Jefferson, Celtics down Nets in OT

Mar 3, 2007, 21:15 GMT

East Rutherford, NJ - Al Jefferson poured in a season-high 32 points to lead the Boston Celtics to a 96-88 overtime victory over the New Jersey Nets at Continental Airlines Arena.

Paul Pierce added 17 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Celtics, who have won three straight. Delonte West contributed 15 points and six assists in the victory.

'We played solid defense most of the game and we rebounded the ball well,' said Pierce. 'We never got discouraged and hung our heads.'

Vince Carter netted 25 points and 10 boards for New Jersey, which was aiming for its fourth straight victory. Eddie House came off the bench to score 14 points in the loss.

With the score knotted at 88-88 in the extra session, Pierce hit a fade-away jumper with 1:09 to play to put the Celtics in front. Boston then stopped the Nets at the other end and Pierce rose to the occasion once again, drilling a 15-foot jumper to give the Celtics a four-point edge with 41.2 ticks to go.

Carter then missed a jump shot in the lane for the Nets and Boston sealed the victory by hitting its free throws down the stretch.

After three quarters of play, New Jersey held a three-point advantage. The Nets then opened the final frame on a 7-2 surge to take a 60-52 lead.

New Jersey increased its lead to 10 points at 65-55 after Marcus Williams converted a three-point play with about 8 1/2 minutes remaining in the contest.

The Nets continued to lead by double digits until a three-pointer by House extended their lead to 11 at 76-65 with just under four minutes to play.

The Celtics fought back and pulled to within five points at 80-75 after Jefferson and West hit back-to-back jumpers with 45 ticks remaining.

West then grabbed a defensive rebound at the other end and drove all the way into the lane, scooping in two points over Jason Kidd to make it a three-point game with 19.2 seconds left.

Carter then hit two from the charity stripe but Pierce answered with a trey to make it 82-80 with 11 seconds left. Boston then put House on the line and he made only 1-of-2 from the line.

West then sent the game into overtime, drilling a three-pointer off the right wing to even the score at 83-83.

'It was great composure on our part to get that bucket,' said West.

After the opening quarter, the Nets led 20-15 behind eight points from Carter and six from Mikki Moore.

New Jersey outscored the Celtics by two points in the second stanza to take a 36-33 advantage into halftime.

Game Notes

The Celtics won for just the second time in their last six trips to the Meadowlands...The season series between the teams wrapped up with each squad winning two games...Ryan Gomes had 11 points and seven rebounds for the Celtics...Kidd ended with just four points, six assists and six rebounds.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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