Celtics Walk Over Nets

February 27, 1999 / 10:54 PM EST / CBS/AP

The season keeps getting worse for the New Jersey Nets.

Antoine Walker scored 11 of his game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter Saturday as the Boston Celtics defeated New Jersey 101-92 for the Nets sixth straight loss.

The Celtics won their third game in a row and improved to 6-5. The Nets fell to 2-10 the second worst record in the league one season after making the playoffs.

"We've got to come up with some wins," said Nets center Jayson Williams who grabbed 14 rebounds. "We should be able to win close games at home during the fourth quarter. We're just not responding down the stretch. "

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"I don't think our team is confident," said Williams after the Nets blew a fourth quarter lead for the fifth time in their last six games. "We're getting leads and then letting teams back in the game. We've got to start putting people away."

After trailing most of the game, Boston took a 72-69 lead on Bruce Bowen's three-point play to open the fourth period. The Nets battled back and went ahead 78-77 on a three-point play by Kerry Kittles.

Then Walker, who also grabbed 11 rebounds, and rookie Paul Pierce took over.

Walker hit a spin move to put Boston ahead 79-78 but Keith Van Horn put the Nets back on top with two free throws with 5:12 remaining.

Walker followed with a jumper and Pierce added a 3-pointer giving the Celtics the lead for good at 84-80. Then, after Van Horn hit a short turnaround, Pierce drilled in a jumper from the corner, Walker scored on an alley-oop from Pierce and then Walker hit a 3-pointer to make it 91-82 with 2:51 remaining.

"Antoine's a great player, he was the key," said Celtics coach Rick Pitino. "He wouldn't let the other guys get down. He was 15 on a 10-point leadership scale tonight. Physically and mentally he did a great job with his leadership."

The Nets built a 33-19 lead early in the second period on the strength of a 10-2 spurt that included five points by Kittles and a three-pointer by Damon Jones.

But the Celtics outscored New Jersey 10-2 with Popeye Jones getting five, later in the period to cut the gap to 39-38. The Nets led at the half, 45-42.

"We had the chance to put them away," said Nets coach John Calipari. "But you have to give them (the Celtics) credit they made their 3's when they needed to and we didn't. We're trying we're just not finishing plays. We're not that good right now but no one's quitting."

Pierce finished with 21 points for the Celtics while Van Horn had 22 for the Nets. Notes: Nets point guard Sam Cassell did not suit up (right ankle) and missed his eighth game of the season. ... Ron Mercer (left ankle) missed his second straight game for Boston. ... The Nets and Celtics will face each other again Monday in Boston in the second game of a home-and-home series. ... No college or pro team coached by Nets coach John Calipari has ever opened the season at 2-10. ... Pierce leads the NBA in steals and among rookies is first in scoring and blocks, second in 3-point shooting and third in rebounding, assists and minutes played.