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Celtics solidfy No. 4 spot in East with OT victory over Hawks

BOSTON -- When the smoke cleared, the refs' whistles stopped blowing and some ugly basketball came to an end, the Boston Celtics had scored a big regular-season win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night that that could have playoff ramifications.

By winning the 88-86 contest for their fourth consecutive victory, the Celtics pulled even with the Hawks and the Orlando Magic for fourth place in the crowded Eastern Conference standings and would own a tiebreaker with both by having already clinched both season series.

The Celtics, who lead the Atlantic Division by three games with eight to play, also have a chance to catch the No. 3 Indiana Pacers, who also won overtime Wednesday night to keep their two-game lead. The Celtics would win a tiebreaker with the Pacers, by virtue of a better conference record.

"I gotta tell you guys; that was the worst game we've ever won," Boston coach Doc Rivers said after his team won for the 10th time in its last 11 home games. "I mean . . . we didn't play well. We just kept hanging in there."

There were six points scored in overtime, and the last Boston points came on a Paul Pierce jumper with 3:26 left. Neither team scored during the final 2:24 as both starting center Kevin Garnett (22 points, 12 rebounds) and backup Greg Stiemsma (eight rebounds) fouled out amid a series of wild calls.

The Hawks' last chance to died with a Josh Smith desperation jumper with five seconds left.

"I think we definitely should have won," said Joe Johnson, who scored 14 points on 5-for-17 field-goal shooting. "We had plenty of chances to win this game, but that's neither here nor there. They pulled it out at the end."

Rajon Rando recorded his sixth triple-double of the season, the 19th of his career. He had 10 points (3-for-16 from the floor and six turnovers), 10 rebounds and 20 assists. He had his 19th consecutive game with double figures in assists. He assisted on both Boston baskets in the overtime, playing 87 of a possible 101 minutes in two nights.

"Rondo was sensational. Didn't want to come out," said Rivers. "He said, 'Because we've got tomorrow off, let me just go.' "

With Ray Allen again out after tweaking his ankle injury Tuesday night, Mickael Pietrus returned from his concussion-caused absence and scored eight points, including two big baskets at the start of the fourth quarter.

"He was great," said Rivers, who played Pietrus almost 29 minutes.

Brandon Bass had 21 points and 10 rebounds and Pierce (6-for-19 from the floor, 1-for-8 from three-point range) 14 points for the Celtics, while point guard Jeff Teague led Atlanta with 21 points and six assists and Smith had 21 points and 10 boards.

Bass, who missed eight games earlier this season with a knee injury, went down late in the overtime but, after staying down for several minutes, was able to resume playing. "I didn't think that was going to be a good thing, so that was great (that he got up)," said Rivers. "The guys are laughing that he was exhausted, that he needed some rest."

Rondo picked up his 10th assist setting up Garnett with 8:10 left in the third quarter, adding to his club record. His 19 consecutive games represent the longest such streak since John Stockton had 29 in a row in 1992. The 29 in a row is the longest streak amassed in the same season.

NOTES

--The Celtics won despite 19 turnovers and going 3-for-13 from three-point range.

--Having played two straight nights, Boston follows an off day with the three-in-three-nights schedule. All teams are playing in the abbreviated schedule. The Celtics visit Toronto, New Jersey and Charlotte.

--The Hawks are at Orlando Friday night. They had their three-straight-night things way back in early January, going 2-1 against Miami, Charlotte and Chicago, losing at home to the heat in triple overtime Jan. 5.

--Before the game, Rivers, talking about Pietrus, said, "He's been cleared, he worked out (Tuesday), and this is good for him. We'll ease him in, instead of just throwing him in. That's how we're going to do it. It's not like he's going to have any practices. The sooner we can get him on the floor, the better. And all the doctors cleared him, so once I hear that, then he's ready to play." The "easing in" consisted of 28:49 of playing time.

--Allen missed six games with the ankle, returned for five and was out again. "It just swells, I guess," said Rivers. "I don't know. I got a call a little while ago (that Allen would be out). It is what it is."