Boston Celtics Team Report - November 12

(Basketball News) - Vin Baker’s jumper in the lane with 20.8 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter lifted the Boston Celtics past the Indiana Pacers, 78-76, on Tuesday at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Paul Pierce collected 19 points, nine assists and six rebounds for Boston, which has won two in a row after a three-game skid.

Baker had 12 points and Mike James and Tony Battie each chipped in 11 for the Celtics, who rallied from a 15-point, first-half deficit.

Boston scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter to grab a 68-62 lead. James’ three-pointer with 8:01 left culminated the run.

Indiana then broke a 9 1/2-minute field goal drought on its next possession, as Jeff Foster converted a layup. The Pacers would go on to score the next six points as well to regain the advantage at 70-68 with 3:55 remaining.

The teams then went back-and-forth and Pierce’s free throw with 54.9 seconds left gave Boston a 75-74 edge.

Jermaine O’Neal then scored inside on a second effort to put Indiana in front with 37.1 seconds remaining.

On the next possession for the Celtics, Baker drove to the lane and hit the fade-away jumper to make it 77-76 in favor of Boston.

O’Neal then missed a turnaround jumper and the Celtics got the rebound. James was finally fouled with just 7/10ths of a second left. He made the first attempt from the line and missed the second intentionally to kill off the remaining time.

The Celtics host the Chicago Bulls tonight.