BOSTON, April 15 (UPI) -- Paul Pierce put Boston in front with nine seconds left Friday night and the Celtics hung on to defeat Miami, 101-99.
Pierce scored 22 points as the Celtics cut their magic number to clinch the Atlantic Division to one. A Boston win in any of its final three games or a Philadelphia loss will give the Celtics the division title.
Boston won its sixth straight with Al Jefferson contributing 19 points and Ricky Davis 16.
Shaquille O'Neal paced Miami with 34 and Dwayne Wade had 15. It was the fourth straight loss for Miami, which has long since wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Pierce's basket with nine seconds to go put Boston ahead by one and after Wade missed a shot, Pierce made one of two free throws.
Wade missed a desperation three-point attempt at the buzzer.
