Paul Pierce let the 24-second clock run almost out before hitting a step-back 3-pointer from the left with 2.5 seconds left to put the icing on the Celtics' fourth straight win, a 106-104 outlasting of the Clippers.

Pierce's shot -- the last of his 22 points -- made Jamal Crawford's trey at the end meaningless.

The Celts squandered nearly all of a big lead before holding on in this one.

The Clippers began going to the hoop even harder when Kevin Garnett went to the bench with his fifth foul two and a half minutes into the final period. They cut the Celtic lead to six on drives by Blake Griffin and Crawford.

The 15-point lead after three was still at a reasonable 10 after a Brandon Bass dunk, but the C's missed their next five shots from the floor and turned the ball over twice as L.A. made it a four-point game with just less than five minutes remaining.

With Garnett back, Crawford followed a Pierce free throw with another layup to bring the margin to three. The Celts turned the ball over twice and missed a jumper on their next three possessions, but the Clippers chilled a bit, too.

Jason Terry broke the ice with a 17-foot fadeaway to make it 103-98 with 1:09 left. Eric Bledsoe's second-chance 3-pointer cut the margin to two, and, after a Terry missed trey, Crawford was called for an offensive foul with 26.6 to go.

Pierce then held the ball before making his move.