HOENIX - Dan Duquette would have summed this one up thusly: ''Well, we were in the lead for the majority of the game.''

He would be right. But the Celtics were not in the lead when it mattered most, as they fell to 0-2 on their post-Christmas Western swing with a disheartening 84-82 loss to the Suns last night before a sellout at America West Arena.

The game was not decided until Paul Pierce, who had another killer fourth quarter, saw his