Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Ray Allen scored 24 points and came up with a crucial block in the final minute, helping Boston to a 110-106 win over the New York Knicks, culminating a night that saw Nate Robinson and Eddie House playing against their old teams after last week's trade.
Allen’s Key Block In Final Minute Helps Celtics Edge Knicks
Rajon Rondo contributed 15 points and 16 assists for the Celtics, who won for the fourth time in five contests and bounced back from a nine-point defeat at Denver on Sunday.
Kevin Garnett chipped in 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Celtics, who played without forward Paul Pierce. He was out due to the flu and a sore right thumb.
David Lee had 28 points and 15 rebounds for the Knicks, who suffered their eighth straight loss, their longest skid since January 27-February 8, 2008. They also lost to the Celtics for the 11th time in the last 12 meetings.
Last Thursday, the Celtics acquired Robinson and forward Marcus Landry while sending guards House and J.R. Giddens, and forward Bill Walker to the Knicks.
Robinson played in his first game since Feb. 9 against Sacramento and entered late in the first quarter to a thunderous ovation. He had been sidelined lately with flu symptoms, but finished Tuesday’s game with just four points in 16 minutes of court time. House ended with four points in 26 1/2 minutes
Tracy McGrady’s driving layup had the Knicks within 107-106 with 2:45 left, but New York went ice cold from the field the rest of the way.
The Knicks had a chance to go in front after a McGrady steal, but Wilson Chandler’s three-point shot was off the mark with just over two minutes to go.
A reverse layup from Marquis Daniels extended Boston’s lead with 1:56 remaining, and House missed a potential tying three-pointer.
After Garnett missed a jumper, Chandler drove in for a potential layup, but Allen rejected the attempt, resulting in a 24-second shot clock violation. That handed Boston the ball with 48.9 seconds to go, but the Celtics gave it right back due to a poor pass in the lane with 31.8 showing on the clock.
McGrady, though, missed a three-pointer and Garnett was able to make 1-of-2 foul shots with 10 seconds left to seal the victory.
The Celtics led by as many as 14 in the opening quarter, settling for a 38-27 cushion after 12 minutes behind 13 points from Allen.
New York scored 13 in a row in the second for a 52-51 edge on a pair of free throws from Lee with 3:02 left. Boston claimed a 64-60 edge at the break and carried a 94-91 lead into the fourth.
The Knicks next play at Washington on Friday. The last time New York lost nine in a row was March 19-April 4, 2006...Boston's next contest is Thursday at home against the Cavaliers...Giddens remains out due to left knee surgery...Landry didn't play...Walker scored seven points...Knicks are winless in their last six trips to the New England area...Boston went 19-of-32 from the field in the second half...Chandler had 19 points, while Sergio Rodriguez and Al Harrington each scored 18 for the Knicks...McGrady had just six points and eight assists...Daniels scored 14 and Kendrick Perkins 12 for Boston.
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