Celtics win on Pierce's buzzer beater

Paul Pierce demanded the ball for the last shot. The Boston Celtics were rewarded.

Pierce's 21-foot jumper at the buzzer - with injured Heat star Dwyane Wade watching helplessly from the bench - gave the visiting Celtics a 100-98 win over Miami in Game 3 of the teams' Eastern Conference first-round playoff series Friday night.

Boston leads the best-of-seven 3-0, and will go for the sweep Sunday afternoon in Miami.

"That's a shot I hit a number of times in playoffs and regular season," Pierce said. "I told the coaches, 'Give me the ball on the right side.' I got to my sweet spot, made sure there wasn't any time left and drained it."

No team has ever rallied from an 0-3 deficit in a series, and Miami might have even bigger problems. Wade hurt his left calf after missing a 3-pointer with 14 seconds left, with replays showing he landed on Celtics' guard Ray Allen's foot. Wade crumpled to the court and was carried off.

Pierce finished with 32 points, while Allen added 25 for the Celtics, who got 17 from Rajon Rondo and 16 from Kevin Garnett.

Wade finished with 34 points, eight assists and five rebounds for the Heat, who rallied from a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter to take the lead, then fell victim to Pierce.

Boston led 85-76 early in the fourth. The Heat found a way to counter. Michael Beasley scored six of the next eight Miami points to spark the rally, and when Dorrell Wright hit two foul shots with 3:46 left the Heat were up 92-91. - AP