Rockets and Celtics level series

McGrady scored 37 points for the Rockets

Tracy McGrady scored 37 points as the Houston Rockets fought back from three straight losses to beat the Dallas Mavericks 101-83 in the NBA play-offs.

The best-of-seven series is tied 3-3, with the seventh game set to be played back in Dallas on Saturday.

In Indianapolis, Antoine Walker scored 24 points as the Boston Celtics avoided elimination with a 92-89 win over the Indiana Pacers.

The series is also tied 3-3 with game seven in Boston on Saturday.

The Rockets went into the fourth quarter down by a point, but outscored Dallas 32-13 to take the win.

Jon Barry finished the game with 14 points, while Mike James had 22 for the Rockets.

Jerry Stackhouse scored 21 and Dirk Nowitzki 19 to lead the Mavs.

Meanwhile, the Celtics overcame the ejection of Paul Pierce late in regulation time to force a seventh game in the Eastern Conference opening round series.

With the Celtics leading 84-83, Pierce was fouled by Jamaal Tinsley and threw a punch, leading to a second technical foul of the game and an automatic ejection.

Ricky Davis had 22 points, five rebounds and four assists for the Celtics, while Pierce had 20 points, eleven rebounds and six assists.

Jermaine O'Neal had 26 points and 10 rebounds for the Pacers, who won game five at Boston but missed a chance to win the series at home.

Stephen Jackson had 14 points and five rebounds for the Pacers.