MIAMI - For Paul Pierce, Tuesday night was about overcoming obstacles. There was the Celtics' recent run of ragged play - of which he was an integral part - and there was early foul trouble that kept him on the bench for 12 minutes in the first half.

And then there was the Miami nightlife.

Pierce scored 33 points against the Heat, hitting the winning hoop on a slick drive as time ran out. And he did it a day after feeling more run down than road kill.