Opening salvo

But all that was forgotten as the Celtics took a 95-89 victory over the Cavaliers, their first on Lake Erie shores since 2004.

Though the Celtics, who play host to Charlotte in their home opener tonight, got off to a slow start, this was a decisive victory and confirmation of the team’s improvement.

“Psychologically, you go into another team’s building, especially a team with such a great record last year [39-2] at home,’’ Paul Pierce (23 points) said, “and a place we haven’t won in a few years. It’s great, psychologically, to go in here and get a win, so we know next time we come in here we know we’ve done it and we’re capable of doing it again.’’

Both teams made bold offseason acquisitions.

The addition of reserves Marquis Daniels, Rasheed Wallace, and Shelden Williams paid off for the Celtics right away. But the Cavaliers are still adjusting to newcomers Jamario Moon, Shaquille O’Neal, and Anthony Parker, and they had no adequate replacement for Delonte West, who was on the inactive list.

“The second unit saved the game for us,’’ coach Doc Rivers said. “And then the first unit down the stretch won the game for us.

“Big win for us. Like I said before the game, big game - we really needed to win in this building. Now the game’s over, and it’s just one of 82. It tells us that we can win anywhere and it also tells us we can get better.’’

The Cavaliers took a 13-2 lead, Kevin Garnett scoring the only Celtic points in his first appearance since March, before Rivers called a timeout. Cleveland stretched the advantage to 17-4 before the Celtics recovered.

Wallace made his Celtic debut with 4:54 remaining in the first, the Celtics trailing, 21-12. A Wallace three, a Daniels banker, and two Williams foul shots cut the deficit to 7. Then Daniels stripped LeBron James just before the buzzer, preventing the Cavaliers from taking the final shot of the quarter.

Though the Celtics trailed, 28-21, after a quarter, they did not seem out of contention - as they did in the early-going of 98-83 and 107-76 losses to the Cavaliers last year.