Final Score: Boston 116, Washington 115 (OT)

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Paul Pierce drained a long jump shot as the buzzer sounded in overtime to give the Boston Celtics a thrilling 116-115 win over the Washington Wizards at the newly-named Verizon Center.

Pierce finished with 31 points while Ryan Gomes netted a career-high 27 points and gathered nine rebounds for the Celtics, who have won four of their last six games. Wally Szczerbiak donated 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting in the win.

Gilbert Arenas sprang for a game-high 39 points and still managed five assists for Washington, which coughed up a 13-point fourth quarter lead to fall for the fourth time in its last five outings. Antawn Jamison had a double-double with 25 points and 12 boards and Caron Butler scored 23.

The Wizards took a 111-107 lead in the extra session following an Arenas three-point play, only to see Boston come back to tie it on a pair of free throws from both Gomes and Pierce.

Antonio Daniels earned a trip to the line at the other end and made both shots from the stripe to give Washington a 113-111 edge with 34 ticks left. Pierce, though, cooly responded with a three to stake Boston to a one-point lead.

Arenas had an answer, draining a long jumper from the elbow that made it 115-114 with 14 seconds left.

Pierce had the last say, however. Despite being double-teamed, he maneuvered to the left wing, rose up, and buried a shot from just inside the three-point line as the red light went off to give Boston the victory.

"I think we deserved that one after the last two times we've played them," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "We felt we stole this one tonight with some unfortunate things, but we felt that they stole two from us. So we owed them that one."

The Celtics took a 57-54 advantage into halftime after Gomes sank a buzzer- beater three, but Washington erupted for 36 points in the third frame to assume a 90-80 lead.

Daniels' three-point play less than two minutes in capped a 7-2 Wizards burst to start the quarter, which put them up by two. Szczerbiak put Boston back up 65-64 moments later with a turnaround jumper, but it was short lived.

Washington ripped off seven straight points in response, including a running jumper by Butler to finish the surge, that made it 71-65. Arenas, who had 14 points in the third, upped the edge to eight points with about six minutes to go with a jump shot and then a pair of free throws on the next trip down.

The Wizards went up by as many as 12 in the stanza, and pushed its lead to 95-82 with 10:55 remaining in the contest.

However, the Celtics came roaring back with a 17-4 run that tied the game at 99-99 with 3:15 left on the clock. Al Jefferson had six straight points to bring his team into striking distance, and Orien Greene later tied it with a trey.

The teams fought to a 104-104 tie in the waning moments and both Boston and Washington had good looks at the basket on their final possessions, but neither could convert.

"This was obviously a very tough loss for us," said Washington coach Eddie Jordan. "We fought hard and defended the last play as best as we could. At the same time we didn't some stops and missed a few rebounds, which cost us."

The Celtics held a 26-25 lead after one quarter.

Game Notes

Boston guard Delonte West (groin) did not play...The Wizards are still 10-2 in their last 12 home games and own a 21-11 record as the host this season...Boston improved to 8-22 away from home this season...Jefferson finished with 12 points.

03/08 01:00:05 ET