Celtics rally to defeat Bulls 101-97
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-01-30 13:37

Ricky Davis scored eight fourth-quarter points to spark a late rally and Gary Payton hit the go-ahead 3-pointer Saturday night in the Boston Celtics' 101-97 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

Boston Celtics' Ricky Davis (12) fouls Chicago Bulls' Andres Nocioni, of Argentina, during the second quarter, Saturday, Jan. 29, 2005, at the United Center in Chicago. [AP]

Boston ended Chicago's five-game winning streak, and the surprising Bulls finished January 13-3, two of the losses to the Celtics.

Davis scored 24 points and Payton had 23. Leading scorer Paul Pierce shot just 2-of-12 from the field but had 18, thanks to a 13-for-17 showing from the free-throw line.

Chicago rookie Ben Gordon matched a career high with 31 points, 25 in the second half to supply the Bulls with an offensive punch. But Chicago blew a seven-point fourth-quarter lead and struggled down the stretch after floor leader Kirk Hinrich fouled out with 6:29 left.

Davis worked inside for a shot that tied it at 97 with 2:03 to go.

After a Chicago miss, Payton hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to put the Celtics ahead to stay with 1:41 left.

Gordon hit a pair of 3-pointers and two floaters in the lane to spark a 16-3 Chicago run that opened up a 13-point lead late in the third.

During the spurt, Boston's Kendrick Perkins was ejected after receiving a flagrant and then a technical foul when he knocked Tyson Chandler down as he drove to the basket.

Moments earlier, Perkins and Eddy Curry had to be separated and each were assessed technical fouls following a hard foul by Perkins.

Pierce, who had just three points and no baskets in the first half, was 0-for-7 before he finally made a 3-pointer with 1:29 left in the third quarter.

Pierce, averaging 22.2 for the season, missed all four of his first-half field goal attempts and finished with just three points — not scoring until he hit a free throw with 4:46 to go in the opening half.

He was coming off a 34-point performance in the Celtics' 128-119 loss to the Suns on Friday night.

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