AROUND THE NBA | Tuesday's other games

Celtics 116, Wizards 115 (OT)
WASHINGTON -- Paul Pierce made a 22-footer at the buzzer to help Boston beat Washington in overtime. Pierce scored 31 points, including the Celtics' last seven points in overtime, to secure the win. Gilbert Arenas led Washington with 39 points, including all 11 of the Wizards' overtime points. His pull-up with 14 seconds left in the extra period put the Wizards ahead 115-114. Pierce answered with a fade-away from the left baseline for the game-winner. Pierce had given the Celtics a 114-113 lead with 28 seconds left in OT before Arenas' pull-up.
Knicks 107, Pacers 92
INDIANAPOLIS -- Jalen Rose scored 21 points and Jamal Crawford added 16 to help New York win consecutive games for the first time in eight weeks. New York, which had lost 16 of its past 18 games and had the NBA's second-worst record, overcame a horrible start, pulled within one point at halftime and took control with a flurry of 3-pointers at the start of the third quarter. Rose and Quentin Richardson hit consecutive 3s as the Knicks went in front in the first minute of the third period. Richardson had another 3-pointer and Stephon Marbury hit two from long range before New York's first miss. By that time, the Knicks' lead was 64-57. The Pacers managed one more tie at 72 but never led the rest of the game. Stephen Jackson and Peja Stojakovic led Indiana with 20 points each.
Hawks 113, Warriors 106
ATLANTA -- Joe Johnson scored a career-high 42 points to lead the Hawks past Jason Richardson and Golden State. Richardson also scored 42, equaling the best performance of his career, but it wasn't enough to prevent Golden State from its seventh loss in eight games. Golden State led 80-79 heading to the fourth quarter but went cold offensively, making only nine of 26 shots over the final 12 minutes after hitting nearly 50 percent in the first three periods. Atlanta was sloppy with the ball, committing half of its 18 turnovers in the fourth, but finally took advantage of the Warriors' shooting woes.
Rockets 93, Timberwolves 87
MINNEAPOLIS -- With Yao Ming emerging as an offensive force, the Houston Rockets didn't need Tracy McGrady. Yao topped 20 points for the eighth straight game, scoring 30 points and grabbing 13 rebounds to lead the Rockets. With McGrady on the bench again with back problems, Yao dominated the paint and Stromile Swift added 11 points and nine boards off the bench for Houston, which used a 12-0 run to start the fourth quarter to get their third straight victory. Kevin Garnett made only six of 17 shots, but scored 15 points and had 21 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who didn't score in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter, missing their first 12 shots.
Bulls 95, Nets 87
CHICAGO -- Andres Nocioni scored a career-high 24 points and Kirk Hinrich added 22 points and nine assists to lead the Bulls. New Jersey has lost five of its last six, including a 25-point loss at home on Monday night to Sacramento. The Nets got little help in the fourth quarter from Vince Carter, who shot 3-for-10 in the period. He finished the game with 25 points, going 8-for-25 from the field. Jason Kidd had 13 assists and 10 rebounds, but scored just five points on 1-of-9 shooting. Luol Deng finished with 22 points and eight rebounds for Chicago and Tyson Chandler fouled out with 15 rebounds. With the score tied at 73 in the fourth quarter, Chicago used a 16-6 run to put the game away. Nenad Krstic finished with a career-high 29 points and 13 rebounds for New Jersey and Jefferson finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Mavericks 93, Trail Blazers 87
DALLAS -- Jason Terry hit several key baskets late in the fourth quarter and Jerry Stackhouse made a 3-pointer with 41 seconds left, giving the Mavericks the surge they needed to beat Portland. The Mavericks won for the 21st time in 24 games, but after losing two of their previous three games to San Antonio and Phoenix, this wasn't much of a confidence booster. Dallas trailed by 13 before making a basket and didn't draw even until the third quarter. They finally took the lead on a pair of free throws by Stackhouse with 6:19 left but still had to scrap the rest of the way in beating Portland for the ninth straight time. Zach Randolph scored 33 to lead Portland.
Associated Press
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