Paul Pierce battled through the pain of a sore knee to score a season-high 39 points and lift the Boston Celtics to a 115-109 win over Toronto on Monday.
Team captain Pierce also scored nine points in overtime for the Celtics at the TD Banknorth Garden arena.
“Actually, I feel pretty good, could have played another quarter, I think. I’m feeling pretty good,” Pierce said.
Kevin Garnett had 20 points and 12 rebounds for Boston, who blew a four-point lead in the final 25 seconds of the National Basketball Association game but rebounded with a team-record 22 points in the extra period.
It was Pierce who got the scoring underway in the overtime with a three-pointer.
“Ya’ll need to start playing some of that Superman theme music in the building when he’s going like that,” Garnett said of his teammate. “This is Clark Kent right here, ladies and gentlemen. He was 13-for-26 tonight with 39 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Superman. I’ll be Batman, I’ll be Robin, I’ll be anybody you want me to be. I’ll be the garbage man. But this is Clark Kent right here.”
Celtics head coach Doc Rivers said he was only 50-50 on Pierce playing on Monday night because of his baulky right knee.
Brian Scalabrine came up big for the injured Kendrick Perkins, adding 11 points for the Celtics.
BUCKS 97, WIZARDS 91
At Washington, Michael Redd scored 29 points and a healthy Andrew Bogut added 18 points and 10 rebounds as Washington blew another fourth-quarter lead.
Trading baskets down the stretch with Wizards guard Nick Young Redd helped Milwaukee overcome a deficit that was 13 points in the second quarter, 11 at halftime and five entering the final period.
After Young made a 16-foot fadeaway jumper to pull Washington within 90-89, Redd answered with a 3-pointer with less than a minute-and-a-half left. Young missed a three as the shot-clock expired on Washington’s next possession, and that was that.
In other NBA games it was:
• Trail Blazers 109, Bulls 95
• Jazz 120, Pacers 113
• Nets 103, Thunder 99, OT
• Knicks 101, Hornets 95
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