01:00 AM EST on Monday, March 27, 2006

BY SHALISE MANZA YOUNG
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- As great a year as Paul Pierce has been having for the Boston Celtics, as many game-winning shots as he's hit this season, there are some things he can't do.

Yesterday, he couldn't get past Chicago's Tyson Chandler.

Pierce tried three times to go hard to the hoop with the Bulls reserve in the paint in the fourth quarter, and all three times his attempt got swatted away by the 7-foot-1 Chandler, with the final block likely sealing the all-important game for Chicago.

In a must-win situation to keep its playoff hopes alive, Boston seemed ready to rise to the occasion against the Bulls, one of the teams it needs to pass if it is to grab a playoff spot.

The Celts were in control of the game for the first 36 minutes, and though they let a 12-point lead slip away, they still had a chance to win in the closing seconds when Pierce drove to the hoop looking to tie it.

But there was Chandler, his long arm reaching into the air to block Pierce's shot. Bulls teammate Ben Gordon got the loose ball, and all Pierce could do was foul him. Gordon, who scored 13 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, hit both free throws, putting Chicago up by four points with 16.7 seconds to play.

The Bulls went on to win, 101-97, inching ever closer to eighth-place Philadelphia, which lost earlier yesterday to Indiana. Boston, meanwhile, fell even further out of the playoff picture. Though not mathematically eliminated, Boston is three games back of the 76ers in the win column and five in the loss column with 11 games to play.

"This was a huge game, probably the most important game of the season," Celts center Kendrick Perkins said. "We could have gained a game (in the standings), but it seemed like they wanted it more at the end. It was an important game for Chicago, too, and they wanted it more."

"Obviously, this was a disappointing loss," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "I told the team before the game that the team that went out and took it would be the team that wins the game, and that's what happened. We got timid down the stretch."

Rivers said his team's uptempo play, ball movement and hard cuts were gone in the final period, and players were holding the ball longer.

But Boston seemingly has grown accustomed to giving Pierce the ball and getting out of his way in close games this season -- normally with good success. Last night, however, the captain was 1-for-10 in the fourth, not counting the three blocks by Chandler. The one make was 14 seconds into the quarter, when Pierce hit a long two-pointer to put his team up, 80-68.

Boston led at the end of the first quarter, 31-25; at halftime, 53-46; and after the third, 78-68, when Pierce hit a buzzer-beater from just over half-court. He finished with 24 points on just 8-for-21 shooting with 8 rebounds and 8 assists; Wally Szczerbiak added 23, though he also struggled from the field, missing his first nine shots and finishing 7-for-19.

Philly's loss drops it to 32-37. Chicago is now 31-39, with Boston 29-42. The 76ers have two games in hand over the Celts and one over the Bulls. Chicago hosts Boston on Sunday, and plays a home-and-home set with Philadelphia on April 5 and 8. Boston travels to Philadelphia on April 7.

smanza@projo.com / (401) 277-7340