For the third night in a row, Pierce was vintage.

Paul Pierce came alive in the fourth quarter, leading the Boston Celtics to a 94-87 victoy against the Houston Rockets.  The Rockets turned a 50-41 deficit into a 52-all tie, but three Ray Allen three-pointers gave the Celtics cushion, and Pierce’s 15-point fourth quarter took Boston home.

Playing on the road, against a solid team boasting a four-game winning streak, the Celtics — set on beating a legitimate team for the first time in months — took it to the Rockets.

It was a win to be proud of, but one the Celtics can hardly afford time to brag about.  They will be back in action Saturday night against the Mavericks.