They're surviving -- in the role of spoiler

PHILADELPHIA -- Celtics coach Doc Rivers called the game ''a lot of fun." Meanwhile, 76ers coach Maurice Cheeks looked and sounded like a man in pain trying to analyze Boston's 109-99 victory last night at the Wachovia Center.

Supposedly fighting for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia has dropped seven of its last nine at home. Although not mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, Boston (32-44) embraced its role as spoiler.

As the media started to leave the room where he made his postgame comments, Cheeks sat slumped in a chair, head in hands. Clearly, it hurt to see his team outperformed by a depleted Celtics roster that succeeded with Gerald Green (17 points), Tony Allen (16 points), and Delonte West (career-high 12 assists) complementing Paul Pierce (33 points).

''We've got a lot of resiliency," said Pierce. ''Guys are really playing hard and want to finish the season on a strong note to look forward to something next year."

After trailing by 8 points (74-66) in the third, Boston closed the quarter with a 12-0 run on four 3-pointers. Raef LaFrentz brought the Celtics within 1 with a pair of treys. Then Green nailed a 3-pointer that pushed Boston back in front. After Pierce capped the run with a 3-pointer, the Celtics entered the fourth quarter ahead, 81-76. Not only did the Celtics begin to believe they could win, the Sixers, led by Allen Iverson, suddenly seemed to realize what was at stake. And that made for an entertaining final quarter.

The Celtics fell behind briefly midway through the quarter, then tied it (91-91) when Green nailed a 3-pointer with 5 minutes 31 seconds remaining, starting a 10-3 run. The spurt ended with an 18-footer from Pierce that gave Boston a 101-94 lead with 2:09 left.

''I'm not pointing fingers at anybody," said Iverson (37 points). ''As a group, we're not playing hard enough to win basketball games. We don't seem hungry. We don't seem like we want to make it to the playoffs. It's frustrating for me because I owe that to my teammates, to be one of those guys who goes out there and plays hard every night. I just expect the same in return from them."

Green made his earliest appearance this season, checking in with 8:51 remaining in the first quarter. With Wally Szczerbiak out for the season and scheduled for arthroscopic knee surgery Monday, Rivers wants to give Green as much playing time as possible in the remaining six games. Green logged 25 minutes last night.

''It gives us a chance to see where he's at," said Rivers. ''I've been saying a lot lately that I think he's made great improvement from the beginning of the year until now. It will be interesting when he gets the consistent minutes now from here until the end of the season, how he progresses. Has he leveled out for this year? We're just going to watch and I'm going to try to put him in as many situations as possible."

Allen seemed unimpressed with his move to the starting lineup. ''It ain't no different role," he said. ''I'm still Tony Allen. I still do what Doc wants me to do. My role hasn't changed. This is just an opportunity to start and I've got to take advantage of it. Does it mean anything? No, not really. My minutes aren't really going to change. I'm just trying to go out there and get better, try to get my knee healthy." Before foul trouble, Allen made the most of his minutes, scoring 11 of his 16 points in the second quarter. Allen credits team massage therapist Vladimir Shulman for major improvements in his surgically repaired right knee that have allowed him to move better on the court . . . There was a Saint Joseph's reunion with Hawks coach Phil Martelli visiting former players West and Dwayne Jones. ''It feels good every time I come to Philly," said West. ''It seems like I always have a little bit extra energy. It's fun coming back and playing in front of the fans that fell in love with the way we played at Saint Joseph's." The university hoped to honor West during the All-Star break, but West's late invitation to play in the Rookie Challenge postponed those plans . . . Orien Greene dislocated his right thumb in the third quarter. Trainer Ed Lacerte treated Greene during a timeout and he did not miss any action . . . The Celtics will enjoy today off thanks to Pierce. During halftime, Rivers promised the team it would not practice if Pierce played the entire second half (he did) and the Celtics won.