MINNEAPOLIS, March 28 (UPI) -- Paul Pierce scored 12 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter Sunday, allowing the Boston Bruins to salvage a 85-82 victory over Minnesota.
Pierce's late-game performance helped turn back a Timberwolves rally, which had seen Minnesota erase a 25-point, first-half deficit.
Kevin Garnett added 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Celtics, who used the win to stay a half-game ahead of Miami for the Eastern Conference's second seed.
Nenad Krstic and Ray Allen each contributed 11 points for Boston.
Michael Beasley put in 28 points to go with 10 rebounds and Darko Milicic added 15 and nine for the Timberwolves, whose furious rally came up a bit short.
Minnesota was playing its third straight contest without all-star forward Kevin Love, who strained a groin in a March 20 game.
