Paul Pierce’s name, for so many reasons, still conjures up images of Celtics green. So it’s only appropriate the 17-year veteran reached another NBA milestone against Boston Monday night.
Now in his first year with Washington, following a one-season cameo with Brooklyn, Pierce and the Wizards not only knocked off his former team of 15 seasons. They did it in double overtime, Pierce hit a critical three-pointer and he moved up to 16th all-time on the NBA scoring list.
A day after losing in Boston and scoring 16 points, the 37-year-old found some extra bounce in those old legs in D.C. on Monday, going for a season-high 28 points on 9-for-12 shooting (4-for-5 from 3-point range).
Pierce got the historic step out of the way early, in the second quarter, at the free-throw line. That’s where he moved past Indiana great Reggie Miller for 16th in all-time points scored.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnia8BIbbLg
Paul Pierce – 25,282 points.
He passes Reggie Miller for 16th.
24,021 of them as a Celtic.
541 against Reggie Miller and the Pacers.— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) December 9, 2014
Pierce spoke with [The Washington Post’s Jorge Castillo][1] about the moment after the 133-132 Washington win.
> “I’ve accomplished a lot of things in
> this game, but I don’t think it’s
> really going to truly sink in until I
> sit down and walk away from the game
> and say, ‘Dang, look at the things you
> were able to accomplish.’ Right now,
> I’m just riding this wave. I’m still
> on my surfboard.”
By the end of the night, Pierce had 25,300 points on his résumé. [Ahead of him now: No. 15, Alex English, at 25,613][2].
As Castillo points out, Pierce managed to stay in the game and play most of the two overtime periods without fouling out, though he was whistled for his fifth with more than five minutes left in the fourth quarter.
> “I’m a smart player,” Pierce
> said. “You look across the years, I
> don’t really foul out a lot. I know
> when I got four or five how to be
> cautious of that. I’m very aware of
> it.”
The Wizards needed the cagy vet, too. [Pierce sank a 3-pointer to tie the game at 121][3] in the first OT.
Who hits a triple to tie the game? Hm. Paul Pierce. #gofigure #Celtics #Wizards
— Emily Austen (@emilyaustenTV) December 9, 2014
Pierce is averaging 13.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists for the Wizards (14-6), who are currently tied with Atlanta for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. They’re just a game and a half back of Toronto (16-5) and the No. 1 spot.
—
*- Keep up with the production of all the ‘Hawks in the NBA [daily at KUsports.com][4].*
—
*- [Follow @BentonASmith on Twitter][5].*
[1]: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/wp/2014/12/09/paul-pierce-passes-reggie-miller-on-nbas-all-time-scoring-list/
[2]: http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/pts_career.html
[3]: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards-squander-second-half-lead-before-beating-celtics-in-double-overtime/2014/12/08/6a712e36-7f28-11e4-9f38-95a187e4c1f7_story.html
[4]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/mens_basketball/hawks_nba/
[5]: https://twitter.com/BentonASmith
