assists and had nine rebounds as Orlando improved to 5-1 since trading for rookies Gordon Giricek and Drew Gooden Feb. 19. Pat Garrity scored 21 points, Giricek 18, Darrell Armstrong 14 and Gooden 13 for the Magic. Jalen Rose led the Bulls with 24.

Shane Battier, right, of Memphis tries to steal the ball from Paul Pierce of Boston during the Celtics' 111-110 victory. Pierce scored 31 points Monday at Memphis, Tenn. The former Kansas University standout had missed the previous two games because of a back injury.

Kings 107, Sixers 99

Sacramento, Calif. — Chris Webber had 29 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, and Sacramento snapped Philadelphia’s season-best nine-game winning streak. Allen Iverson had 35 points, but the Sixers lost for the first time since the All-Star break.

Hornets 111, Clippers 108

Los Angeles — Jamal Mashburn scored 35 points and had 10 assists as New Orleans claimed its seventh straight victory and spoiled Dennis Johnson’s debut as an NBA head coach.

David Wesley scored 23 points to help the Hornets beat the Clippers for the 14th time in their last 18 meetings. P.J. Brown added 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Corey Maggette scored 24 points and was 13-for-13 from the free-throw line for the injury-riddled Clippers.