NBA scores: Celtics slip past Knicks; Beal lifts Wizards

ESPN New York reports that ‘Melo stood outside the visiting locker room at MSG screaming for KG to come out. ESPN also reports that there was a confrontation between ‘Melo and KG outside the Celtics’ team bus, but that they did not come to blows.

You’d think Lee would have learned by now that yelling just motivates the Knicks’ opponents. Pierce responded by draining some huge shots down the stretch and then blew kisses to the Madison Square Garden faithful.

(via hardwoodparoxysm.com)

Now, if that’s true, the NBA probably isn’t going to be too pleased about it. But I’m willing to bet that the league would be just fine with these two teams meeting for a seven-game series in the playoffs. Apparently, there was no fight or physical altercation, but getting this worked up about a regular-season game is a little strange. These two teams will meet again on Jan. 24 in Boston.

During the game, you can see Melo say some, uh, unkind words to Garnett as he walks to the bench. Now, I’m no lip-reader, but I don’t think he’s inviting KG to dinner.

Boston was dominant inside, outscoring the Knicks 40-28 in the paint. Though the Celtics dominated the third quarter and held New York to just 16 points, the game was close throughout the evening. There were 10 lead changes the game was tied 13 times. With the victory, Boston improved to 17-17 while New York fell to 23-11.

The Wizards led for much of the fourth quarter, but then Durant happened and the Thunder tied the game at 99. With 12.2 seconds left in regulation, the Wizards ran their patented “one-legged off-balance push shot runner thing” for rookie Bradley Beal. Of course, he nailed it and the Verizon Center went crazy.

The Wizards led, 30-20, after one quarter, but the Thunder fought back. After leading at the half, the Thunder went nearly 11 minutes without a basket. Neither Russell Westbrook nor Kevin Martin could make a shot and Washington was on fire from behind the arc. Beal and Martell Webster went bananas and drilled three-pointer after three-pointer. The two combined for 44 points and were 9 of 13 from deep.

KD crosses over, leaving Ariza in the dust, and then throws it down with his left hand. Just watch.

(video via @dailythunder)

Here’s video of the incident:

It isn’t the first time Rondo has found trouble for bumping an official against the Hawks. In Game 1 of a first round series between the teams in the 2012 playoffs, Rondo was ejected in Atlanta for making contact with an official.

(UPDATE: Rajon Rondo will not play due to suspension).

Something else to watch will be how Boston defends New York’s elite three-point shooting. The Knicks take and make the most three-pointers in the league, and are tied for third in three-point percentage at 38.8. The Celtics have had a tough time defending the arc all season, as opponents are shooting 37.1 percent from long range against them. That mark is tied for sixth worst in the league.