Pierce Seared Salmons and Ate Bulls In OT: 106-104

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Exhausted? After 50-plus minutes, not Paul Pierce. After he delivered the consecutive knock out blows, he was interviewed walking off the court and asked if he and his mates were exhausted after three overtime games. Reminiscent of baseball's Chicago Cubs' Ernie Banks saying, "Let's play two today." Pierce answered with a big smile, "No way. This is fun, This is what the playoffs are all about. We could play seven overtime games. But we want to end it in six."

It is a good thing, as the Celtic bench scoring drought continues with just five points from the (no) relief team.

Rondo Rampage Continues

Rajon Rondo continues his spectacular play. Johnny Rondo almost delivered his third triple double of the series, leading both teams in scoring with 28 points, 11 assists, adding eight rebounds, with two steals.

Perhaps more importantly, he held Derrick Rose to 14 points, eight rebounds, six assists, three steals, but six turnovers, including a critical one on a misfired alley-oop pass meant for Joakim Noah as regulation was winding down.

Controversial Three Point Attempt

The Celtics battled back from 11 down, 77-66 with 9:28 left in the fourth period and again from 89-84 with 3:45 left with a 9-4 run to tie on a Perkins put back, Rondo lay-up, Pierce lay-up, and a Paul Pierce jumper with 10.5 seconds left in regulation.

Ben Gordon, who continues to show a knack for clutch shooting, was just 6-for-21. But, in Ray Allen-like fashion, hit two big shots near the end and managed to get a foul called on Tony Allen on a controversial three-point shot in OT.

Two replay angles clearly show that Gordon stepped on the out of bounds line with one heel. That would negate any foul after that. The refs reviewed the play and decided to allow the free throws. Gordon hit all three free throws, tying the game at 104 with 28 seconds left in OT.

OT Scoring

In the overtime, Perkins scored the first three Celtic points on a free throw and a lay-up. Rondo scored the next four Celtic points on a quick jump, lean back in, right handed driving lay-up, and two foul shots. The table was then set for Pierce's clinic on "how-to-make-pressure-jumpshots", as he calmly hit three in a row in the last 1:17, just like it was pregame practice time.

Normally the fifth game is the pivotal game. Right now, these teams look so evenly matched, I don't know that anything was concluded in this game except the Celtics are now up 3-2 heading back to Chicago for game six on Thursday.

The Celtics only consolation is that Philadelphia is giving Orlando the same kind of trouble. Orlando won Tuesday's game to go up 3-2 as well.

Numbers

With Garnett out, this was the Celtics second best defensive game of the series. They held the Bulls to .395 shooting and 93 points in regulation. They also matched the Bulls in fast break points with 14 apiece. The C's destroyed the Bulls inside 54 points to 32.

Also, highly important, the Celtics had only 10 turnovers to the Bulls 13. That, as much as any play, was a key to the win.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?