Truth can’t set C’s free -- Pierce’s 50 not enough
By Steve Bulpett
Thursday, February 16, 2006 - Updated: 06:27 AM EST
Paul Pierce has chartered a plane to take him to Houston today for All-Star Weekend, and last night he did his best to keep the pilot waiting.
After hitting two free throws with two-tenths of a second left in the fourth quarter to force overtime with the Cavaliers, the Celtics captain drove and completed a three-point play in the last minute of that session to necessitate a second extra session.
But Pierce was on the bench with six fouls — and a career-high 50 points — as the Celtics ultimately succumbed, 113-109, in 58 minutes of forget-me-not basketball that should tide the Greenhearts over until their team resumes play next Tuesday.
“I don’t know what to say,” Celts coach Doc Rivers said. “It was a hell of a game.”
Pierce won the point duel with LeBron James, 50-43, but the Cavs All-Star had a triple double with 12 rebounds and 11 assists. Still, the undermanned and undersized Bostonians made it a night to savor.
“At least we can leave the floor proud of what we were able to do,” said Raef LaFrentz, who played well in the Middle despite foul trouble.
“I can’t be disappointed even with the loss on this one,” Rivers said. “I love this team. I do. They play hard. They’re extremely coachable. They want to do right.”
But with Kendrick Perkins and Al Jefferson still out and Wally Szczerbiak visibly bothered by a sore left knee, the Celts did about as right as they could.
Pierce gave the Celts the first lead in the second OT with a jumper, but Donyell Marshall tied it on a LaFrentz goaltend. Szczerbiak rebounded a Pierce miss and hit a jumper, and the Celts had a chance to go up by more, but Brian Scalabrine missed a jumper.
Drew Gooden then tied the game inside, and, after a Scalabrine turnover, he hit two free throws for a 108-106 Cavs lead with 1:30 left. Pierce made 1-of-2 from the line at 1:14 and fouled out 14 seconds later.
James made it a two-point game again by making just the first of two.
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Paul Pierce drives to the hoop.
(Staff photo by Stuart Cahill) |
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