RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

BOSTON (AP) _ Steve Smith scored 23 and Jermaine O'Neal scored nine of his 13 points in the fourth quarter on Sunday night as the Portland Trail Blazers pulled away from the Boston Celtics and won 100-94.

O'Neal came off the bench to grab eight rebounds and score Portland's first seven points of the fourth, getting two dunks and a three-point play as the Blazers won for the eighth time in nine games.

Vitaly Potapenko scored 19 for Boston and Kenny Anderson had 11 with 10 assists.

Antoine Walker had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics, but made just 5-of-16 shots and 3-of-6 free throws. Paul Pierce also struggled for Boston, going 6-for-14 from the field and 3-for-6 from the line to finish with 16 points.

Scottie Pippen, who scored 19, hit a 3-pointer with 2.2 seconds left in the third quarter to give the Blazers a 71-70 lead. O'Neal opened the fourth with two offensive rebounds and a fourth-chance dunk, then answered Tony Battie's jumper with a dunk off an alley-oop to make it 75-72 with 10:41 left in the game.

After Danny Fortson made two free throws for Boston, O'Neal's layup and free throw gave the Blazers a 78-74 lead.

Portland protected its lead until Boston made a weak charge in the final minutes.

Walker hit a running one-hander to make it 92-88 with 1:43 left. After Pippen made a 3-pointer from the top of the key _ his only basket of the quarter _ Walker made another 3 to keep the lead at four points.

Portland made three of four free throws down the stretch to clinch it.

Notes: Smith was given a technical foul for yelling, at no one in particular, in the third quarter. Brian Grant got one a few minutes later for getting in Walter McCarty's face. A few minutes later, Walker got one after he fouled Smith. ... Portland went 6:48 without a field goal in the second quarter. ... The game marked the 30th anniversary of the NBA Board of Governors' vote to allow an expansion franchise in Portland. ... The Blazers are 31-2 when leading after three quarters.