Pierce Knows He Needs To Step Up

By HOWARD ULMAN

AP Sports Writer

BOSTON (AP) – Paul Pierce knows he has to improve his play in

Game 4 of the NBA finals. First, he must stay out of foul trouble.

The Boston Celtics' leading scorer in the regular season picked

up his fifth foul in the first minute of the fourth quarter of the

Los Angeles Lakers' 91-84 win Tuesday night that gave them a 2-1

lead in the best-of-seven series.

Pierce finished with 15 points, and that included a meaningless

layup with 5.1 seconds left, after a rough second game when he

missed nine of 11 shots and scored 10 points. The Celtics still won

103-94.

Game 4 is Thursday night. Pierce said Wednesday he hasn't been

shooting particularly well but that foul trouble has kept him from

establishing a consistent rhythm on offense by sending him to the

bench.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)