WASHINGTON -- They announced a sellout last night at the MCI Center. Never mind that half the place was empty, a tribute to the hold the Redskins have on the self-proclaimed world's most powerful city. When they play, the city pretty much stops.
So all those folks who bought tickets to the game stayed home to watch football -- and they ended up missing quite a finish. It was a finish that left Doc Rivers steaming -- and the Washington Wizards mighty grateful.
The Celtics lost this one, 103-102, as Gilbert Arenas made two free throws with 3.5 seconds left to avoid what would have been a humiliating meltdown. The Wizards led, 101-94, with 29.4 seconds left, yet found themselves down, 102-101, after a Delonte West hoop with 9.7 seconds left capped a lightning 8-0 Boston run. All the Celtics needed was one stop and they wouldn't even need the team charter to fly home.
But the crafty Arenas drove to the basket. There was contact, although he appeared to be the one who made it by being out of control. Referee Bill Spooner, however, called Paul Pierce for a foul. Rivers went into a rage -- we can only imagine what Tommy Heinsohn was thinking -- as the call looked to most like a parting gift to the hosts.
''My view [of the call] is about the same as everyone else's, except one guy," Rivers said. ''He [Arenas] lost control of the ball and flung himself into the guy. But you put yourself into that situation and anything can happen."
Said West, ''I feel like this one was stolen from us."
The Celtics appeared to be dead and gone after Caron Butler (20 points) dropped a pair of free throws to make it 101-94 with 29.4 seconds left. The Celtics had lost control of this one in the second half of the third quarter, falling behind, 82-76, after three and by 10 points midway through the fourth. One comeback already had been thwarted. There didn't appear to be time for another.
But Pierce (23 points, 11 in the fourth) drained a long 3-pointer with 26.3 seconds left. After a Washington timeout, Antonio Daniels, who was close to useless all night, threw away the inbounds pass (Chucky Atkins allowed the ball to trickle out of bounds, apparently fearing a backcourt violation that was not going to be called). Rivers frantically called for the rarely used Brian Scalabrine, who to that point had not played a second. Scalabrine, who was stunned to hear his name called, hurried into the game, told Wizards coach Eddie Jordan that he was going to make the shot, and then, after a nice feed from Ricky Davis, did just that, right in front of the Washington bench.