NBA Game Summary - Boston at Atlanta

01.10.2006

Atlanta, GA (Basketball News) - Paul Pierce poured in 27 points to lead Boston past Atlanta, 98-94, at Philips Arena.

Ricky Davis added 21 points and eight rebounds for the Celtics, who put an end to a three-game losing streak. Delonte West added 15 points, eight boards and seven assists while Mark Blount also scored 15 points in the win.

Zaza Pachulia had 18 points and nine rebounds while Al Harrington contributed 16 points for the Hawks, who failed in their bid to win three straight contests for the first time this season.

Boston trailed by seven points after three quarters and was down 90-82 with 5:21 left in the game before roaring back.

Davis’ long distance shot with 3:58 left made it a three-point contest and Blount’s two free throws with 2:09 remaining then cut the gap to 92-91. Then following a defensive stop, Davis converted a three-point play to put Boston ahead by two points with 1:41 to go.

Atlanta’s Joe Johnson then missed a three-point try and the Celtics took over with a two-point edge. Pierce quickly misfired from behind the arc, but Brian Scalabrine’s putback with 56.5 seconds to go extended the margin to 96-92.

Tyronn Lue then scored for Atlanta and after Pierce’s turnover, the Hawks had a shot to tie or take the lead in the waning seconds. However, Harrington was called for an offensive foul as he drove to the lane with seven seconds left and Boston sealed the victory when Davis hit two foul shots.

The Celtics closed the game with a 16-4 surge, keyed by eight points from Davis.

Atlanta led 32-29 after one quarter and quickly opened the second period on a 16-4 run to pull ahead by 15 points. Josh Childress scored five points during the flurry and Josh Smith’s basket with around 7 1/2 minutes left in the half capped the run and made it 48-33.

The Hawks led by 16 points moments later before eventually holding just a 62-53 advantage at the intermission.

Harrington scored 14 points for Atlanta, which hit on a blistering 58 percent of its shots in the opening half. Pierce netted 19 for the Celtics, who connected on 56 percent of their tries in the opening 24 minutes.

West’s three-pointer with 6 1/2 minutes remaining in the third quarter trimmed the deficit to 70-65 and Boston closed within two points courtesy of West’s basket one minute later.

The Hawks gained some distance, though, towards the end of the period and carried an 81-74 advantage into the final frame.

Johnson had 15 points and seven assists while Childress scored 13 points in the loss...Boston shot 52 percent from the field, while the Hawks made 45 percent of their tries...Atlanta had won the first two meetings between the teams this season...Boston won for only the second time in its last six trips to Philips Arena...The Celtics also put an end to a two-game road losing streak overall and captured just their second contest in their last 10 as the visitor...Boston is 4-13 on the road.

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