Boston beats Atlanta as time winds down

The Atlanta Hawks have improved since losing to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs last spring. Too bad for them that the defending champions haven’t changed much at all.

NBA Finals MVP Paul Pierce hit a fall-away jumper with 0.5 seconds left to give Boston a 103-102 victory over Atlanta on Wednesday night, handing the Hawks their first loss of the season and their first since the Celtics ousted them en route to their unprecedented 17th title.

“A great player hit a great shot,” Hawks Coach Mike Woodson said. “I hate for the game to end -- not like that. That game was played beautifully on both ends of the floor, by both teams, and they made a great play at the end.”

Pierce scored 34 points and Kevin Garnett had 25 with 12 rebounds.