Boston Celtics captain Paul Pierce missed a fall away jumper with 4.7 seconds and the Celtics fouled Charlotte’s Raymond Felton. But because they weren’t in the bonus the Bobcats had to inbound the ball. Boston’s Eddie House deflected Jason Richardson’s inbound pass away and into the hands of Pierce who found Ray Allen at the top of the arc and he hit nothing but net as time expired and the Celtics escaped Charlotte with a 96-95 win.
Allen who went to high school in Dalzell South Carolina hit the jumper as his mom looked on from the stands than ran down the court in jubilation and jumped into the arms of Glen “Big Baby” Davis. UConn fans remember that reaction after his runner won the 1995 Big East Championship against an Allen Iverson led Georgetown squad. It is his second game winning three this season, both on the road.
Allen said after the game ” As a shooter I know no matter how good or bad I’ve shot in a game I know to just have to stay with it”.
Pierce had 23 points for the Celtics as did Kevin Garnett who also added 11 rebounds for yet another double-double. While Allen only had 14 points on a 4 for 15 night from the field it was the one three pointer he made in six attempts that was the biggest.
Charlotte was led by Richardson who had a game high 25 points, Felton had 18 and UConn grad Emeka Okafor had 15 points and 9 boards and was under the basket when Allen’s shot went through the twine.
With the buzzer beater the Green are now 11-1 and the Bobcats drop to 6-7. The Celtics travel to Cleveland next to play the Cavaliers on Tuesday night.
