Celtics take clutch win for 3-0 series lead over Heat
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MIAMI (Reuters) - The Boston Celtics put the Miami Heat on the brink of elimination from the playoffs, with a clutch 100-98 victory on Friday to take a 3-0 lead in their Eastern Conference first round series.
Paul Pierce's 21-foot jumper at the buzzer wrapped up the win after Miami had fought back from a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit.
Boston can close out the best-of-seven series with a win in Game Four in Miami on Sunday.
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Pierce scored 32 points, including the last five for Boston, as he dueled the Heat's Dwyane Wade, who scored 34 points before being injured.
Pierce's three-pointer broke a 95-95 deadlock with 1:42 to play, but the Heat quickly tied the score on Dorell Wright's three-pointer 13 seconds later.
Boston then missed three three-pointers, two by Ray Allen, and Wade misfired on a three-pointer for Miami before Pierce scored the game-winner.
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(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)