WASHINGTON (AP) – Paul Pierce scored 26 of his 37 points in the second half, and the Boston Celtics moved back into playoff position with a 111-102 victory over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.

The victory broke a two-game losing streak and moved the Celtics from ninth to seventh place in the Eastern Conference, percentage points ahead of idle New York and Miami.

Pierce scored 13 of Boston’s last 25 points, including a jumper, a steal and layup and a free throw in a solo 5-0 run that tied the score at 102 with 1:48 left.

Ricky Davis then made a 15-footer to give Boston the lead, and Chucky Atkins’ floater made it a four-point cushion with 46 seconds to play.

The Celtics finished the game with a 14-0 run over the last 3:45.

Pierce also grabbed 12 rebounds. Atkins added 17 points, and Davis scored 15.

Gilbert Arenas scored 28 and Etan Thomas added a career-high 21 for the Wizards, who lost their sixth straight. Jerry Stackhouse, playing his second game after missing six to rehabilitate his knee, scored 19 in 41 minutes.

The Wizards shot 59 percent in the first half to take a 60-54 lead. Arenas had 15 points, four assists and four steals in the half, and Washington took advantage of Boston’s 13 turnovers.

Pierce scored 13 points in the third quarter, while Stackhouse was scoreless. But Washington’s big men, Kwame Brown and Thomas, combined for 14 points to keep the Wizards ahead 83-79 going into the fourth.

Notes: Davis played despite spraining his left ankle in the fourth quarter of Friday’s loss to Indiana. … Brown started after missing Friday’s loss at Atlanta with a sprained left ankle. Washington’s Jarvis Hayes (pulled left hamstring) missed his third straight game. … The Wizards are 1-17 against Atlantic Division teams. … The Celtics have won four straight road games. … Boston clinched the season series for the fifth time in six years. They lead 3-0 with one to play.

AP-ES-03-13-04 2142EST