NBA Game Summary - Boston at Washington

04.5.2005

Washington, DC (Basketball News) - Paul Pierce scored 25 points and pulled down eight rebounds to lead the Boston Celtics over the Washington Wizards, 116-108, at the MCI Center.

Raef LaFrentz added 21 for Boston, which won for just the second time in seven games. The Celtics extended their lead over second-place Philadelphia to 3 1/2 games in the Atlantic Division.

Gilbert Arenas tied his career-high with 43 points to lead the Wizards, who lost for just the second time in six games. Antawn Jamison, just activated off the injured list, scored 30 in the loss.

The Wizards remained tied for fourth place in the Eastern Conference with Chicago, which lost to Miami on Tuesday.

Washington trailed throughout the contest, but used a 10-point burst and took its first lead, 92-91, on a driving layup by Jamison with 7 1/2 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

The lead would change hands several times until Ricky Davis hit a pair of free throws with 5:07 to go to give the Celtics a 97-96 edge. Boston, which would not trail again, built the lead to 107-100 with less than three minutes remaining and held on for the eight-point victory.

The Celtics shot 53 percent from the field in the first half and led, 60-51, at the break. The lead remained with Boston throughout the third quarter, growing to 80-67 with 4 1/2 minutes left in the frame.

Pierce scored 13 points in the opening quarter as the Celtics raced out to an early lead. Boston shot 12-of-25 from the field in the first quarter, while the Wizards struggled to a 6-of-23 effort and trailed the Celtics by 14 points after 12 minutes.

Boston’s lead grew to 16 on several occasions in the second quarter, but the Wizards managed to pull within nine at the half.

The Celtics have won three straight in the series...Boston has won seven of its last nine on the road...LaFrentz was 3-of-7 from three-point range...Boston’s Gary Payton had 14 points and 11 assists...Arenas was 21- of-25 from the free throw line and 4-of-10 from beyond the arc.

Post your comment:

No profanity or inaproppriate remarks. All i.p. addresses will be saved and abuse/hate posts will be reported to providers and authorities as part of the anti-spam act of 2003, thank you for posting comments on the articles only.