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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
PHOENIX (AP) -- Paul Pierce is willing to do whatever it takes to
get the Boston Celtics into the playoffs.
Pierce delivered at the offensive end Thursday night, scoring 42
points as the Celtics beat the Phoenix Suns 105-101.
"These are big games for us," said Pierce, who went 13-for-25
from the field and was perfect on 13 free throws. "I'm feeling
good. I've got to step up as the captain of this team, do whatever
I've got to do. If it's score points, I've got to score points.
"My team was finding me, and I felt that the whole game, every
shot I took would fall in."
Boston led by three points with 21 seconds left before Milt
Palacio hit two free throws and Bryant Stith hit one to seal the
victory.
Antoine Walker added 20 points and Stith had 15 for the Celtics,
who snapped a two-game losing streak and beat Phoenix for the
second time this season.
Jason Kidd scored 31, Shawn Marion 18 and Tony Delk 15 for
Phoenix.
Suns coach Scott Skiles was upset with his team's defensive
effort.
"We let a team that normally shoots 42 percent shoot 50 percent
(actually 49 percent)," Skiles said. "Pierce, I thought that was
pretty much a clinic from a guy who knows how to play."
Defense was the key to the victory, according to Boston coach
Jim O'Brien.
"We turned them over 25 times, which is a big number for us,"
O'Brien said. "As a whole, our team shot the basketball very well
tonight."
Boston scored 13 consecutive points at the start of the second half
and built its lead to 66-50. Pierce hits two 3-pointers in the run
and the Suns missed their first 11 shots of the third quarter.
"We relied too much on the jumper and didn't hit it," Marion
said. "We should have taken it to the hole. It's very
disheartening."
Kidd scored 18 points in the first quarter, hitting eight of nine shots
from the field, including two 3-pointers, as the Suns charged to a
32-26 lead.
Phoenix built its lead to 13 points, 44-31, five minutes into
the second quarter before Boston countered with a 14-point run.
Pierce scored 10 points in the run, which ended with Boston
leading 45-44 with 3:18 left in the first half. Pierce finished the
half with 23 points and the Celtics led 53-50 at intermission.
Game notes
Boston snapped a four-game losing streak in Phoenix. ...
The Suns, who played Wednesday in Portland, are 7-10 in the second
of back-to-back games. ... Phoenix is 15-8 against Eastern
Conference teams. ... Pierce had a four-point play, the first
against Phoenix in three seasons.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Boston Clubhouse
Phoenix Clubhouse
RECAPS
LA Lakers 125
Detroit 119
New York 88
Toronto 72
Seattle 108
Milwaukee 102
Dallas 103
Minnesota 83
Houston 108
New Jersey 106
Boston 105
Phoenix 101
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