BOSTON, Feb. 3 (Ticker) -- Antoine Walker scored 27 points and Walter McCarty sank a pair of key three-pointers in the fourth quarter as the Boston Celtics defeated the road weary and undermanned Los Angeles Clippers, 104-91.

After an overtime setback to Minnesota on Friday, the Celtics avoided their second four-game losing streak of the season behind Walker, who shook off a hard fall to the floor in the third quarter and finished with seven rebounds.

"We need a win to get off the slide. It doesn't matter how," said Celtics guard Kenny Anderson about a physical game that included 45 fouls. "We just needed a win."

The Clippers got within 83-80 on a pair of free throws by Michael Olowokandi with 10:27 left. But Erick Strickland sank a pair of free throws before McCarty connected on a 3-pointer from the left sideline.

NBATV highlights from Clippers-Celtics: 56k | 300k Paul Pierce's 24 points helped the Celtics drive past the Clippers. Noren Trotman/NBAE/Getty Images

After a layup by Olowokandi, McCarty again connected from long range and the Clippers got no closer than eight points the rest of the way.

"We're up seven or eight points and guys continued to nail the tough shots and get to the foul line," Walker said. "We got back to doing things we had done well in the past and we got a tough win."

Strickland had 16 points, McCarty 12 and Mark Blount seven to spark a strong effort off the bench for Boston.

"Our bench was the story of the game. We got a great look out of the bench," Celtics coach Jim O'Brien said. "Mark Blount really came in and did a great job defensively. Walter shot it well and Strick played extremely well."

Paul Pierce scored 24 points and Tony Battie added 12 and a season-high 12 rebounds for Boston.

"We had no answer for Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce, but that's not unusual," Clippers coach Alvin Gentry said. "There are a lot of teams that don't have an answer for those guys."

Olowokandi had 27 points and 15 rebounds for the Clippers, who fell to 2-3 on a season-high seven-game road trip that included a loss in Atlanta on Saturday night.

Los Angeles played without leading scorer Elton Brand, who suffered a bruised left hip last week against San Antonio.

"We got a break with Brand being out," Walker said.

Quentin Richardson scored 14 points off the bench for Los Angeles, including a pair of 3-pointers that cut the lead to 93-85 with 6:25 left.

Walker answered for Boston with a layup and a 17-foot jumper and the Celtics led by at least double digits the rest of the way.

"Down the stretch, all season long, we've always had a problem getting into some type of offensive set," Olowokondi said. "I think that's our poorest area. That comes with more experience."

Neither team led by more than three points in the first 18 minutes before the Celtics went on an 11-0 run midway through the second quarter to take a 51-43 lead.

Blount started the run with a layup, Strickland sank a pair of jumpers, Blount sank two free throws and McCarty drained a 3-pointer to cap the spurt with 3:15 left.

The Celtics have won five in a row over the Clippers at home.