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Final Score: Boston 104 - Indiana 97

Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - Paul Pierce had 28 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Boston Celtics past the Indiana Pacers, 104-97, at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Ray Allen added 23 points for the Celtics, who have won four straight. Leon Powe finished with 16 points and nine boards and Rajon Rondo contributed 12 points, seven assists and seven boards for Boston.

"(Rajon) Rondo is picking his game up and is becoming one of the premier guards in the game," said Pierce. "He has improved tremendously going from a backup a year ago to a starter now. He's playing like a veteran and showing some maturity but he has definitely stepped it up by leaps and bounds."

Danny Granger had 18 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks, and Shawne Williams scored 14 points for the Pacers, who snapped a brief two-game winning streak. Troy Murphy donated 13 points and nine rebounds, while Mike Dunleavy and Kareem Rush scored 13 points apiece for Indiana.

The Celtics came out of the gates hot as back-to-back three-pointers by Allen capped a 10-0 game-opening run. Indiana fought back, though, and quickly took the lead. Dunleavy's dunk followed by two Murphy free throws put the Pacers ahead 13-12 with 5:17 left in the opening quarter.

Leading 25-21, Indiana opened the second quarter with a 7-0 surge, capped by Granger's hook shot for a 32-21 advantage with 10:33 to go in the frame. Boston, though, found its touch and a Pierce finger roll with 1:57 left in the second stanza put the Celtics up 46-45.

Boston carried a 51-50 lead into the break.

The Celtics used an 8-0 run, culminated by Brian Scalabrine's three to take a 69-61 lead with 5:00 left in the third quarter. Boston led 82-77 heading into the final quarter.

Indiana went ahead briefly in the fourth when Williams' three with 9:16 left gave the Pacers an 86-84 edge. Boston, however, scored the next nine points. Allen's three with 6:33 remaining gave the Celtics a 93-86 lead.

Granger's triple followed by a Williams' layup cut Indiana's deficit to 95-94 with 3:08 left, but the Celtics went ahead 101-95 on Pierce's jumper with 52 seconds showing on the clock.

Indiana got no closer thereafter.

"This was definitely a winnable game," said Granger. "We let it get away at the end with lack of execution and our usual letdown in the stretch. They're a good basketball team. They executed, defended and deserved to win."