Eight in a row for Celtics

Paul Pierce (photo: Getty Images)

17-11-2007 11:51 | Antonina Ilieva

The Boston Celtics overcame a very imperfect fourth quarter to preserve their perfect season.

Paul Pierce made the go-ahead layup with 25 seconds left after Boston squandered a 15-point, fourth-quarter lead, and the Celtics held on to beat the Miami Heat 92-91 to improve their record to 8-0.

Kevin Garnett had 26 points and 11 rebounds for Boston, which is off to its best start since the 1972-73 team led by John Havlicek and Dave Cowens won its first 10.

"We′re nowhere near where we want to be," said Pierce, who scored 12 points despite a strain in his back that almost forced coach Doc Rivers to scratch him from the game. "We′re far from a perfect team. We definitely have weaknesses right now."

Ray Allen scored 19 and Rajon Rondo had nine points and 10 assists for Boston, which could face its biggest challenge so far when it plays the Southeast Division-leading Magic in Orlando on Sunday.

Dwyane Wade, making his first start after offseason knee and shoulder surgery, scored 23 for Miami but also missed five free throws in the game -- and the potential game-winning basket in the final seconds.

The Heat took a 91-90 lead on Udonis Haslem′s free throw with 33 seconds left, but Pierce muscled his way to the basket to give the Celtics back the lead. Wade dribbled out most of the shot clock before putting his shot off the back of the rim.

Shaquille O′Neal had 17 points and nine rebounds and Haslem had nine and eight for Miami, which dropped to 1-8 despite scoring 15 straight points in the fourth to tie it. The Heat missed 12 free throws in the game and went 5-for-11 from the line in the fourth quarter.

"D-Wade went for the win. Usually he hits those shots," O′Neal said. "They′re a talented team. They′ve got three Hall of Famers out there and they do very well together. We had a chance to beat them, but we let it slip away."

Pierce said he hurt his back in Wednesday night′s game against New Jersey and couldn′t do anything on Thursday. He skipped Friday morning′s shootaround.
"Truthfully, I was surprised Coach called the play for me," Pierce said. "I′ve been struggling all night, but he still has tremendous confidence in me, in all of us, and I wanted to be there for my teammates at the end."