BOSTONFor most of his time with the Boston Celtics, Ray Allen has been viewed as the third member of the Big Three.
But in a close game, few players in the NBA are as clutch as Allen when the game is on the line.
Once again, Allen came to the Green team's rescue with a flurry of fourth-quarter 3's to help the Celtics (3-3) escape with a 100-92 win over Washington.
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Allen led all Celtics with 27 points, which included 11 in the decisive fourth quarter.
After trailing the Wizards by a single point at the end of each of the first three quarters, both the Celtics and Wizards struggled to score early in the fourth.
The quarter's first point came on a Kevin Garnett free throw that tied the game at 70 with 10:07 to play.
Washington's Andray Blatche, who led all scorers with 28 points, countered with a jumper that put the Wizards ahead by two points.
It was that kind of nip-and-tuck, back-and-forth kind of game that looked very much like it wouldn't be decided until the final ticks of the game clock.
Trailing 74-72, a familiar face stepped up - Allen - to drain a go-ahead 3-pointer with about nine minutes to play.
Allen's shot triggered a 9-2 run for the Celtics that put the scrappy Washington team on its heels.
Washington (0-5), the only team in the NBA without a win this season, played all but the first 1:46 without their head coach Flip Saunders.
Upset with a non-call against Boston's Greg Stiemsma, he picked up a technical and then another one soon after when he grabbed an official's arm.
Saunders is sure to be fined, as well as possibly being suspended for his action.