Paul Pierce scored a season-high 28 points as the Washington Wizards (14-7) defeated the
visiting Boston Celtics (7-12) 133-132 in double overtime on Monday night. Playing
against his former team of 15 seasons, Pierce shot a remarkably efficient 9-for-12
from the field, making four of his five three-point attempts and sinking all
six of his free throws. Pierce hit a free throw with 3:33 remaining in the
second quarter to leapfrog him past Reggie Miller for 16th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Just 13 days after hurdling Jerry West on the all-time list,
“The Truth” was able to move a step closer to the top-10 in the win. Pierce has
logged 25,300 points in his storied career, not too far behind Alex English
(25,613), who is currently sitting in the No. 15 spot in points scored in NBA history.
Paul Pierce was profanely pumping up Gortat, when Wall told him to look at the scoreboard to see that he had passed Reggie Miller
— Rashad Mobley (@rashad20) December 9, 2014
Paul Pierce - 25,282 points.
He passes Reggie Miller for 16th.
24,021 of them as a Celtic.
541 against Reggie Miller and the Pacers.
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) December 9, 2014
Let @paulpierce34 hear it this second half Wiz fans! #TheTruth #dcRising #WizCeltics pic.twitter.com/8SMdgDBojq
— Monumental Network (@MonumentalNtwrk) December 9, 2014
Big night for #TheTruth. @paulpierce34 passed @ReggieMillerTNT for 16th on the all-time scoring list pic.twitter.com/Ei6T54GubX
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 9, 2014
From one Cali guy to another, Congrats @paulpierce34, keep moving on up that scoring list my friend! #Riverside #Inglewood
— Reggie Miller (@ReggieMillerTNT) December 9, 2014
The Wizards won despite
relinquishing a 23-point third quarter lead. They got outscored 34-18 in the
fourth quarter. The Celtics' Evan Turner provided the crowd—largely made up of Boston fans, many of which were donning Pierce’s Celtic jersey—bonus basketball
after nailing a three-pointer from the right corner with 0.6 seconds on the
clock of regulation.
The Celtics scored nine of the first
11 points of the first overtime before the Wizards made a furious rally capped
by a Pierce three-pointer with 38.9 seconds left that pushed the game to another five-minute period.
John Wall took over in the second
overtime session. Wall—who posted 26 points and dished out a career-best 17
assists—scored Washington’s final 10 points in the victory. The fifth-year
point guard, who set a franchise-record with his fifth straight game with 12 or
more assists, converted an and-one layup with 44 seconds remaining. The Celtics
had one last chance, but Turner misfired on a jumper in the final seconds.
Turner had his best game as a Celtic—knocking
down the clutch trey to force overtime in a contest in which he totaled 18
points, eight assists and six rebounds. Jeff Green matched his counterpart
Pierce with 28 points, while Kelly Olynyk finished with 19 points and 11
rebounds.
The Celtics made their furious rally
with rookie Marcus Smart steering the point guard duties. Smart scored a
career-high 23 points on 7-for-14 shooting (including 4-of-8 from downtown) to go with five rebounds and four assists. Rajon Rondo, who was held scoreless with
four assists in just 21 minutes of action, was taken out with 5:21 left in the
third quarter and didn’t appear in the contest again.
The nail-biting victory for the
Wizards comes a day after losing to the Celtics in a Sunday matinee matchup at
the TD Garden.
