Clippers lose as Paul Pierce plays final game in Boston
By Mary Coyne
Paul Pierce will be retiring after this season.
Playing in his last game in Boston, it’s a place where he spent 15 seasons and won the 2008 NBA Championship.
Pierce got the start for the Clippers even though the 39-year old forward hadn’t played in a month.
It was Pierce’s 630th game at the new Boston Garden, but all the emotion wasn’t enough to carry the Clippers to victory, losing 107-102, to the Celtics on Sunday.
Isaiah Thomas stole the spotlight from Pierce scoring 28 points to lead Boston to its seventh straight victory.
The Clippers starting back court of J.J. Redick and Austin Rivers struggled going 3 for 17 from the field and 0 for 7 from three-point range.
Reddick finished with just six points with Austin adding only 5.
Blake Griffin and Jamal Crawford scored 23 points apiece for the Clippers which lost for the sixth time in eight games despite cutting a 12-point lead 4 within the last minute.
But Griffin missed a three from the left side and Al Horford grabbed the rebound and hit his foul shots.
DeAndre Jordan had 16 rebounds for the Clippers who never once held the lead in the game.
Pierce, who has never failed to score in the building, was brought to tears during an emotional first quarter highlight real.
With the crowds chanting his name, former Celtic coach Doc Rivers put Pierce back in the game with 19 seconds remaining.
With the game out of reach, Isaiah Thomas backed off Pierce to give him the last shot.
And with the arena on their feet, Piece sank a 3-pointer to end the game. It was the only 3-pointer made by a Clipper all day.
It was a storybook way to end his career in Boston.
Next: Can the Lakers still make the playoffs?
Next up for the Clippers is Toronto, tonight.