Celtics Hold Off Wizards 108-98

March 6, 1998 / 12:00 AM EST / CBS/AP

Without Juwan Howard in the lineup and with Chris Webber playing on one good leg, the Washington Wizards still couldn't stop Antoine Walker.

The Boston Celtics forward had 35 points and 13 rebounds in their 108-98 victory over the Wizards on Friday night.

Howard missed his 12th straight game with a sprained ankle and Webber played the entire game limping on his right leg, which he injured Thursday night against the New York Knicks.

Walker didn't match his career-high of 49 points he set in a 110-108 loss at Washington on Jan. 7, but he was ecstatic with the win.

"This was a huge game for us, and we gained a little ground," Walker said."It's nice this time to win. I don't care if I score five points, because the only way that you can be known as a great player is to get in the playoffs in this league."

The loss ended Washington's two-game winning streak, which included victories over the Los Angeles Lakers and New York. The Wizards entered the game just 1½ games behind Cleveland for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

"I saw that Webber was hurt in the first few minutes," Walker said. "He must have gotten injured last night, but he still played and you could tell that it is almost playoff time. He is a good player and just gutted it up."

The Celtics opened an 88-78 lead early in the fourth quarter on Ron Mercer's three-point play, but Washington closed to 99-94 on a pair of free throws by Calbert Cheaney with 2:59 left.

However, that was as close as the Wizards got as Mercer and Andrew DeClercq each sank a pair of free throws for Boston.

"When we got close, we just didn't make plays," Washington coach Bernie Bickerstaff said."They did a great job on the offensive glass. I can't fault him (Webber) for this loss. It takes mental toughness to come in and play back-to-back games."

Webber finished with 23 points, while Rod Strickland also scored 23 points for the Wizards.

"The knee didn't hinder my play, I did" Webber said. "I don't like to make excuses. The knee will get better. Tonight was frustrating because we got the lead down to five or six points a few times, but couldn't get over the hump."

Boston took a 57-48 lead at halftime. The Celtics took a 13-point lead, their largest of the game, with 2:38 remaining in the second quarter on Walker's 20-footer.

Mercer added 24 points for the Celtics.

Notes: Walker has shot 48 percent from the field since the arrival of Kenny Anderson, up from 39 percent before the trade. ... Webber has averaged 27.2 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists in five games since returning from a shoulder injury.