WASHINGTON - With Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in the crowd, the Celtics didn't take the hint. They allowed the Wizards (ranked 17th in the NBA in field goal percentage) to hit 51 percent, but it didn't end up mattering.


The Celts are on a roll, seemingly unable to stop even themselves. Paul Pierce threw in 37 points, including a back-breaking 3-pointer with eight seconds left that set up the C's for a 104-99 victory, their fifth straight.