Los Angeles - Paul Pierce stepped up when Ray Allen sat down. Pierce's jumper in the final seconds sent the game into overtime, then knocked down three more in the final 1:17, and the Boston Celtics survived the Chicago Bulls 106-104 on Tuesday night to take a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
"This was a game we needed," said Pierce, who had 15 of his 26 points in the final quarter and overtime. "When Ray fouled out (midway through the fourth quarter), I thought it was really time to step up.
"I got into my sweet spot and started hitting shots," he added. "Better late than never."
Rajon Rondo topped defending NBA Champion Boston with 28 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds.
Glen Davis scored 21, Kendrick Perkins had 16 with 19 rebounds and seven blocks for the Celtics, who have played three overtime games and another that went down to the last shot in what has become an instant classic.
"This is an amazing series, every game has gone down to the last shot," Rondo said. "That's what playoff basketball is all about."
Ben Gordon scored 26, Kirk Hinrich had 19, while Joakim Noah chipped in with 11 and 17 rebounds for Chicago, which will look to level the series at home on Thursday night.
"Paul Pierce was unbelievable," Noah said. "Guys are hitting crazy shot after crazy shot. It's all about who's going to make that shot at the end of the game.
"We had our chances, and that's what makes it so tough. But we'll be back: I still feel that we can win the series."
Pierce's first jumper in overtime put the Celtics ahead, 102-101, and his second made it a three-point game with 36.5 seconds left.
That, however, was wiped out when Tony Allen fouled Gordon attempting a three-pointer. He made all three free throws, and the game was knotted at 104.
Pierce came through again, drilling an 18-footer over John Salmons with 3.4 seconds remaining. The Bulls called a timeout, and when play resumed Brad Miller rambled in for what appeared to be a wide-open, game-tying layup, but he was hammered in the head by Rondo as time expired.
Referees reviewing the play reset the clock to two seconds. After several minutes to stop the bleeding from his upper lip and mouth, Miller missed the first free throw as the TD BankNorth Garden crowd roared its approval. He purposely bricked the second in an attempt to get a play on the ball. But it failed to hit the rim, resulting in a violation and the Celtics escaped.
"That's a good shot to take to the head. I didn't see it, but I felt it," Miller said. "But that's no excuse. Obviously, the second one I missed on purpose, but I didn't want to miss it that bad."
Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Rondo was following the team's rules.
"You always talk about playoff basketball, no layups," he said. "Rondo did it and it won the game for us."
Elsewhere:Dallas Mavericks 106, San Antonio Spurs 93German juggernaut Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points, Jason Terry added 19 and the visiting Mavericks eliminated the Spurs in five games to advance to the Western Conference semifinals.
"To win in five is surprising," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "Obviously we are thrilled."
Dallas will meet the winner of the Denver-New Orleans series. The Nuggets hold a commanding 3-1 advantage, and can close it out on the road Wednesday night.
Tim Duncan scored 30 and Frenchman Tony Parker had 26 with 12 assists for the four-time NBA Champion Spurs, who suffered their earliest exit since 2000.
"The Mavericks beat the Spurs," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich offered. "They were the better team, and nothing more needs to be said."
Orlando Magic 91, Philadelphia 76ers 78 Dwight Howard had 24 points with a career playoff-high 24 rebounds, Rashard Lewis also scored 24, and the Magic grabbed a 3-2 advantage over the visiting Sixers in their Eastern Conference first-round series.
Andre Iguodala scored 26 points, and Andre Miller added 17 for Philadelphia, which will host do-or-die Game Six on Thursday night.
Portland Trail Blazers 88, Houston Rockets 77Brandon Roy scored 14 of his 25 points in the final period despite flu-like symptoms, LaMarcus Aldridge also had 25 as the Trail Blazers avoided elimination, and pulled within 3-2 in their Western Conference first-round series.
Argentine Luis Scola netted 21 points, China's Yao Ming had 15 points and 12 rebounds for Houston, which advance past the opening-round for the first time since 1997 with a home win on Thursday night.
