Celtics 94 - 95 Wizards
Final - OT
  for this game

Celtics hope to regroup in Washington

Apr 11, 2011 - 3:00 PM (Sports Network) - A day after laying an egg in South Beach, the Boston Celtics hope to stay in the hunt for the Eastern Conference's second seed Monday when they visit the Washington Wizards.

Both Miami and Boston came into Sunday's anticipated bout with identical 55-24 records, but the meeting was an unexpected rout as the Heat rolled to a 100-77 victory to gain sole possession of second place in the East with just two games left in the regular season.

LeBron James led the way with 27 points and seven assists while Dwyane Wade had 14 and eight for the Heat, who have won 13 of their last 16 games.

"It was a playoff atmosphere type of game. It had that feel," Wade said. "For one game we got over the hump. We were able to do some of the things we wanted to do."

Paul Pierce posted 24 points and Kevin Garnett had 21 for Boston. Ray Allen finished with 13 points.

"The frustration is high right now on our team, and it's more on the defensive end and it leads to the offense," said Celtics head coach Doc Rivers, whose team has 10 losses in its last 19 games.

The Celtics had taken eight in a row from the Heat, including three this year against their revamped roster, meaning Boston will gain the second seed and home-court advantage for a possible conference semifinals rematch if it finishes tied with Miami.

The Heat will close out the regular season on the road against Atlanta and Toronto, while Boston will finish at home versus the Knicks after tonight's contest.

The Wizards, meanwhile, are coming off one of their best wins of the season on Saturday in the nation's capital when Andray Blatche finished with a game-high 23 points and seven rebounds, while John Wall posted 19 points, seven assists and five boards as the Wizards topped playoff-bound Atlanta, 115-83.

It was Washington's first win over the Hawks since January 11, 2008, ending a drought spanning 12 games.

"Tonight we came out with a lot of energy," Blatche said. "Guys came off the bench and did their job and that's how we got a great lead."

Yi Jianlian scored 15 with nine boards in a reserve role, and Othyus Jeffers added 13 points and 11 boards as Washington ended a two-game skid heading into its final two games of the season.

Boston has won eight of its last 10 games with the Wizards, including two of three this season.






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