Posted by Jessica Camerato

RECAP OF THE CELTICS’ 103-102 WIN OVER THE HAWKS IS HERE.

First there was Shaquille O’Neal.

Then came Dwight Howard.

On Wednesday night, another Superman was born in the NBA.

“The last play was drawn up, get the ball to Paul Pierce, get the hell out of the way,” Kevin Garnett said following the Boston Celtics 103-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks. “Superman’s in the booth. Let’s go home. That was the play and if you don’t believe that ask Doc Rivers and he’ll say the exact same thing.”

He’s not a dunker or a dominating big man. Rather he’s a finesse shooter who knocks down clutch shots as if he could do it in his sleep. For the second consecutive game, Pierce put the Boston Celtics on his back and led them to victory.

Pierce scored 23 points in the fourth quarter, including a perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line. He answered Marvin Williams’ potential game-winning three with a 20-foot jumper with 0.5 seconds to go. It’s late game heroics like this that earned “The Truth” a new name.

“Once I went right I had the big guy on me. I sort of got to my sweet spot and I felt good the whole time,” explained Pierce, who has a different account of the gameplan. “The play was to get the ball to Kevin and if they switched off, either hand off or he would take he drive down the lane. But they switched and put (Al)  Horford on me and I knew I could get to my spot. I got to it and thank God it went in.”

Pierce’s teammates don’t shy away from the magnitude of his game.

“He’s a superstar man, a superstar,” said Eddie House. “I don’t think he plays with any less confidence any other day. He knows what he’s capable of and man, he’s got a cape on his back sometimes.”

Even though Pierce will probably stick with his P2 logo instead of an S on his chest, he has proved himself worthy of it.

Posted by Jessica Camerato

Paul Pierce hit the game-winning shot with 0.5 seconds left to spoil the Atlanta Hawks undefeated season, 103-102, on Wednesday night at the TD BankNorth Garden. Marvin Williams drained a three to put the Hawks up with just second left in the game before Pierce nailed a deep jumper from the corner. The Celtics captain finished the game with 34 points (8-14 FG, 15-16 FT).

Posted by Jessica Camerato

As KG sauntered around the court raising fans to their feet during a fourth quarter timeout, he bumped into Al Horford along the way. Horford looked confused by the casual contact. Was it a mistake or a veteran move to rattle the 22-year-old? Horford was called for offensive goaltending on the next possession.

Posted by Jessica Camerato

Celtics fans haven’t always had reason to cheer during the game but the starters quickly sent them to their feet late in the fourth. Kicked off by a KG jumper, the Cs have dominated the last 90 seconds of play and went on a mini-run to go up by four. The Hawks timeout only perpetuated the mayhem at the Garden and now I’m having flashbacks to Game 7.

Posted by Jessica Camerato

Not sure if that was a failed attempt at an alley-oop or a weak floater, but regardless it wasn’t the right play for the Celtics. Tony Allen tried to get a flashy play and wound up with a turnover that resulted in a Joe Johnson trey. With less than 10 minutes to go and the game still tied, now is not the time to get fancy.

Posted by Jessica Camerato

At the end of the third … Hawks 77, Celtics 76

It’s anyone’s game at this point in a battle of back-and-forth basketball. The Hawks edged out the Celtics 26-25 in the third quarter and have a one-point lead heading into the fourth.

The Celtics started the quarter with Leon Powe, Glen Davis, Paul Pierce, Tony Allen, and Eddie House on the court. For the Hawks it’s Mo Evans, Joe Johnson, Al Horford, Flip Murray, and Marvin Williams.

Pierce scored 12 points in the third quarter … can he win this game for the Cs like he did 48 hours ago?

Posted by Jessica Camerato

Mo Evans was called for fouls on back-to-back possessions, helping the Celtics get easy points at the free throw line. The first foul, late in the third quarter, was inevitable. Evans was guarding KG, who has him beat by at least six inches and 30 pounds.

Posted by Jessica Camerato

Either Mike Bibby is blocking out the boos or he hears them and just doesn’t care. Bibby scored eight points in the first four minutes of the third quarter. He had only scored four in the first half. Bibby is coming off of a 22-point game against the Chicago Bulls in which he shot 9-for-18 from the field and 4-for-10 from three-point range.

Posted by Jessica Camerato

At the half … Celtics 51, Hawks 51

Once again, the first quarter wasn’t pretty. The beginning of the second quarter wasn’t that much better either. But once the Celtics starters hit the court halfway through the second, the Cs regained momentum and find themselves tied at the half.

• Ray Allen is leading all scorers with 15 points (5-9 FG). Reserve Flip Murray is leading the Hawks with 12.
• It’s fitting that this game is tied considering both teams are shooting 46% from the field and just under 80% from the free throw line.
• The Hawks, however, are hitting 50% from long range. The Celtic are 2-10.

Posted by Jessica Camerato

I’ve seen KG dunk plenty of times as a Celtic but never like this.

Not only did Garnett soar through the air for a two-handed jam, he also drew the foul along the way.

Oh yeah, and he took the first lead on that play.