Portland Applies Long-Range Plan

The Portland Trail Blazers are playing so well that they even beat the Boston Celtics in a three-point contest.

Bonzi Wells and Derek Anderson each made two three-point shots in the fourth quarter and the Trail Blazers finished with 11 on Monday night to beat the Celtics, 100-91, at Boston.

It was Portland’s 15th victory in its last 16 games.

“We’d rather get inside and take high-percentage shots,” said Wells, who made a three-pointer with 11 seconds left to clinch the victory and finish with 20 points. “But they won’t let you get anything in the lane.”

Shawn Kemp had 12 points and 11 rebounds in his second game subbing for the suspended Dale Davis, and Rasheed Wallace scored 18 as Portland beat Boston for the first time in two tries this season.

“We owed Boston,” Wells said. “They came into our house and beat us, and we wanted to return the favor.”

Paul Pierce had 28 points and eight rebounds for the Celtics, who have attempted 1,575 three-pointers, by far more than any other team in the league. Portland has tried 1,033.

Portland was 11 for 32 from three-point range and four for 11 in the fourth quarter. Boston finished five for 23.

Detroit 98, Denver 91--Jerry Stackhouse had 24 points and 11 assists, and led a fourth-quarter Piston surge at Denver, which lost for the fifth consecutive time.

Charlotte 113, Milwaukee 110--David Wesley made a three-pointer with 28 seconds to play and two free throws with one second left to lift the Hornets at Charlotte, N.C.

Washington 99, Golden State 96--Chris Whitney scored 20 points, including five in the final 12.8 seconds, to lift the Wizards at Oakland.

Whitney made a three-pointer that gave Washington its first lead since the third quarter, 97-96.