NBA Game Summary - Washington at Boston

Boston, MA (Basketball News) - Paul Pierce scored 20 points and Raef LaFrentz added 19 to lead Boston to a 105-101 win over Washington at the Banknorth Garden.

Ricky Davis, Al Jefferson and Tony Allen all netted 12 points for the Celtics, who have won seven of eight games since acquiring Antoine Walker just prior to the trading deadline. Boston’s recent surge has it a season-best four games ahead of Philadelphia in the Atlantic Division.

Walker ended with 11 points and 12 boards.

Larry Hughes had a game-high 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the slumping Wizards, who have dropped three of their last four contests. Gilbert Arenas contributed 25 points and Jared Jeffries added 13 points and 16 boards in the loss.

The Celtics trailed 77-68 after three quarters, but rallied in the fourth.

Jefferson’s basket with around 8 1/2 minutes remaining cut the deficit to 82-80 and Allen then tied the game moments later with a three-pointer. Davis eventually gave Boston an 89-87 edge with two free throws with just under seven minutes left and the Celtics continued to add to their lead as Marcus Banks’ jumper with 5:08 left gave them a 95-90 advantage.

The Wizards, though, battled back and tied the score at 97-97 on two Arenas free throws with 3:02 remaining and the game stayed tight until the end.

Washington grabbed a 101-99 lead on Hughes’ bucket with around one minute left, but Boston countered in the waning seconds.

Davis was fouled on a layup attempt and converted the subsequent free throw to put the Celtics ahead 102-101 with 21.1 seconds remaining. After Hughes turned the ball over, Allen was fouled and made both free throws to extend the lead to three points.

Hughes then missed a three-pointer in the final seconds and Gary Payton hit one free throw to cap the scoring.

Boston trailed 21-20 after one quarter, but held a slim 53-50 edge after a competitive first half.

Washington trailed 65-63 early in the third before it reeled off 12 straight points, keyed by four each from Brendan Haywood and Hughes, to claim a 10- point edge. Haywood’s tip-in with 1:28 left in the quarter gave the Wizards a 75-65 lead and Washington eventually carried a 77-68 cushion into the final frame.