Phoenix — 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 Phoenix, 105-101.
"These are big games for us," said Pierce, a Kansas University product who shot 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 win.
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 straight points at the start of the second half and built its lead to 66-50. Pierce hits two three-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 8-of-9 shots from the field, including two three-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.
Mavericks 103, Timberwolves 83
Dallas Michael Finley led six players in double figures with 22 points as Dallas guaranteed itself a winning record for the first time in 11 years. Dallas won its season-high fifth straight. It was the Mavericks' 42nd win, which guarantees they'll finish the season above. 500. Steve Nash scored 18 points, Howard Eisley 16, Dirk Nowitzki (4, Shawn Bradley 11 and Juwan Howard 10 for the Mavs.
Rockets 108, Nets 106
Houston Cuttino Mobley scored 30 points and Moochie Norris scored three of his 17 points in the final minute as Houston won for the seventh time in nine games. Maurice Taylor scored eight of his 25 points in the final 3:23 for the Rockets.
Knicks 88, Raptors 72
New York Mark Jackson outplayed the constantly booed Chris Childs in the pivotal third quarter to lead the New York Knicks past Toronto 88-72 Thursday night, preventing the Raptors from sweeping the four-game season series. Childs became an instant villain in his first game at Madison Square Garden since being traded to Toronto for Jackson, getting booed every time he touched the ball.
SuperSonics 108, Bucks 102
Milwaukee Gary Payton scored 22 points as Seattle won its third straight game. Rashard Lewis had 21 points, and Emanuel Davis and Patrick Ewing each scored 15 points for the Sonics. Milwaukee was led by Glenn Robinson's 21 points. Tim Thomas and Sam Cassell each scored 20, and Ray Allen had 18. Milwaukee, which lost for the third time in four games, was without Cassell for all but a minute of the fourth quarter after he strained his right hip flexor late in the third period.
Lakers 125, Pistons 119, OT
Auburn Hills, Mich. Kobe Bryant returned from a two-game absence and scored 24 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as Los Angeles rallied from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit. Detroit's Jerry Stackhouse scored 46 points, tying the Palace scoring record. Shaquille O'Neal added 26 points for Los Angeles.
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