RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) _ Richard Hamilton's 11-foot jumper with 4.4 seconds left spoiled a Boston Celtics comeback Thursday and gave the Washington Wizards a 102-101 victory in the final preseason game for both teams.

On a night when Hamilton and the rest of Connecticut's 1999 NCAA champions were honored at halftime, the rookie first-round draft pick scored from the left side of the foul circle after teammate Mitch Richmond missed the second of two free throws.

After Hamilton's shot, Boston's Kenny Anderson failed to get off a clear shot as time expired.

Hamilton led a balanced Wizards attack with 17 points. Seven Washington players were in double figures, with Michael Smith adding 15 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

Paul Pierce scored 28 points and Anderson had 21 for the Celtics. Walter McCarty led a fourth-quarter surge for Boston and finished with 16.

The Wizards led 49-40 at halftime and 80-69 after three quarters when the Celtics' pressing defense began causing Washington problem. A dunk by McCarty and a three-point play by Tony Battie closed the gap to 82-78 with nine minutes left.

McCarty's two free throws gave the Celtics an 88-86 lead with 7:02 remaining, and capped a 19-6 run.

Celtics center Vitaly Potapenko required five stitches after suffering a cut under his left eye in the second half during a scramble under the basket. He sat out the rest of the game, but is not expected to miss Boston's regular-season opener Tuesday night in Toronto.

The Celtics, who beat the Wizards 97-92 Wednesday night in Boston, finished with a 3-5 preseason record. The Wizards closed out at 3-3.