Boston Celtics coach Jim O'Brien might have been in the mood to celebrate on 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 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 312 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 Sunday. Boston and Indiana have 13 games apiece to play, including two head-to-head matchups.
"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 helped Boston avoid a second home loss to the Bulls, who have won just two road games this season.
Ron Mercer scored 29 for the Bulls, who beat Charlotte on Friday night for their league-low 12th win of the season.
Chicago scored eight consecutive points to tie the score 86-all with 5:08 to play. Pierce stopped the slide by hitting a three-pointer. Pierce hit six free throws and a pair of baskets down the stretch to protect the lead for Boston.
Raptors 102, Grizzlies 92
Toronto Vince Carter scored 24 points as Toronto beat Vancouver, sending the Grizzlies to their ninth straight loss in what might be the final meeting between the Canadian teams. Vancouver owner Michael Heisley has until today to inform the NBA where he wants to move the team. Memphis, Tenn., is the front-runner, with Louisville, Ky., New Orleans and Anaheim, Calif., also possibilities. Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 26 points for the Grizzlies.
Heat 88, Spurs 83
Miami Tim Hardaway scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half as Miami won its fourth straight game. Hardaway's three-pointer with 20.7 seconds left gave Miami an 86-81 lead. The Heat point guard, who was 5-for-8 from three-point range, sealed the victory with a pair of free throws with 10.3 seconds left.
Tim Duncan had 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Spurs, whose three-game winning streak ended. San Antonio, 26-6 since late January, has won nine of 11. David Robinson added 18 points for San Antonio, which failed to top 90 points for the first time in 14 games.
Magic 84, Pacers 82
Orlando, Fla. Orlando's Tracy McGrady had 28 points and eight rebounds, and Indiana's Reggie Miller missed a three-pointer with 7.3 seconds left. Orlando and Indiana have split four meetings this season with the home team winning each game.
Jermaine O'Neal had 26 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots for Indiana. Jalen Rose had 13 points and Miller 11 but they were a combined 8-of-34 from the field.
Bucks 105, Hawks 98
Milwaukee Ray Allen had 25 points and 11 rebounds, and Sam Cassell added 22 points and 11 assists as Milwaukee rallied to win its fifth straight. The Bucks, who trailed by 17 points with about four minutes left in the third, increased their lead to 412 games over Charlotte in the Central Division. Tim Thomas scored 17 points for the Bucks, who made 24 of 27 free throws. Atlanta's Toni Kukoc scored a season-high 31 points.
Timberwolves 105,
Nets 91
Minneapolis Terrell Brandon scored a career-high 34 points against Stephon Marbury, the player he replaced as Minnesota's point guard. Marbury scored 32 against his former team.
Lakers 84, Kings 72
Sacramento, Calif. Shaquille O'Neal had 23 points and 15 rebounds as Los Angeles scored 18 straight points in the fourth quarter and moved into a tie with Sacramento atop the Pacific Division. Rick Fox had 17 points and Brian Shaw added 14 for the Lakers, who were without the injured Kobe Bryant.
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