Paul Pierce made three straight jump shots in the final 77 seconds of overtime as the Boston Celtics held on to beat the Chicago Bulls 106-104 on Tuesday night and take a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven play-off series.

Rajon Rondo scored 28 points with 11 assists and eight rebounds and Kendrick Perkins had 16 points, 19 rebounds and seven blocks for the Celtics. It was the third time in five games the teams have needed overtime, a surprising first-round struggle for the defending NBA champions.

Ben Gordon scored 26 and Joakim Noah had 11 points and 17 rebounds for Chicago, but Brad Miller missed the potential game-tying free throws with two seconds left in overtime.

The Bulls return home for Game six tonight hoping to extend the series.

31 point 'curse breaker'

At San Antonio, Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points as Dallas Mavericks scored a 106-93 victory to win a play-off series for the first time since 2006, eliminating San Antonio Spurs in five games.

It is the first time San Antonio has lost in the opening round since 2000.

At Orlando, Florida, Dwight Howard had 24 points and a career play-off-high 24 rebounds to power Orlando Magic to a 91-78 victory and 3-2 series lead over Philadelphia.

The Sixers face elimination in Game six in the best-of-seven series today in Philadelphia. A potential Game seven would be Saturday in Orlando.

At Portland, Oregon, Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge each scored 25 points as Portland Trail Blazers staved off elimination in the play-offs by beating Houston Rockets 88-77 in Game five.

The Rockets, who have not advanced out of the first round of the play-offs in six tries since 1997, hold a 3-2 advantage in the series going into tonight's game back in Houston.