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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
BOSTON (AP) -- The Boston Celtics played like a team fighting a
playoff spot.
"I think we're a better team than them" said Celtics forward
Paul Pierce, who had 21 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists in
the Celtics 104-72 victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday
night.
"We were just trying to dominate them and we kept our focus.
This is what we're supposed to do. We're fighting for our playoff
lives."
Antoine Walker scored a game-high 24 points and had eight
assists as the Celtics remained one game behind the Indiana Pacers
in the hunt for the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Pacers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 99-84 on Friday night.
"Antoine and Paul had workmanlike games tonight. It was a very
big victory for us," Celtics coach Jim O'Brien said. "We
played 11 straight games prior to Washington against teams that had
over .500 records."
Boston had lost its last two games -- both at home -- after
winning seven in a row at home, their longest streak since the
FleetCenter opened in 1995.
Pierce scored 19 points and Walker 16 as the Celtics built a
58-38 lead by halftime. The Celtics face the Philadelphia 76ers at
home Sunday, before embarking on a three-game road trip. Boston is
9-20 on the road this season.
Vitaly Potapenko added 11 points and nine rebounds for Boston.
Washington closed to 15 points, 71-56, in the third quarter.
But Eric Williams hit a 3-pointer and extended the Celtics' lead
back to 18 points.
The closest the Wizards came was 30-25, following Richard
Hamilton's 3-pointer at the 8:48 in the second quarter. The Celtics
outscored the Wizards 28-13 the rest of the way, including a 9-0
run, highlighted by Pierce's six points.
"We just had an awful shooting night. They just seemed to be
knocking them down. We had the same looks on the other end, but
they just didn't fall for us," said Wizards guard Richard
Hamilton, who led the team in scoring with 12 points.
Christian Laettner added 11 points for the Wizards, losers of
seven of their past eight.
The Wizards, whose only inter-division victory in 19 tries this
season came against Boston on Nov. 18, trailed 12-2 early. Walker
scored eight points in the run -- and 11 in the first quarter -- punctuated by two 3-pointers.
The Wizards fell to 1-3 since waiving Rod Strickland on March 1.
With starting point guard Chris Whitney on the injured list with a
sprained left knee, shooting guard Hubert Davis played the majority
of the game at point guard. Mitch Richmond led the Wizards with
seven assists, but was 1-for-13 from the field.
Game notes
After a season-high five-game winning streak in late
January, the Wizards have won two of their last 15 games. ... In
their previous two meetings, the teams shot better than 50 percent
from the field. On Friday, the Celtics shot 46 percent, the Wizards
28. ... After going scoreless in the last game, Celtic starters
Randy Brown, Mark Blount, and Bryant Stith combined for 19 points.
... The loudest applause of the night was for Celtics legend Bill
Russell, who left the FleetCenter with three minutes remaining and
the Celtics leading 99-68.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Washington Clubhouse
Boston Clubhouse
RECAPS
Indiana 99
Cleveland 84
Philadelphia 108
Atlanta 103
Boston 104
Washington 72
Miami 86
Minnesota 79
New Jersey 96
New York 83
Detroit 108
Chicago 75
Dallas 102
Golden State 73
Utah 107
Phoenix 95
Toronto 110
Seattle 99
Vancouver 95
Portland 85
San Antonio 93
LA Lakers 89
Sacramento 110
Denver 104
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