Paul Pierce clutch in playoffs opener

Brooklyn Nets' Paul Pierce, center, drives to the net against Toronto Raptors Patrick Patterson, left, during the first half of Game 1 of an opening-round NBA basketball playoff series, in Toronto on Saturday, April 19, 2014. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darren Calabrese)

Brooklyn Nets' Paul Pierce, center, drives to the net against Toronto Raptors Patrick Patterson, left, during the first half of Game 1 of an opening-round NBA basketball playoff series, in Toronto on Saturday, April 19, 2014. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darren Calabrese)

For the first 30-plus minutes he spent on the court Saturday at Toronto, it didn’t look like veteran Brooklyn small forward Paul Pierce would play a key role in the outcome of the Eastern Conference first-round playoffs series between the Raptors and Nets.

But when crunch time came around, Pierce instinctively took over, and led Brooklyn to a 94-87 win.

With the Nets holding a slim, one-point lead with less than four minutes to play, Pierce fed Kevin Garnett for his only bucket of the game, then proceeded to tap the fountain of youth and score nine straight Brooklyn points, helping his team amass an eight-point lead with a minute and a half left.

If you squint your eyes enough, it’s like watching a young Paul Pierce in Boston green, instead of Brooklyn black.

Pierce had just six points to his name late in the fourth quarter before taking over in front of a once enthused crowd at Air Canada Centre. NBA.com’s John Schuhmann wrote about how Pierce’s years of playoff experience helped Brooklyn close out a road win to open the best-of-seven series. Here’s what Pierce had to say on the matter:

“You’ve been in those situations a
number of times. I don’t get rattled
in the fourth quarters, down the
stretch of playoff settings. I just
try to stay calm, bring my calmness to
the game, and just try to influence
the rest of the guys.”

“The Truth” isn’t The Guy anymore, now that he’s in his 16th season out of Kansas. But when the Raptors’ defense focused on stopping his Nets teammates, Joe Johnson and Deron Williams, Pierce feasted with a clutch, game-changing run.

“I thought it was part of great
execution. They took away our first
and second option and I was able to
fill in as a third option and make
some plays.”

Pierce and Brooklyn resume their series with Toronto Tuesday night.

Weekend recap: Hinrich only former Jayhawk to lose

Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich, left, shoots against Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat during the second half in Game 1 of an opening-round NBA basketball playoff series in Chicago, Sunday, April 20, 2014. The Wizards won 102-93. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

All but one of the ‘Hawks in the NBA began their postseason with a win this past weekend, when Pierce (15 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) and Chicago’s Kirk Hinrich (16 points, 2 assists) stood out with the best individual performances.

Despite a productive night for the Bulls veteran guard (7-for-16, shot chart below), Hinrich was the odd man out among KU products, as Chicago fell, 102-93, to the Wizards Sunday night.

Chicago's Kirk Hinrich hit 7 of his 16 shots in Game 1 against Washington — a 102-93 Wizards victory.

Drew Gooden only played three minutes for Washington and didn’t take a shot, but his team prevailed at Chicago. Mario Chalmers had seven points in Miami’s win against Charlotte, Thomas Robinson scored three in an overtime Portland victory at Houston and Nick Collison had three points and five rebounds in Oklahoma City’s Saturday win against Memphis.

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