When the lights finally warmed up, however, so did Steve Smith and Paul Pierce.

The two engaged in a shot-for-shot duel that finally ended when Smith hit the 17-foot clincher with 55.2 seconds left as the Spurs beat Boston 93-90. Smith scored 13 of the Spurs' final 15 points to overcome 33 points from Pierce.

"I feel real, real fortunate to get away with this one," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "We were fortunate enough to get one guy hot down the stretch."