Los Angeles  - With the game on the line, Paul Pierce had the ball and the Boston Celtics star didn't have to think twice about what he was going to do with it.

Pierce hit Ray Allen for the game-winning three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left in the second overtime, lifting the Celtics to a dramatic 111-109 home-court victory over the pesky Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night.

"When you have one of the greatest shooters to ever play the game it's a no-brainer," said Pierce, who finished with a game-high 32 points. "I'll proclaim Ray the greatest shooter that I've ever seen in the history of the NBA. You have to talk about guys that have done it crucial situations and Ray has done it."

Los Angeles - The longest running soap opera in the United States is to end after 72 years on the air, the CBS network announced Wednesday.

Guiding Light, began its TV run in 1952 after making the transition from radio where it had debuted 15 years earlier. The show has been suffering from consistently dropping ratings in recent years, but television network CBS gave no reason for the decision to axe the show, which will air its last broadcast on September 18.

Los Angeles - The dysfunctional cartoon family The Simpsons has been chosen for one of the most iconic honours in the United States. The portraits of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson will all feature on five first class postage stamps, the US Postal Service announced Wednesday.

The stamps are in recognition of the 20th anniversary of the show, which is the US's longest-running prime-time comedy and the first to receive its own stamp while still on the air.

Los Angeles  - On a special night immortalizing Alonzo Mourning, the Miami Heat was victimized by Dwight Howard.

Howard scored 22 points and grabbed 18 rebounds - to pass legendary Wilt Chamberlain as the youngest (23 years, 112 days) to pull down 5,000 boards - and the Orlando Magic beat the Heat 101-95 on Monday night.

Howard and the Magic spoiled an emotionally touching and tearful celebration for Mourning, who became the first Heat player to have his number retired.

Los Angeles  - Reigning league MVP Kobe Bryant wasn't at his best, but Pau Gasol was and the Los Angeles Lakers won the West.

Gasol scored a season-best 36 points, to go along with 11 rebounds and seven assists as the Lakers clipped the New Jersey Nets 103-95 on Friday night, to clinch the top playoff seed in the Western Conference.

"That's the way I like to describe myself as an efficient player," said Gasol, who made 14-of-19 shots. "I try to be effective, try to contribute in different ways because I think I can.

Los Angeles  - Rapper T. I. was sentenced to a year in jail Friday for violating federal weapons charges by attempting to buy unregistered automatic weapons and silencers.

The sentence was part of a plea deal under which T. I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, has already served more than 1,000 hours of community service.

T. I., 28, is also starring in an MTV reality show called Road To Redemption in which he speaks out about the pitfalls of guns, drugs and violence.