Washington Wizards forward Paul Pierce said before the playoffs began that neither the Toronto Raptors nor the Atlanta Hawks had the "it factor" that scared opponents. He's since gone about proving that he still has it. The 37-year-old sunk the Raptors in Game 3 of the first round with a pair of backbreaking 3-pointers, and he topped himself on Saturday in Game 3 of the second round.
With 14.1 seconds left and the game tied 101-101 -- the Hawks had come back from a 20-point deficit -- Pierce's number was called. He had a mismatch against the smaller Dennis Schroder, and he got to his sweet spot at the left elbow. Kent Bazemore provided help, but it was too late. Like Derrick Rose the night before in Chicago, Pierce banked in a game-winner.
In the postgame television interview, Pierce was asked if he called bank. "I called game," he said. Then he walked off.
Pierce had an adequate 11 points on 11 shots before the final possession, but that play showed once again why the Wizards acquired him. With the 103-101 victory, Washington leads the series 2-1.
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