BOSTON — Kevin Garnett was in street clothes. Ray Allen fouled out. The Boston Celtics' Big Three was down to one, and Paul Pierce was ready.

The MVP of last year's NBA finals scored 26 points, hitting one jumper to tie the game at the end of regulation and three more in the final 77 seconds of overtime last night to help the Celtics beat the Chicago Bulls, 106-104, and take a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series.

"I just thought when Ray fouled out it was time for me to really step up," said Pierce, who scored 12 points in the 10 minutes after Allen left the game. "Better late than never."

Rajon Rondo scored 28 points with 11 assists and eight rebounds, and Kendrick Perkins had 16 points, 19 rebounds and seven blocks for Boston. The Celtics could finish the Bulls off in Chicago tomorrow in Game 6; if not, the decisive seventh game would be in Boston on Saturday.

Ben Gordon scored 26 and Joakim Noah had 11 points and 17 rebounds for Chicago, but Brad Miller missed the potential game-tying free throws with 2 seconds left in overtime after Rondo fouled him to prevent an easy layup.

"Paul Pierce was unbelievable," Noah said. "Guys are hitting crazy shot after crazy shot. It's all about who's going to make that shot at the end of the game. We had our chances, and that's what makes it so tough."

It was the third time in five games the teams have needed overtime. This time, they did it with two of the Big Three on the bench: Garnett is out for what could be the entire playoff run with strained ligaments in his right knee, and Allen — who hit the game-winning 3-pointer in Game 2 — fouled out with 5:27 left in regulation.

Boston's Tony Allen fouled Gordon while he was attempting a 3-pointer with 28 seconds left; Gordon hit all three free throws to tie it 104-all.

Pierce got the ball and dribbled down the clock before hitting a long 2-pointer over John Salmons with 3.4 seconds remaining.

The Bulls called a timeout and got the ball in to Miller, who had a surprisingly clear path to the basket but appeared to sail a layup wide. The clock expired, but the referees immediately huddled, called a foul on Rondo and put Miller on the line with 2 seconds left.

He missed the first one badly, then tried to miss the second on purpose but failed to hit the rim.

Miller got stitches in his mouth after the game, and Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said it should have been called a flagrant foul.

MAGIC 91, 76ERS 78

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando is going back to Philadelphia with a chance to close out the 76ers. Dwight Howard made sure of it.

Howard had 24 points and a career playoff-high 24 rebounds, a dominating performance that powered the Magic over the Sixers and gave Orlando a 3-2 series lead.

Philadelphia coach Tony DiLeo had a complaint.

"Dwight Howard had a great game, and he's a great player, but he just lives in the 3-second lane on offense and defense," DiLeo said. "I'm just saying he's standing in the 3-second lane on offense and defense. He's a great player, and he doesn't need any advantages."

Rashard Lewis snapped out of his playoff slump with a series-high 24 points, and Rafer Alston scored 14 for the Magic.

Andre Iguodala scored 26 points and led a second-half charge that fizzled fast, and Andre Miller added 17 points for Philadelphia.

MAVERICKS 106, SPURS 93

SAN ANTONIO — Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points and Dallas won a playoff series for the first time since 2006, eliminating San Antonio in five games.

"(We) went through a lot this year, a very turbulent year," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "Injuries. Ups, downs, emotional stuff, and we really stuck together. We came together at the right time."

It is the first time San Antonio has lost in the opening round since 2000, one year after the Spurs won their first of four NBA titles.

The Mavericks advance to the Western Conference semifinals to play either Denver or New Orleans.

Tim Duncan had 30 and Tony Parker had 26 but once again got little help — the story of the series for the two-dimensional Spurs.

BLAZERS 88, ROCKETS 77

PORTLAND, Ore. — Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge each scored 25 points, and Portland staved off elimination.

The Rockets, who have not advanced out of the first round of the playoffs in six tries since 1997, hold a 3-2 advantage in the series going into tomorrow night's game back in Houston.

Luis Scola led the Rockets with 21 points. Yao Ming had 15 points and 12 rebounds.

"Obviously, our worst game of the series," Yao said. "Hopefully, next game, execution will result in our best game."

Roy, a two-time All-Star and Portland's leading scorer, missed practice Monday because of flu-like symptoms, while Aldridge didn't practice because of a sore right elbow. Both started last night.