BOSTON — The 18,624 adoring fans simply fell silent in stunned awe, only to instantly erupt into the loudest cheers heard since the Celtics raised their championship banner.
It was a moment that, no doubt, will not only be a fixture on Celtics highlight reels for years to come, but will be played endlessly throughout the NBA.
It will be talked about in any and every office in America like the results of American Idol, and repeated — attempted anyway — on basketball courts across the country.
If anyone still used video cassettes, the tape would be in danger of breaking.
It was a "Do you remember where" moment.
"Do you remember were you were for Paul Pierce's dunk?"
"It was nasty," said Celtics forward Rasheed Wallace after the 116-103 win over the Toronto Raptors. "I told him that I hadn't seen any other games tonight, but that was the No. 1 (play of the week). Probably for the month at least."
For the better part of the month, the Boston Celtics have simply been sleepwalking through the season. They appeared lackluster as they scuffled to an unimpressive 11-4 start. Critics called them slow, old, and boring. When they did win, it was far from memorable.
The Celtics needed something, a shot in the arm to bring out that fire that once burned so bright.
And if it was a wake-up call the Celtics needed, Pierce delivered that and more on one play last night against the Raptors.
It was 18 seconds into the fourth quarter. The Celtics captain drove to the basket, flew through the air and slammed a dunk down in the face of four-time NBA All-Star Chris Bosh.
But to say he slammed it in the 6-foot-10 Bosh's face does not capture the moment.
Hardly a waif, the muscular Pierce looked like a linebacker charging through the offensive line to lay out a quarterback — and that is what Pierce did as he sent Bosh flying to the ground, holding himself in pain.
Just to add to the moment, Pierce stood over Bosh in triumph (which drew a technical foul) before continuing on his way.
It was a dunk worthy of any Michael Jordan or Dominique Wilkins ever threw down in a game, with a force that could be felt throughout the building. It appeared for a second that the 32-year-old Pierce, not known as a skywalker, might come away with the rim in his hand.
If ever there was a single play that could define a season, that could shake the cobwebs off a sleeping giant and propel it to greatness, it was that dunk.
"For sure," said Wallace. "It is like a great block. It robs the opponent of morale and sparks the team. It is special."
While Pierce was mum on the matter after the game, Wallace and teammates couldn't stop talking about the dunk that will be played ad nauseam for the rest of the season on ESPN and NESN and such.
If the Celtics are able to go on to win the NBA title, this play will be the one that punctuates the championship video, and it will be a rush to see how quickly it can be posted on Boston's intro video played before every game.
The C's carried that momentum to victory. But it was more than that. It was not simply a play that's momentum dies off after the game.
Anyone who watched the Celtics this season could see they needed a boost. Most thought that would be a trade for a young player, possibly the benching of a veteran or maybe the emergence of a prospect.
Others felt this team may be doomed to fade off into the sunset like countless aging teams of the past.
But 18,624 fans felt the change last night, and it caused them to fall silent for a moment. It was clear that Pierce would not let his team die.
Like Jason Varitek fighting Alex Rodriguez was that turning point for the Red Sox on the way to a World Series title, this too could be the moment that propels the Celtics.
"It is focused and crazy how locked in Paul's been," said Celtics center Kendrick Perkins. "It always starts with the captain. He was in the gym all day yesterday. Then you see him make plays like that in games."
Even Perkins, a six-year NBA veteran who has a championship ring and has played his entire career besides Pierce, spoke of it like a fan.
"It was really huge," said Perkins. "You dunk on someone like that, from the guard position. It's a confidence thing."
As for the technical foul called on Pierce, Wallace expressed outrage over the call.
"It was crazy," said Wallace. "Get the Golden Boy (reigning NBA MVP LeBron James) out here and do that and see what happens (with the call)."
Even the opponents felt the gravity of the play.
"It was a great play," said Toronto's Jarrett Jack. "I'm not going to take anything away from him."
But great doesn't begin to describe it. It was memorable, it was epic. It was a moment that Celtics fans will be talking about for weeks, months and years to come. Remembering it as the moment when a lagging Celtics team got the kick in the pants it needed.
If you haven't seen it, don't worry. You will.
E-mail David Willis at dwillis@eagletribune.com.
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