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Sunday, Mar. 25 3:00pm ET
Boston tops Chicago, avenges earlier loss

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

BOSTON (AP) – Boston Celtics coach Jim O'Brien might have been in the mood to celebrate Sunday if he hadn't been so exhausted from what should have been an easier game.

"I'm thrilled to be tied," O'Brien said after Boston beat the Chicago 102-98 to pull even with Indiana for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot and avoid what would have been an embarrassing loss to the league's worst team. "But it takes too much energy to smile after a game like that. It's too difficult."

Paul Pierce scored 13 of his 36 points in the last 3 1/2 minutes as Boston pulled away. His performance gives him a whopping 215 points in his last six games, an average of 35.8.

"I have not been on a streak like this that I can remember," said Pierce, who was nominated by the team for NBA player of the week two weeks ago and will be again this week. "I never scored 40 points before joining the Celtics."

With a 31-38 record, Boston is even with the Pacers, who lost 84-82 to Orlando earlier Sunday. Boston and Indiana have 13 games apiece to play, including two head-to-head, having split their first two matchups this season.

"We're locked up again," said Celtics forward Antoine Walker, who had 21 points, seven assists, seven rebounds and four steals. "But we can't get ahead of ourselves and we can't look ahead. I'm sure they're thinking the same way."

The victory also helped Boston avoid a second home loss to the Bulls, who have won just two road games this season – one of them a 104-86 victory in Boston on Dec. 13, Chicago's biggest win since Michael Jordan retired.

"We didn't think it was ripe for the picking," said Bulls forward Elton Brand, who had 20 points and nine rebounds. "We knew that we had to come out with intensity because they're vying for that last playoff spot."

Ron Mercer scored 29 for the Bulls, who beat Charlotte on Friday night for their league-low 12th win of the season. Chicago has won consecutive games just once this season.

Boston led 86-78 before Chicago scored eight consecutive points to tie the score 86-all with 5:08 to play. Pierce stopped the slide by hitting a 3-pointer with Mercer in his face, giving the Celtics the lead for good.

Pierce hit six free throws and a pair of baskets down the stretch to protect the lead for Boston, which has won four of its last five games but only seven of its last 17 as it chases its first playoff berth in six seasons.

Game notes
Brad Miller picked up a technical in the second quarter for complaining about a foul. ... The crowd of 18,624 was Boston's fourth sellout of the year. ... Boston's Vitaly Potapenko had to leave the game briefly in the third quarter with a nosebleed. ... The Bulls' other road victory was at Atlanta on Nov. 30. ... Walker picked up a technical in the fourth for unknown reasons.

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RECAPS
Toronto 102
Vancouver 92

Orlando 84
Indiana 82

Miami 88
San Antonio 83

Milwaukee 105
Atlanta 98

Boston 102
Chicago 98

Minnesota 105
New Jersey 91

LA Lakers 84
Sacramento 72


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