Suns' Marion sizzles

PHOENIX -- The Celtics' newfound resiliency and confidence in the face of long odds is admirable. They have no reservations about relying on the young talents of Delonte West or Ryan Gomes, or even rookie Gerald Green. They are undaunted by double-digits deficits against the most prolific offensive teams in the league. Unfortunately, such resiliency and confidence doesn't win games. It merely makes them interesting. And that was the case last night at the US Airways Center.

Boston repeatedly battled back against Phoenix before losing, 103-94. It was another game that will go down as a sign the Celtics are developing rapidly into a competitive team with an increasingly legitimate shot at the postseason. But the news is more encouraging for future seasons as many of the players in the youth movement are making impressive contributions in the absence of Wally Szczerbiak (bruised left knee), Kendrick Perkins (dislocated left shoulder), and Al Jefferson (sprained right ankle). Last night, it was Gomes (11 points, 10 rebounds), West (career-high 30 points), and back-from-the-D-League Green (13 points, 9 rebounds) who picked up the slack.

But the youthful exuberance and accomplishment could not make up for a career night from the Suns' Shawn Marion (career-high 44 points, 15 rebounds). After being fairly successful is getting the ball out of the hands of Steve Nash, the Celtics watched as Marion earned what coach Doc Rivers called ''effort baskets." Marion also did a sufficient job defending Paul Pierce (20 points on 8-of-28) for significant stretches.

''I was happy with the effort," said Rivers. ''You'd like to come home with the win obviously, but with all the injuries, I thought our guys played with great effort. Our young guys were phenomenal. Our guys don't quit. They stay in and they keep fighting. We took most of the veterans out [to start the fourth quarter] and the young guys got us back in the game."

Phoenix steadily built its lead during the third, taking a 19-point advantage (77-58) with 1:45 left in the quarter. A 49-foot heave from West at the buzzer brought Boston within 14 (79-65) entering the fourth.

With a lineup featuring Orien Green, Tony Allen, Brian Scalabrine, West, and Green, the Celtics closed within striking distance early in the fourth. A 3-pointer by Scalabrine made it a 6-point game (84-78) with 8:28 left. The deficit was 6 (91-85) when Pierce reentered with six minutes to go. He clearly saw an opportunity to do what he does best in the fourth.

But at first, it wasn't Pierce who made the clutch baskets down the stretch. It was West, who had more of an opportunity to assert himself offensively with Szczerbiak sidelined. A driving layup by West with 4:36 left brought Boston within 4 points (93-89) for the first time in the quarter. The Celtics again closed within 4 (95-91) on a seemingly impossible reverse layup by Pierce with 2:31 to go.

''Shots have to be made up [with all the injuries] and I'm just looking a little more aggressively for my shot," said West, who seemed the least impressed by his career high. ''When we get healthy, we're still in the hunt for a playoff spot."

A pair of Nash free throws stretched the Suns' lead to 97-91. Then, a 3-point bid from West glanced off the rim with 1:51 left. Next, Pierce missed a 3-pointer. Those two errant shots proved costly as Phoenix continued to extend its advantage from the foul line. In the end, there were no game-saving heroics from Pierce, though Boston never gave up.

''We were just trying to play good defensively and take care of business on the offensive end," said Marion. ''Even though we weren't knocking down shots like we normally do, we still played good defense."

The Suns shot 44 percent, below their season average of 47 percent, which ranks second in the NBA. But they held the Celtics to 41 percent. Boston's situation on offense looked dire in the opening minutes as the Green quickly fell behind, 9-0. But they rebounded and took the lead, 16-15, on a 14-footer with 4:42 left in the first. Boston entered halftime behind, 53-44, after trailing by 14 points (48-34) late in the second quarter.

''We've been showing that resiliency all year," said Pierce. ''Eventually we'll get over the top. The more we play together and once we get off the injury bug and guys come back, these are games we'll win. This team has a lot of fight in them, a lot of what I saw from the team when we went to the Eastern Conference finals [in 2002]."

That may have been the biggest statement of all last night.