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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Antoine Walker celebrated a bit early, but
the Boston Celtics still got the win.
|  | | Antoine Walker clears Arvydas Sabonis with the left-arm sweep during his 28-point effort Saturday. |
Walker scored 28 points, including a crucial 3-pointer with 2:58
left that he celebrated with a strutting dance, as the Celtics held
off the Portland Trail Blazers for a surprising 85-81 victory
Saturday night.
The Celtics moved a full game into the eighth playoff position
in the East, and have now won nine of their last 11 games, and 12
of 18 since coach Rick Pitino's resignation.
"That was a dagger, man," said Portland's Greg Anthony. "It's
a big shot. Everybody goes through whatever little ordeal they have
to when they make big plays like that. And that was a big play."
Rasheed Wallace scored 23 points for the Blazers, who scored
four quick points after Walker danced upcourt celebrating the deep
3-pointer that gave Boston an 82-75 lead with 2:58 left.
"That last 3 felt good, and put us up by 7, but they still came
back," Walker said. "That dance was something I made up at the
end."
Detlef Schrempf hit a jumper and Wallace, who guarded Walker
much of the game, forced a turnover that led to a fastbreak
alley-oop from Damon Stoudamire to Bonzi Wells that cut the lead to
82-81.
But after the teams traded misses and the Blazers were called
for an illegal defense, Paul Pierce hit a jump shot with 35.3
seconds left that increased Boston's lead to 84-81.
"I struggled tonight, but that's a shot I've taken all
season," Pierce said. "I want to take shots when it matters."
Portland took a timeout, but Boston's defense came through and
Damon Stoudamire's layup wasn't even close.
Milt Palacio grabbed the rebound and the Blazers were forced to
foul. Pierce inbounded to Kenny Anderson, who went to the line and
hit the first of two free throws to put the Celtics up 85-81.
Stoudamire dribbled up court and passed to Wallace, who missed a
3-pointer, and Pierce grabbed the rebound to seal the win.
"This is a huge win for us," Pierce said. "Portland is the
best team in the NBA. This is a major confidence booster for us."
Boston has been showing confidence of late, surging to 24-28 -- a
game ahead of the Indiana Pacers in the East playoff race.
"Our guys have played solid basketball and beat good teams on
the road," Boston coach Jim O'Brien said. "We wanted to be in it
with six minutes to play, and then put in Paul's and Antoine's
hands."
After Pierce hit a fadeaway jumper and Walker hit a 3-pointer,
Portland tied the game at 50 as Arvydas Sabonis had two slam dunks
and Wallace a layup.
Walker, who was 7-of-12 from beyond the arc, hit another
3-pointer and Vitaly Potapenko banked in a hook shot to give the
Celtics a 55-52 lead with 8:16 left in the third quarter.
Portland then took its first lead of the game when Stoudamire's
leaning jump shot with 2:58 left in the quarter put the Blazers up
56-54.
But Mark Blount was fouled just 41 seconds later, and his free
throws gave Boston a 57-56 lead. Palacio then drove for an easy
layup and stole a pass from Steve Smith for a fastbreak layup that
put the Celtics up 61-56.
"We knew they were playing well coming in, but we gave them way
too many good looks, especially Antoine Walker," Portland coach
Mike Dunleavy said. "We were soft on defense. They got baskets
early and got us into foul trouble. They were the aggressor and we
were scrambling most of the night in foul trouble."
Game notes
Boston went to the free throw line 24 times, while the
Blazers shot just 14 and were whistled for 26 fouls to the Celtics'
15. ... Portland has only one regular-season game against an
Eastern Conference team left. The Blazers host New York March 30.
... The Celtics' last win in Portland was March 21, 1993, when they
pulled out a 106-104 victory. ... Walker has scored 27 or more in
five of the last six games.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Boston Clubhouse
Portland Clubhouse
RECAPS
Chicago 89
Miami 82
Dallas 112
Washington 105
Houston 92
Cleveland 80
Charlotte 103
Milwaukee 93
Boston 85
Portland 81
Atlanta 101
Seattle 94
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