5 February 2010 / REUTERS, BOSTON
The Boston Celtics overcame the absence of leading scorer Paul Pierce to pull away from the Miami Heat in the fourth quarter for a 107-102 victory on Wednesday.
Pierce missed the game with a strained left foot he suffered on Monday but the Celtics were able to call on Rajon Rondo’s 22 points and 14 assists while Eddie House added 16 off the bench as the home side added 33 in the final quarter. House scored five successive points late in the game after the Heat had pulled within two and Boston (31-16) made 12 free throws in the last two minutes to seal the contest. Other NBA results: Atlanta 103, LA Clippers 97; Toronto 108, New Jersey 99; Philadelphia 106, Chicago 103, OT; New York 107, Washington 85; Oklahoma City 103, New Orleans 99; Dallas 110, Golden State 101; Utah 118, Portland 105; San Antonio 115, Sacramento 113; LA Lakers 99, Charlotte 97; and Phoenix 109, Denver 97.
