Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce made 2,143 3-pointers during his 19-year NBA career, good for 17th all-time. He won the 2010 All-Star 3-Point Contest, famously outlasting a rookie Stephen Curry. The man could shoot. And on Sunday afternoon at TD Garden, the 48-year-old Hall of Famer proved he hasn’t lost much.

Pierce took part in the Celtics’ inaugural Causeway Classic, a 3-point shooting competition pitting former Boston greats against each other in front of season ticket members. He faced Brian Scalabrine, Leon Powe, and Evan Turner. After navigating the first round, Pierce met Scalabrine in the finals and edged him despite missing his first six shots.

“It’s always great to come back here,” Pierce said. “This is home, so to be able to give back to the fans every time I come out, it means a lot for what they’ve been able to do to support me in my career. Times like this, you remember what you left in this building, for the city.”

It was an unmissable moment for the Celtics fans. And they let that be known on social media, marveling at Pierce’s shooting.

“Paul Pierce can still shoot better than half the NBA,” one fan declared.

“He was Stephen Curry before Stephen Curry was Stephen Curry. A true shooter, him & Ray Allen, only true ball knowledge know about this, a true lover/basketball fan,” another noted.

“Reminder that when @paulpierce won the real 3 point contest, he beat @stephencurry30 while doing it,” a fan reiterated how prolific a shooter Pierce was.

“Everything else goes. Your legs, knees, bounce, coordination lol; but that shot always stays,” a fan commented.

One fan came up with an interesting proposal for the league: “@NBA @espn Why doesn’t the NBA do a ‘Retired’ 3 Point Contest? Old rivalries renewed – why not??”

“I’ve seen enough get this brotha a 10 day!” another went further ahead.

“TRUTH is a LEGEND,” a fan commented, showing nothing but love for the 2008 NBA champion.

Pierce stuck around after the event, settling into a courtside seat for the Celtics’ matchup against Minnesota. When he appeared on the big screen, the Garden crowd gave him the kind of ovation reserved for franchise icons. The first 5,000 fans through the doors had received Pierce bobbleheads, a nod to his lasting importance in Boston basketball history.

Paul Pierce Witnessed an Unfortunate Night for the Celtics

Pierce’s presence couldn’t save the Celtics from an uneven fourth quarter. Boston carried a one-point lead into the final frame, then went cold.

The Celtics missed 12 straight field goal attempts at one point and went scoreless for over five minutes, allowing Minnesota to pull away. Bones Hyland led the Timberwolves with 23 points in the 102-92 win, snapping an 18-game losing streak in Boston that dated back to 2005.

Jaylen Brown finished with 29 points for the Celtics, while Jayson Tatum struggled through a scoreless first half before ending with 16 points and 11 rebounds. The loss dropped Boston to 47-24 and snapped a four-game winning streak.

Related: Paul Pierce Calls Out Reggie Miller Over Caitlin Clark, Payton Pritchard Comparison

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.