The Celtics were doing all they could to wrap up the division and get some rest for their old, weary legs before the playoffs start. Orlando made them work last night, driving Boston backwards until it was only a two-point game in the final 20 seconds. But Paul Pierce did what he does best, which is make a game-deciding pull-up jumper, and then added two free throws to close out a team Boston may face in the first round, 102-98. Without Rondo, Pierce rang up eight dimes in the first quarter (as the Celtics shot 74 percent in those 12 minutes) on his way to a career-high 14, and also added his customary 29 points … Glen Davis (27 points) attacked the rim as hard as we’ve ever seen him, giving New England a piece of his mind in the process. What did you expect Big Baby to do once returning to Boston? They chastised him, scorned him, and traded him away this summer basically because he never took anything seriously … The Clippers stayed hot on the Lakers tails for the third seed with a 104-98 win against Denver behind 21 points and eight assists from late-charging MVP candidate Chris Paul … We’re not sure what was more surprising: Detroit losing by 32 to Atlanta one night after cutting Cleveland’s manhood off… or Tracy McGrady dropping 17, four and four … In Philadelphia’s 103-87 undressing of the Cavs, Jrue Holiday (24 points) drove the dagger left behind by LeBron deep into Cleveland’s back with a run of 11 points (three triples and a layup) in about a two minute stretch in the third quarter. He scored 16 in the quarter because Cleveland was leaving him open on pick-and-rolls. Austin Carr was beside himself. The Cavs had been doing just enough to not get embarrassed again, but after Holiday lit them up, the lead ballooned to over 20. Afterwards, there was talk Holiday’s big night might not actually count because it came against Cleveland … Charlotte showed more fight in their own locker room than they did in a 32-point loss to Chicago. Reports surfaced yesterday that Paul Silas was ready to lay a smackdown on Tyrus Thomas in the locker room recently because one of the biggest busts of the last few seasons was all buddy buddy with a few of the Celtics. Rip Hamilton had 22 points in the easy win … And LeBron led Miami to a 96-72 murder of Toronto. Without Wade or Bosh, James went to work, making 10 of his first 11 shots on his way to 28 points … We’re out like Evans’ star power.

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