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Pierce, Celtics face Sixers

Mar 30, 2007 - 1:44 PM Boston (22-49) at Philadelphia (28-43) 7:00 pm EDT

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) - Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics aren't going down without a fight.

Mired in one of the worst seasons in franchise history, the Celtics look for their third straight win when they take on the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.

Boston owns the worst record in the Eastern Conference and is in competition with Memphis (19-54) for the NBA's worst mark - and the most ping-pong balls in the highly anticipated draft lottery.

But the Celtics have started to play better of late, going 9-7 since February 24. On Wednesday, Boston battled playoff-minded Orlando through regulation and two overtimes, emerging with a 105-96 victory. Pierce scored 32 points.

Pierce scored his points when it mattered most. The forward hit an 18-foot jump shot with 7.6 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game, 83-83, and force overtime. In the first overtime, Pierce scored all seven of the Celtics' points, including a 3-pointer with 19.7 seconds left, which sent the game into double overtime.

The Celtics defeated Atlantic Division-leading Toronto on Monday and another win would give them their first winning month this season.

They will look to keep it going against the 76ers, who also have picked up their play as of late. Philadelphia is 8-5 in March and on its way to its first winning month this campaign.

However, the Sixers dropped their last contest, 111-108, against Washington on Wednesday. Andre Iguodala had 26 points and a season high with 15 assists for the Sixers, who are just 4 1/2 games behind Orlando (33-39) for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.