NBA Game Summary - Toronto at Boston

03.22.2006

Boston, MA (Basketball News) - Paul Pierce scored 32 points and pulled down eight rebounds as Boston defeated Toronto, 110-96, at TD Banknorth Garden.

Delonte West scored 21 points, grabbed six boards and dished out five assists for the Celtics, who remain four games behind the Sixers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. The Sixers defeated Atlanta earlier in the night.

"We just have to win," said Boston head coach Doc Rivers. "Bottom line, every game is a must-win for us, when you look at the percentages, being down four games with 13 to play."

Wally Szczerbiak tallied 19 points, while Tony Allen contributed 11 off the bench.

Mike James led the Raptors with 31 points. Chris Bosh scored 24 points, pulled down 11 boards and dished out a career-high eight assists. Morris Peterson and Matt Bonner each added 10 points for Toronto, which saw its modest two- game winning streak come to an end.

Holding on to a six point lead, 93-87, with less than six minutes remaining in the game, Boston pulled away from Toronto with a 13-4 run over a four minute span that gave them a 15 point lead, 106-91, with 1:27 remaining in the contest. West and Pierce drained a treys to ignite the spurt for the Celtics, and the Raptors had no answer.

"We hung around but couldn’t get the stops we needed," said Toronto head coach Sam Mitchell. "They made some shots but we didn’t make some shots and we missed a lot of easy shots.

After outscoring Toronto 30-27 in the first quarter, Boston went on a brief 8-0 run right before halftime, and held a nine point advantage at the break, 61-52.

Led by a combination of James and Bosh, the Raptors outscored the Celtics by five in the third quarter, and trailed by just four heading into the final quarter, 81-77. Aside from a Pape Sow basket, James and Bosh accounted for every Toronto point in the period.

Boston shot 54.7 percent from the field, and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc (9-of-21).

Toronto shot 45.7 percent and just 23.5 percent from three point range (4- of-17).

Sow started at center for Toronto, scoring nine points and grabbing four boards...The Celtics outrebounded the Raptors, 36-33...Toronto has now lost seven straight in Boston...On Friday, Boston will travel to Cleveland, while Toronto will play host to Minnesota...Bostons Al Jefferson did not dress due to a sprained right ankle and is expected to miss at least the next two games.

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