Celtics Say Farewell To Paul Pierce, Edge Clippers 107-102

The Boston Celtics won their seventh consecutive game Sunday afternoon, although one of the most memorable shots of the game was scored by a Los Angeles Clippers star who used to play for Boston: Paul Pierce.

PAUL PIERCE FAREWELL

The TD Garden crowd loved both – the Celtics and Pierce – and seemed unsure about who to cheer more for.

Isaiah Thomas somewhat stole the spotlight from Pierce by recording 28 points to lead the Celtics to a 107-102 home win in Pierce’s final game in the Garden.

Thomas backed off Pierce in the final seconds, however, to let the 39-year-old 2008 NBA Finals MVP sink one more basket in the arena he called home for 15 seasons.

”I wanted him to shoot and make it,” Thomas said. ”That would have been the perfect way to go out. He did it the right way.”

The game also marked Pierce’s first appearance for the Clippers since New Year’s Eve, and he played the first five minutes before heading to the bench.

“I’m happy to be able to get one last shot,” Pierce said after coming off the Clippers bench with 19 seconds left and sinking a 3-pointer– his only points of the game– with 11 seconds remaining in Boston’s 107-102 victory. “I’m thankful to step on the court, get one last shot, bury it, give the fans some wave to the crowd, kiss Lucky (the leprechaun logo at mid-court), I’m happy, I’m satisfied. I feel I can put it all to rest now.”

The crowd chanted Pierce’s name in the final minutes, egged on by the Celtics’ cheerleaders and even Thomas. Pierce’s coach, former Celtics head man Doc Rivers, planned to put him back in at the end, but the Clippers turned a thrashing into a close game.

Before the game, Rivers relayed a special message to the Clippers.

”When you finish your career, remember what’s going to happen in five minutes,” Rivers recalled telling them. ”All of you aren’t going to be Hall of Famers, but just remember that when you finish your career, you’re empty and you can walk away with no regrets. That’s what Paul’s doing tonight.”

The Celtics attempted a franchise-record 52 3-pointers (making 16) en route to their win. Boston is thus the second team in NBA history to attempt 30 3-pointers in a half, according to STATS, Inc, as they went 9 of 30 in the first half. The Houston Rockets attempted 30-plus 3-pointers in both halves of the same game on Dec. 16, 2016, against New Orleans.

Boston Celtics 107-102 Los Angeles Clippers… by gs-bn
The Clippers (31-20) next visit Toronto on Monday, while the Celtics (33-18) will visit Sacramento on Wednesday.

MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 16: Paul Pierce #34 of the LA Clippers reacts to a play during a game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on December 16, 2016 in Miami, Florida.