Washington posts win in a playoff game for first time in 17 years

Gilbert Arenas had 32 points, seven rebounds and seven assists to help the Washington Wizards beat the Chicago Bulls 117-99 on Saturday for the franchise's first playoff victory in 17 years.

The win was the first since May 8, 1988, when Washington beat Detroit 106-103 in Game 4 of a first-round series. Of immediate concern for the Wizards is that they cut the Bulls' series lead to 2-1, with Game 4 in Washington on Monday night.

Larry Hughes added 21 points and seven rebounds for the Wizards, Antawn Jamison had 21 points and eight rebounds, and Etan Thomas finished with 20 points on 8-for-9 shooting and had nine rebounds. Tyson Chandler led Chicago with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Mavericks 97, Rockets 93

With Dirk Nowitzki in another slump and Houston's Tracy McGrady scoring virtually at will, unheralded Dallas point guard Jason Terry rescued the Mavericks from the bleakest of deficits.

Terry scored a season-high 32 points, including a 3-pointer with 26.9 seconds left, and Michael Finley added 18 to rally the Mavericks from a seven-point, fourth-quarter deficit for the victory.

The series now is even at two games apiece, with the road team winning all four games. Game 5 is Monday night in Dallas.

Nowitzki finished with 18 points on 4-for-14 shooting.

McGrady led Houston with 36 points, and Yao Ming added 20.

Celtics 110, Pacers 79

The Boston Celtics saw the white towels waving in the crowd.

But facing the possibility of a two-game deficit in their best-of-seven series with Indiana and playing on the road without suspended forward Antoine Walker, Boston didn't surrender.

Paul Pierce had 30 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, and the Celtics came out running, shooting, defending and found the perfect combination to even the series with a 110-79 rout of Indiana in Game 4 on Saturday night.

Ricky Davis added 15 points and all five Boston starters scored in double figures. Delonte West started in place of Walker and scored 14 points.

The series, tied at two games apiece, now shifts back to Boston for Game 5 on Tuesday night.

The Pacers were led by Stephen Jackson's 24 points. Reggie Miller added 12 points as the Pacers endured their worst playoff loss.