NBA Game Summary - Denver at Boston

Boston, MA (Basketball News) - Paul Pierce scored 36 points, including the final six points for the Celtics, to lead Boston to a 106-101 win over the Denver Nuggets at TD Banknorth Garden.

Wally Szczerbiak added 18 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Celtics, who have won three of four.

Carmello Anthony scored 26 of his 36 points in the first half for the Nuggets, who had a four-game winning streak halted. He hit his first 11 baskets of the game, but went just 3-of-9 from the floor over the final 24 minutes as Denver lost to Boston for the first time since March 17, 2004.

The game was tight throughout and Ryan Gomes’ free throw with 3:46 left tied the game at 100-100.

Then, after the team swapped failed possessions, it was Pierce’s dunk with 2:43 left that gave the Celtics the lead for good, 102-100.

Kenyon Martin hit just 1-of-2 free throws on Denver’s next possession and Pierce hit a jumper with 54 seconds left to increase the lead to three points.

Anthony missed a layup attempt for Denver next time down the floor and Pierce hit a long jumper to ice the contest with 11.4 seconds remaining.

Andre Miller ended with 19 points and Ruben Patterson had 14 points for the Nuggets, who led 30-29 after one quarter and 58-56 at halftime.

Delonte West had 12 points and Gomes had 11 points and 11 boards for the Celtics, who tied the game at 86-86 going into the fourth.

Anthony, whose Syracuse Orange won the Big East title on Saturday night for a second straight year, missed just one first-half shot — a desperation half court heave at the buzzer.