Knicks-Celtics Preview

By JEFF BARTL
Posted Jan 23 2013 1:33PM

No matter what was said between Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett during and after the last time the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics met, Anthony says the incident is behind him.

Thursday night's rematch in Boston simply is one between two struggling teams looking to right the ship.

On-court bickering led to technical fouls for both players in the final minutes of Boston's 102-96 victory Jan. 7 at Madison Square Garden, and Anthony attempted to confront Garnett multiple times after the game as well.

"Listen, heat of the battle, man. Guys go back and forth. He's trying to get his team to go, I'm trying to get my team to go, both teams are colliding, not to mention that it's the Knicks and the Celtics," Garnett said following the contest. "Just what it is, man."

Anthony ended up being suspended for one game for his off-the-court actions following that defeat, which began the current stretch of four losses in six games for the Knicks (25-14).

Anthony said he's put the incident in the past and his focus is just to win Thursday. New York has dropped 13 straight meetings in Boston - including the postseason - dating back to a 101-77 victory Nov. 24, 2006.

"On my end there's nothing left over," Anthony said. "It's just another game on the schedule and we just happen to be playing Boston. As far as anything being left over, this is a new game.

"We can't get the game back that we lost to them on our home floor, so we want to go and return the favor and beat them on their home floor."

Anthony, shooting 36.6 percent in his last five games, certainly doesn't expect a warm reception from the TD Garden crowd.

"It'll be a hostile environment. I'm expecting that," he said. "It'll be a fun game just knowing what's at stake as far as us playing Boston in a divisional game."

New York's Atlantic Division lead was further trimmed after Monday's 88-85 home loss to second-place Brooklyn. After facing Boston, the Knicks will play at Philadelphia on Saturday.

"I don't want to put that much pressure on us because right now we're still in a great spot in the East and (at the top) of our division," said Anthony, whose streak of 26 straight games with at least 20 points is three shy of Richie Guerin's franchise record. "But to undermine these next two games, that would be the wrong thing to do. These games are big-time games. We accept that challenge."

Boston (20-21), meanwhile, is on the verge of a season-worst fifth straight defeat following a season-best six-game winning streak. The Celtics fell 95-90 at last-place Cleveland on Tuesday and also have double-digit losses to sub-.500 teams New Orleans and Detroit during their skid.

"You've got to make your own breaks, and we've got to make ours," coach Doc Rivers said.

Rajon Rondo, who was serving a one-game suspension for the last meeting with the Knicks, had 17 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists Tuesday. Paul Pierce, though, scored 12 points while going 3 for 15 from the field and is shooting 32.4 percent over his last five.

"We've just got to be better, period," said Garnett, who has scored 16 points in each of his last three. "We've got to try to figure this thing out because it's not going to change itself."

Rondo is averaging 19.3 points and 13.1 assists in his last seven games versus New York, including the playoffs.

Anthony's 28 points lead Knicks over Celts, 89-86

By HOWARD ULMAN
Posted Jan 25 2013 12:36AM

BOSTON (AP) Carmelo Anthony's ill feelings toward Kevin Garnett didn't last long. His streak of 20-point games goes on.

In their first meeting since a verbal clash led to Anthony's one-game suspension, New York's All-Star forward scored 28 points and the Knicks ended an 11-game losing streak in Boston with an 89-86 victory over the Celtics on Thursday night.

"No grudges between me and KG. Whatever happened, happened," Anthony said. "We spoke about it and it's over."

Did Garnett agree?

"Yeah," he said simply, then stood and walked out of the losing locker room.

Anthony scored at least 20 points for the 27th straight game, third most in franchise history behind Richie Guerin's 29 and Patrick Ewing's 28.

"He responded exactly like he was supposed to," Knicks center Tyson Chandler said. "The best way to get back is by getting a victory, especially in a place where we haven't won in a long time."

Rajon Rondo led the Celtics with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, his fourth triple-double of the season. Paul Pierce added 22 points. Garnett had only eight points but finished with a game-high 12 rebounds as Boston lost its fifth straight game.

There were 17 lead changes in the game but none in the fourth quarter.

"When you need buckets, when the game is tight, you can't turn the ball over," Pierce said. "That's what we did down the stretch."

The Celtics trailed 86-84 after Rondo hit two free throws with 2:58 to play. Then J.R. Smith sank his only 3-pointer after missing five and Rondo made a short jumper with 40 seconds remaining. But Boston turned the ball over on two of its last three possessions.

Anthony was booed frequently but he showed no sign of hostility toward Garnett. At one point, Anthony even extended his hand to a fallen Garnett and helped the Celtic to his feet.

"He fell. I helped him up," Anthony said. "I don't hold anything against a guy like that."

The win came 17 days after they jawed at each other during Boston's 102-96 victory in New York. After that game, Anthony walked toward the Celtics locker room before security personnel stepped in and sent him back toward the Knicks' side.

Comcast SportsNet New England posted a video on its website showing Anthony waiting near Boston's team bus after the game, with coach Mike Woodson and New York City police nearby.

The NBA suspended Anthony for the next game, an 81-76 loss at Indiana.

In the first half Thursday, Anthony was booed nearly every time he touched the ball and cheered when he was called for fouls as fans reacted to the last meeting between the star forwards. One of the biggest cheers came when Garnett blocked Anthony's layup attempt with 3:15 left in the second quarter.

"I'm just trying to block everything out and do what I have to do to win the game," Anthony said. "This whole night was satisfying. To win in this building was a long time coming."

The Celtics took their last lead, 66-65, on a 3-pointer by Jeff Green with 2:22 left in the third quarter. Then Chandler put the Knicks ahead with a three-point play and they scored the last seven points of the period, taking a 72-66 lead.

"We gave them a 10-point lead (80-70)," Rondo said. "You're fighting back the entire fourth quarter."

The Knicks led 84-76 before the Celtics cut it to two on a basket by Garnett and two by Rondo. Amare Stoudemire's tip made it 86-82 with 3:24 left and the Celtics never caught up, even after Jason Kidd missed a 3-pointer for the Knicks with 14 seconds remaining.

Boston's last chance ended when Pierce lost the ball out of bounds as he was receiving a pass with 7.1 seconds left.

"The play was broken up and I tried to flash to the ball," he said. "Really (I) didn't get a good hand on it."

The Knicks' defense was solid most of the night.

"What we did defensively was great," Stoudemire said. "Garnett didn't score well. Paul didn't really have a huge game scoring."

But Celtics coach Doc Rivers was pleased with his team's effort.

"They know with that effort you're going to win most nights," he said.

The Knicks led 50-48 at halftime but trailed 60-59 with just under five minutes remaining in the third quarter. Then they outscored the Celtics 13-6, with Anthony scoring six points.

The loss dropped the Celtics to 20-22.

"We're two games under .500," Pierce said. There's "still a lot of season left so we believe we can climb back in this division race."

For now, the Knicks (26-14) lead that by one game over Brooklyn.

"I expected more hostility from the crowd and it wasn't as bad as I thought," Stoudemire said. "It's a rivalry game and we want to go into the All-Star break with a nice division lead."

Notes: Chandler was chosen to the Eastern Conference All-Star team on Thursday, the first selection for last year's Defensive Player of the Year. Anthony, Garnett and Rondo were all voted to start, but East coaches passed on Pierce.

Notebook: Knicks 89, Celtics 86

Brian Robb, for NBA.com
Posted Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:21 AM - Updated Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:21 AM

THE FACTS: Carmelo Anthony had a game-high 28 points and nine rebounds as the New York Knicks overcame a triple-double from Rajon Rondo to defeat the Boston Celtics 89-86 at the TD Garden. Boston's All-Star point guard finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, but the remainder of the Celtics offense continued to struggle (40.8 percent shooting), leading to Boston's season-high fifth consecutive loss. The Knicks also benefited from a strong performance by Amar'e Stoudemire (15 points, nine rebounds) to build a 10-point fourth quarter lead, which was enough of a cushion to hold off the hosts down the stretch.

QUOTABLE: "There's no grudges between myself and KG. Whatever happened, happened. We spoke about that and it's over with. I don't hold anything against a guy like that."
-- Anthony on facing Kevin Garnett for first time since being suspended for confronting Garnett at Celtics team bus following January 7th matchup.

THE STAT: It was the first time the Knicks had won at the TD Garden since November 2006, as they had dropped their previous 13 games on the Celtics' home floor.

TURNING POINT: The Celtics had multiple chances to tie the game during the game's closing two minutes, but failed to get a shot off on each potential tying possession, as the Knicks forced Jason Terry and Paul Pierce to commit a turnover each time, eliminating any chance of a Celtics comeback.

QUOTABLE II: "I really liked the effort, I liked they way we competed tonight. Our offense definitely has to get better. There's nights where our offense is really letting us down when we put this type of effort on defense in."
-- Pierce.

HOT: Pierce -- The Celtics' small forward was left off the Eastern Conference All-Star team before the game, but managed to break out of a five-game slump with a red-hot second quarter in which he scored 15 of his 22 points on the night.

NOT: J.R. Smith -- New York's sixth man failed to provide his usual scoring spark off the bench, missing 13 of his 16 shot attempts on the night to finish with nine points, seven short of his season average of 16.7

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Rondo -- It was the 27th triple-double of Rondo's eight year NBA career. The Celtics dropped to 23-4 in games when Rondo finishes with a triple-double.

QUOTABLE III: "It was a total team effort. We were committed, fought for 48 minutes and it showed. We did the necessary things to ensure the win."
-- New York coach Mike Woodson.

ROOKIE WATCH: There was a sharp contrast in age for both rookies featured in this contest as the 20-year-old Jared Sullinger matched up against the 35-year-old Pablo Prigioni. Sullinger posted seven points and three rebounds for Boston, while Prigioni hit a pair of three-pointers for the Knicks and dished out four assists in the win.

NOTABLE: James White got the start at small forward over Chris Copeland. Iman Shumpert played a season-high 26 minutes, as his role continues to increase since his return from a torn ACL. The Celtics missed 11 straight shots in the first quarter. Tyson Chandler was elected as an All-Star reserve for the Eastern Conference before the game. The Knicks outscored the Celtics 16-0 in second chance points. Pierce scored 19 of his 22 points in the first half.

UP NEXT: For New York, Saturday @ Philadelphia, Sunday vs. Atlanta, Wednesday vs. Orlando. For Boston, Friday @ Atlanta, Sunday vs. Miami, Wednesday vs. Sacramento.

• Knicks: Camby, Felton
• Celtics: Melo

• Knicks: --
• Celtics: --

• Lead Changes: 17
• Times Tied: 15

• Arena: TD Garden, Boston, MA
• Officials: #17 Joe Crawford, #27 Dick Bavetta, #68 Marat Kogut
• Attendance: 18624
• Duration: 2:32