Celtics leave the door open
Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett scored 16 points and Ray Allen added 15 for the Celtics. Horford hit back-to-back baskets to snap an 83-83 tie and give the Hawks the lead for good. Pierce hit a 3-pointer with 50.6 seconds left and Boston had a chance for
BOSTON (86) Pierce 7-17 0-0 16, Bass 4-10 6-6 14, Garnett 7-12 2-2 16, Rondo 6-17 0-0 13, Bradley 1-2 0-0 2, Stiemsma 0-0 0-0 0, Allen 5-10 3-5 15, Pietrus 1-4 0-0 2, Hollins 2-4 1-2 5, Dooling 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 34-77 12-15 86. ATLANTA (87) M.Williams
ATLANTA — Al Horford scored 19 points in his first start since January, and the Atlanta Hawks held on for an 87-86 victory over the Boston Celtics in a thrilling Game 5 of the Eastern Conference playoffs Tuesday night.
BOSTON (86) Pierce 7-17 0-0 16, Bass 4-10 6-6 14, Garnett 7-12 2-2 16, Rondo 6-17 0-0 13, Bradley 1-2 0-0 2, Stiemsma 0-0 0-0 0, Allen 5-10 3-5 15, Pietrus 1-4 0-0 2, Hollins 2-4 1-2 5, Dooling 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 34-77 12-15 86. ATLANTA (87) M.Williams
That determination is still up in the air in the Boston Celtics-Atlanta Hawks series, however. The Hawks came up with one final defensive stop Tuesday night and edged the Celtics 87-86 to send the series back to Boston for Game 6 Thursday.
