 Paul Pierce and the Celtics rose above Michael Jordan and the Wizards. Nathaniel S. Butler NBAE/Getty Images 56k | 300k |
Pierce snubbed an invitation to join Jordan's private workouts over the summer and the pair went at each other during a heated exhibition contest on October 26. Afterward, Jordan stated that he would be ready for Pierce in Wednesday's game.
Pierce blocked Jordan with 5:05 left but Jordan later scored on a fadeaway jumper to forge an 89-89 tie with just under four minutes to go.
"We made some big plays, Paul's block being one of them," said Celtics coach Jim O'Brien.
Walker converted a three-point play to give Boston the lead for good before Jordan continued to discover that the NBA is a different league now. He drove the lane against Pierce, missed badly and subsequently was whistled for traveling, arguing to no avail.
"If he feels like its a six-point game, then it is within reach for him," Walker said of Jordan. "We had our best defensive player (Pierce) on him."
After Kenny Anderson added a pair of free throws for a 94-89 lead with 3:17 left, the Wizards isolated Jordan on Pierce once again.
Pierce failed to go for Jordan's head fakes and made an emphatic block. That triggered a 2-on-1 fast break as Jordan failed to get back and rookie Joe Johnson dunked for a 96-89 lead with 2:52 to go.
"It was a team help defense in the fourth quarter I got shots," Jordan said. "I was trying to beat the clock. I was trying to outguess the defense and a couple of times, my shot got blocked."
Walker, a participant in Jordan's offseason workouts, scored 15 points in the fourth quarter. Anderson finished with 17 points and Johnson chipped in 16. Walker just missed a triple-double with 10 rebounds and nine assists.
"Don't get me wrong, Jordan is great, but the best player on the floor is Walker tonight," O'Brien said. "Walker wanted the ball in his hand and was willing to do whatever it takes to win the game, whether it was scoring or passing."
Jordan made 12-of-26 shots for a season-high 32 points but failed to help his teammates, registering just two assists.
"I played good, got into a rhythm at the end of the third and into the fourth," Jordan said. "We did not finish properly."
Christian Laettner scored a season-high 29 points, making 13-of-17 shots. Richard Hamilton had 19 points but played just three scoreless minutes in the fourth as Washington instead went with Courtney Alexander, who scored just two points.
Washington scored 11 straight points, capped by a three-point play from Jordan, for its first lead of the fourth quarter at 81-80 with 7:16 left. Laettner had three jumpers in the spurt.
"I wasn't hesitating and it felt good coming out of my hand," Laettner said. "A layup or two early will help your confidence."
Pierce scored 14 points and Erick Strickland added 10 off the bench. Johnson finished with a season-high 10 rebounds.
The Celtics have won eight of their last nine home meetings with the Wizards.