Boston ? The Boston Celtics shot poorly, rebounded poorly and squandered a fourth-quarter lead  yet they were good enough to beat the Golden State Warriors.

Paul Pierce scored four points in the last nine seconds and finished with 33 points, leading the Celtics to a 102-99 victory on Wednesday night.

Antoine Walker added 22 points for Celtics, who improved to 41-31, their finest record after 72 games in 10 years.

The Warriors rallied from an eight-point deficit in the last 1:24 and took a 99-98 lead when Gilbert Arenas made a 3-pointer with 15.1 seconds remaining.

Pierce scored on a driving layup on the Celtics’ next possession. He then made a steal, was fouled and converted two free throws with 1.9 seconds left to seal the victory.

“It was the same play we beat Miami with,” Pierce said. “In fact, we call the play ‘Miami’.”

Earlier, Pierce was awarded the 2002 Home Team Community Service Award prior to the game, becoming the first Boston player honored by the Fannie Mae Foundation and the NBA for his work in helping rehabilitate homes in the inner city.

Suns 118, Lakers 106

Phoenix  Shawn Marion scored 32 points and matched his season high with 18 rebounds as Phoenix used its biggest scoring game of the season to beat Los Angeles. Stephon Marbury had 26 points and 11 assists for the Suns, who have won three straight games for the first time since Dec. 29. Jake Tsakilidis added 19 points and 10 rebounds. Shaquille O’Neal had 24 points and 11 rebounds, but was just 4-for-15 from the foul line as the Lakers (50-21) fell a game behind Sacramento for the best record in the NBA. Kobe Bryant scored 36, including 18 free throws  most by anyone in the NBA this season  in 20 attempts.

Hornets 111, Magic 104

Charlotte, N.C. Â Jamaal Magloire scored 21 points and Jamal Mashburn added 20 as Charlotte extended its winning streak to seven games. Magloire, filling in for injured starting center Elden Campbell, shot 8-for-11 from the field and finished one point short of his career high. Mashburn, who added nine rebounds and eight assists, made a 3-pointer in the final minute to help seal the victory. Tracy McGrady and Troy Hudson each scored 25 points to lead the Magic.

Knicks 89, Pistons 82

Auburn Hills, Mich. Â Lavor Postell scored a career-high 20 points in 22 minutes to lead New York. Kurt Thomas added 18 points and Latrell Sprewell scored 17 for the Knicks, who snapped a three-game losing streak. New York was without Allan Houston and Othella Harrington, who were sidelined with ankle sprains.

Raptors 81, Heat 80

Toronto  Morris Peterson scored 21 points, including a game-winning layup with 8.4 seconds left, to rally Toronto. Antonio Davis added 19 points, and Jerome Williams had 18 for the Raptors, who have won three straight since Vince Carter opted to have surgery on his left knee. Rod Strickland had 24 points for the Heat, who have lost four straight to fall to 11th place in the East, four games back of Indiana.

Nets 88, 76ers 80

Philadelphia  Richard Jefferson scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half, leading New Jersey. Jefferson, a rookie making his eighth start, played in place of Kenyon Martin, who completed a two-game suspension. The Sixers slipped to 1-9 this season without Allen Iverson, who likely will miss the remainder of the regular season with a broken left hand.

SuperSonics 96, Grizzlies 82

Seattle  Gary Payton overcame a severe back strain to score 32 points to spark Seattle. Rashard Lewis added 12 points and eight rebounds for the Sonics, before leaving early in the third quarter with a sprained left ankle. Brent Barry added 17 points and nine assists, and Desmond Mason had 14 points. Jason Williams led Memphis with 26 points, but he scored just two points in the second half.

Trail Blazers 98, Spurs 93

Portland, Ore. Â Bonzi Wells scored 24 points and started a late run with a 3-pointer as Portland snapped the Spurs’ 13-game winning streak. Dale Davis added 19 points for the Blazers, who played the final three quarters without leading scorer Rasheed Wallace, who left with a sore lower back.