BOSTON - The Boston Celtics are learning the hard way. Discount Shoes Ireland .Jeff Green scored 25 points, reserve Marcus Thornton had 21 and the Celtics nearly blew a 25-point third-quarter lead before beating the Washington Wizards 101-93 Sunday in Paul Pierces return.After blowing a big lead earlier in the week and winning in overtime against Detroit, they hung on in the final minute against the Wizards. Boston blew out the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.Thats twice this week that weve handled it better, once we didnt, Boston coach Brad Stevens said. I just thought we played gutsy at the end.In a handful of games earlier this season, the Celtics had squandered big leads and ended up losing.Rajon Rondo had a triple-double with 13 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists for the Celtics, who won their third straight after a season-high five-game losing streak.We got to do what we did to get the lead, Rondo said. I think we stopped running (when) they score every time down its hard to run and were able to get stops and push the ball up, thats how we got the lead.Rasual Butler scored 14 of his 22 points in the final quarter for the Wizards, who failed to match the franchises best start since 1968-69.Pierce, who played for the Celtics for 15 seasons and was a member of their 2008 championship team before being traded to Brooklyn prior to last season, scored 16 points. He signed with Washington as a free agent during the off-season.This place will always have a place in my heart — always, he said.John Wall had 17 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds for Washington, which had won its last four.For whatever reason, after winning four and row and playing the way we have, moving the ball and sharing the ball, we came out tonight as individuals, Wizards coach Randy Wittman said.The Celtics had opened their 25-point lead midway into the third quarter before the Wizards made a furious fourth-quarter rally behind Butler.Washington, which struggled with its shooting, didnt get into an offensive rhythm until the beginning of the final quarter when Butler nailed three 3-pointers during a 14-3 spree that started the quarter.Butlers final quarter — when he nailed four 3-pointers — helped the Wizards make it 94-93 with just over a minute to play.Pierce front-rimmed a 3 before Avery Bradley nailed one from deep in the right corner for Boston with 37 seconds to play, and Greens breakaway layup sealed it.The Celtics increased it to 63-38 in the third on Rondos fastbreak layup and led 77-59 entering the final quarter.___TIP-INSWizards: They were coming off a season-high 119 points in a win over Denver on Friday, but missed 14 of their initial 18 shots and scored only 15 first-quarter points. ... C/F Nene played his second straight after missing five with right plantar fasciitis.Celtics: Stevens likes the test his team will get facing the Wizards on consecutive days. I think theyre a legitimate contender out of the East, he said. This is great for us to have to have to play 96 minutes in a row against this team. ... G Marcus Smart entered the game in the first quarter after being held out of Fridays game while he recovered from a sprained left ankle that sidelined him for 11 of 12.WELCOME BACKPierce got a nice hand during pregame introductions. The crowd near the Wizards bench chanted his name during the third quarter. Its always probably going to be weird just coming up in this arena, he said before the game. Even just landing in the airport and driving through the city, taking a left instead of a right into the locker room. Its always going to be weird coming in here.HANDING IT OUT:Wall had his fourth straight game with 12 or more assists.QUIET DOUBLE-DOUBLEBoston F Jared Sullinger had 10 points and 10 boards. He took only eight shots.UP NEXTThe teams play the second of the home-and-home Monday night in Washington. Fake Shoes Ireland . The freestyle skier from Calgary finished sixth in the qualification round with a total of 82.00 points. Groenewoud won a silver medal at the X Games last month, just over five weeks after undergoing double knee surgery. Cheap Shoes Ireland Online .com) - Ryan Johansens creative moves and hometown appeal highlighted Team Folignos successful night at the NHL All- Star Skills Competition. https://www.shoesirelandsale.com/ .A. Happ capped a challenging season with one of his best efforts of the year.For the first time since the preseason, there is a team other than the Indiana Pacers at the top of the TSN.ca NBA Power Rankings. Entering the All-Star break, the Oklahoma City Thunder have won 14 of 16 games to take over top spot, even without injured star point guard Russell Westbrook. Making a big move up, with the return of point guard Chris Paul, the Los Angeles Clippers jumped from 10 to four, and the surprising Phoenix Suns moved from 15 to 12. 14-5 in the past 19 games, the Brooklyn Nets are up to 15, from 19, their highest ranking since the preseason. The Minnesota Timberwolves are down two starters annd fall from 11 to 14 and the Atlanta Hawks, losers of five straight, fall from 14 to 17. Shoes Ireland Free Shipping. Down to their last option at point guard, and losers of four straight by an average margin of 25 points, the Denver Nuggets slide from 16 to 19 and the Philadelphia 76ers, losers of seven straight, drop from 26 to 29. The Toronto Raptors are down from one spot, from nine to 10, effectively losing ground to the Clippers upon Pauls return. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. ' ' '