BOSTON, (Reuters) – The Boston Celtics overcame the  absence of leading scorer Paul Pierce to pull away from the  Miami Heat in the fourth quarter for a 107-102 victory on  Wednesday.

Pierce missed the game with a strained left foot he  suffered on Monday but the Celtics were able to call on Rajon  Rondo’s 22 points and 14 assists while Eddie House added 16 off  the bench as the home side added 33 in the final quarter.

House scored five successive points late in the game after  the Heat had pulled within two and Boston (31-16) made 12 free  throws in the last two minutes to seal the contest.

“I thought we were able to get stops when we had to,” Kevin  Garnett told reporters after finishing with 14 points.

“Rajon took over in the fourth quarter, Eddie House made  some shots and we shared the ball and played well.”

Dwayne Wade had 30 points and 13 assists but gave up a  costly turnover with 36 seconds remaining with Miami down by  three.

The Heat (24-25) spent a majority of the game chasing the  Celtics and although they made it a close contest in the  closing stages they were unable to avoid a third consecutive  defeat.

Rafer Alston and Udonis Haslem had 15 points each for the  Heat, who trailed by two at the half but tied the game going  into the fourth.

Boston scored the first five points of the fourth and built  a quick 10-point lead then had to absorb Miami’s rally.

The Celtics scored 100 points for the first time in 10  games, Ray Allen finishing with a team-high 23 points and  Garnett adding a season-high nine assists.

“There are times where you’re mad at Kevin for being a ball  mover,” said Boston coach Doc Rivers.

“There are times when you say: ‘Let’s just go ahead and  shoot that one’. Him and Rondo do that at times. But that’s a  disease I would rather have, over-pass, rather than the other  way.”