BOSTON — Paul Pierce hit a fallaway jumper with 0.5 seconds left, scoring 34 points in all Wednesday night as the Celtics overcame a 16-point, second- quarter deficit to beat Atlanta 103-102 and hand the Hawks their first loss of the season.
Kevin Garnett had 25 points and 12 rebounds, and Rajon Rondo had 10 assists for the Celtics.
Joe Johnson scored 28 for Atlanta (6-1), finding an open Marvin Williams for the go-ahead 3-pointer with seven seconds left. But Pierce answered at the other end and the Celtics beat Atlanta in Boston for the eighth straight time.
“The last play was drawn up: Get the ball to Pierce; get out of the way,” Garnett said. “Superman’s in the booth. Let’s go home.”
There were 12 lead changes in the third, and Boston never led by as many as two baskets until Garnett scored on an alley-oop that made it 92-88 with 3:33 to play.
