BOSTON — Root canal surgery is more relaxing than these Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
Given the number of overtime games, it might take less time, too.
The Celtics outlasted the Bulls 106-104 in another overtime classic Tuesday night at TD Banknorth Garden, taking a 3-2 edge in the best-of-seven series and grinding more nervous fans' teeth down in the process.
Any potential trip to the dentist is optional. Watching Thursday night's Game 6 at the United Center in Chicago is not — if drama is your thing.
Paul Pierce's jumper with 3.4 seconds remaining — his third straight over an isolated John Salmons — won it for the defending NBA champions.
The Bulls missed an opportunity to tie when Brad Miller missed the first of two free throws with two seconds left, then committed a violation when his second missed the rim intentionally.
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Pierce missed two free throws with 1.3 seconds left, but Glen Davis grabbed the rebound on the second and the Bulls didn't have any timeouts anyway.
Pierce dribbled down almost the entire 24-second shot clock before moving to his preferred right and calmly sinking the jumper when no double-team arrived.
"I thought about doubling a lot," Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. "He fades away and he's 6-8. We talked about coming with different players. He hit tough shots with hands in his face. That's what great players do. But we've come with single cover, bigs, littles. He has seen it all."
The Bulls believed Miller drew a flagrant foul from Rajon Rondo with two seconds left. The officials huddled to review for several seconds as trainers attended to a woozy Miller, but no call came.
"Absolutely," Miller said when asked if he thought it was flagrant.
Ben Gordon shook off a strained left hamstring to play 51 of 53 minutes, squeeze off 21 shots and make just six, leading the Bulls with 26 points. Joakim Noah added 11 points and 17 rebounds.
Pierce led the Celtics with 26 points.
"It was up to me to guard him down the stretch and he hit three good shots," Salmons said.
The Bulls took their largest lead at 77-66 with 9:28 left in regulation after Gordon hustled back after a miss to block Eddie House's shot, and Miller fed Noah inside for a layup on the ensuing fast break.
The Bulls still led 83-73 on Derrick Rose's jumper with 7:19 left when Boston ripped off a 9-0 run, capped by Rondo's fast-break layup.
Ray Allen's three-pointer with 5:44 left just before Rondo's basket would be his last. Allen fouled out with 5:27 remaining when Miller suckered him into a double foul away from the ball on a screen.
The Bulls still led 91-87 on Rose's driving layup with 1:50 left before Rondo scored on a drive, Kendrick Perkins blocked Salmons' shot and Pierce scored on a fast break to tie it and force overtime for the third time in five games.
TV Today
• Heat at Hawks: 5 p.m. on TNT
• Hornets at Nuggets: 7:30 p.m. on TNT
