Was dramatic Game 6 Paul Pierce's NBA farewell?

Paul Pierce was one second — maybe even one fraction of a second — away from an amazing game-tying 3-pointer that might have propelled the Washington Wizards to a Game 7 against the Atlanta Hawks.

But it wasn't to be for Pierce and the Wizards, and it might be the final time the 10-time All-Star plays an NBA game.

"I haven't really thought about it," Pierce said after the Wizards' 94-91 loss to the Hawks. "I don't even know if I am going to play basketball anymore. These seasons get harder and harder every year, every day. Summers get even harder when you start getting back in shape. I'm 37 years old. I'm top two or three oldest in the league."

Pierce hit a 3-pointer as the buzzer went off Friday that would have sent the game to overtime. But replays showed that Pierce was still touching the ball as the clock expired, ending the Wizards season in heart-breaking fashion.  

Pierce has played 17 seasons in the NBA, his first 15 with the Boston Celtics. He helped Boston win the 2008 championship, the team's 17th title.

Pierce, who is second to John Havlicek on Boston's all-time scoring list, was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013 as part of a multi-player deal. He spent one season with Brooklyn, then signed a one-year deal with the Wizards last summer and has a player option for next season.