Paul Pierce shakes off early foul trouble and scores 21 points.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – Paul Pierce overcame early foul trouble to score 18 of his 21 points in the second half and lead the Boston Celtics to an 84-80 victory Monday night over the depleted New Jersey Nets.

Ricky Davis added 17, and Mark Blount had 16 points and 15 rebounds for the Celtics, who won their third straight. Richard Jefferson led the Nets with 24 points and Lucious Harris added 18. Rodney Rogers had 16 points and 15 rebounds for New Jersey, which dropped its third in a row.

The Nets played their sixth game without injured All-Stars Kenyon Martin and Jason Kidd and fell to 1-5 without them.

The win helped Boston strengthen its grip on a playoff spot. The Celtics entered game a half-game ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers for eighth spot in the Eastern Conference and were only a half-game behind the New York Knicks in seventh. New York beat Portland, and Cleveland was at San Antonio.

With the Nets leading 67-65 in the fourth period, Pierce put the Celtics ahead to stay with eight straight points including a pair of 3s.

New Jersey had chances down the stretch. Jefferson completed a three-point play with 19 seconds remaining to cut the Boston lead to 81-78.

The Nets fouled Blount, who missed both free throws. Jefferson pulled down the rebound but Harris turned the ball over to Walter McCarty and New Jersey never recovered.

The Celtics led 43-42 at the half as neither team could take charge. The biggest lead was six points by Boston and there were 12 lead changes and six ties. Blount paced Boston with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Davis added 11.

Pierce was in early foul trouble. He picked up two in the first quarter and wound up with three at the half. The fouls limited him to 12 minutes and only three points.

Jefferson had 12 points for New Jersey at the half.

The game remained tight, and the teams were tied at 57 after three quarters. Pierce, who picked up a fourth foul five seconds into the half, came alive for the Celtics with eight points in the period.

The Nets had foul trouble as well as Jefferson also picked up his fourth midway through the quarter.

Notes: Martin could be close to returning, perhaps as soon as this week, according to Nets coach Lawrence Frank. Martin, sidelined with left knee tendinitis, went through a shootaround Monday. “He’s working extremely hard at it,” said Frank. “There is definitely some relief but it’s not yet where he can play.” … The news is not as encouraging on Kidd and the bone bruise in his left knee. “We have to try and find the best possible remedy and be proactive as possible yet there is nothing new to say,” said Frank. … Kidd did not shed any more light on a possible return. “I’m just rehabbing, that’s all,” said Kidd. “I hope to play (again this season) unless something changes.”

AP-ES-03-29-04 2237EST