Boston Celtics Team Report - November 11

(Basketball News) - Paul Pierce nailed a jumper at the buzzer to give the Boston Celtics a 90-88 victory over Portland at the FleetCenter.

Pierce, who scored 20 points, hit the step-back jump shot moments after he was poked in the eye by Portland rookie Sebastian Telfair while fighting for a rebound at the other end.

The All-Star got the shot off over the hand of Ruben Patterson with a half- second left on the clock, and then leaped onto the scorer’s table to celebrate.

Raef LaFrentz added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics, who won their second straight game despite blowing a 20-point lead. Gary Payton chipped in 15 points in the win, and passed the career 20,000-point mark in the fourth quarter.

The Trail Blazers took their first lead of the game inside the 9:00 mark of the fourth quarter when Patterson’s bucket made it 74-73. They led until Payton drained a three-pointer with five minutes left to put him over the 20,000-points plateau and give Boston an 80-79 lead.

Later in the quarter, with the score tied at 87, LaFrentz went 1-for-2 at the free throw line to give the Celtics a one-point lead. Payton was rejected moments later by Theo Ratliff, and Zach Randolph made one of his two free throws at the other end to tie the game again with 19.1 seconds left.

Pierce ended it moments later, giving the Celtics their first home victory over Portland since March 1, 1998.

Boston returns to action on Friday when they host the expansion Charlotte Bobcats.