Washington, D.C–
Story By: Richard Thomas
Photos By : Sol Tucker
If you thought Paul Pierce was a little too old to be playing in yet another playoff series, you better start watching now, as Pierce continued to show his ability to make things happen in big time games.
Tonight it was two huge three point shots by Pierce in the final minute that gave the Wizards a commanding 3-0 lead going into the weekend.
“My adrenaline is through the roof right now. … I’m just enjoying the moment. I love playoff basketball. I love everything about it,” Pierce said. “At this point in my career, I’m savoring these moments, because I don’t know how many more of these moments I’m going to have.”
Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan, who scored a team playoff-record 20 points in the first quarter and 32 overall, summed up Pierce’s status this way: “He still is who he is.”
The game was tied at 88 with 4:30 remaining, when Washington pulled away thanks to 3-pointers, including two each from Otto Porter and Pierce, who averaged the fewest minutes of his 17-year career this season.
“We just know what we need to do as a team and everyone is contributing,” said John Wall after the game.
One of the biggest stat lines of the game came from the presence of Marcin Gortat and his 24 points and dominance in the paint and Drew Gooden played this game is he was still in Cavs uniform 10 years ago, when he did the same to the Wizards in that playoff match-up.
The energy in the building seemed to charge Pierce to the point where he was able tune out the Raptors unofficial mascot and music mogul, Drake who sat court side trying to cheer his team to a comeback in that final minute.
