* Celtics win without Rondo, Allen
* Magic are sixth in East race
(adds quotes)
April 18 (Reuters) – Paul Pierce nailed a vital jump shot in
the closing seconds to ensure the Boston Celtics clinched the
Atlantic Division title with a 102-98 win over the Orlando Magic
on Wednesday.
Pierce made up for the absence of injured All-Star point
guard Rajon Rondo by dishing out 14 assists, but his pull-up
jumper with seven seconds remaining to give the Celtics a
four-point lead was probably his most telling contribution.
Pierce added two free throws for the game’s final points, to
finish with a game-high 29, as Boston (37-26) wrapped up the
division and secured at least the fourth seed in the Eastern
Conference.
The New York Knicks, 3 1/2 games behind with four to play,
could catch the Celtics in the standings but Boston would still
win the tie-breaker between the teams.
â??”I’m not about to go pop some champagne bottles or anything
like that,” Pierce told reporters. “â??I mean, it’s a good
accomplishment but all we care about around here is a
championship banner.”
Orlando (36-26), sixth in the East, trailed by 13 with about
seven minutes to go but cut the deficit to 98-96 on a Glen Davis
breakaway dunk with 31 seconds left.
Davis finished with 27 points and Jameer Nelson added 21 for
Orlando, who were without the struggling Dwight Howard as he sat
out the game with an ailing back.
Rondo missed the game after falling hard on his back during
Tuesday’s loss to New York. Boston is also without sharpshooter,
Ray Allen who is resting a sore ankle.
Pierce, who erupted for 43 points one night earlier against
the Knicks, carried the load and the Celtics also got 23 points
from Avery Bradley along with 21 from Brandon Bass.
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by John
O’Brien)
