Knicks Vs. Celtics Score: Ray Allen Saves Boston As Celtics Take Game One 87-85

A Ray Allen three-pointer with just 11 seconds remaining in the game proved to be difference as Boston escaped with an 87-85 victory in game one over the New York Knicks. With New York out of timeouts, the Knicks inbounded the ball quickly to Toney Douglas who raced into the front court before handing the ball off to Carmelo Anthony. Anthony isolated on the wing and launched a long contested three-point attempt that fell short as did the Knicks hopes for a game one upset.

The Celtics picked up their defense in the second half with Ray Allen taking charge on the offensive end. Allen scored 18 of his team-high 24 points in the second half but none were bigger than his last three-point basket that gave the Celtics the lead for good. Paul Pierce finished with 18 points while Kevin Garnett finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds.

For awhile it looked like Amare Stoudemire was going to carry the Knicks to the victory. Stoudemire finished with a game-high 28 points and 11 rebounds. He had two highlight plays scoring on a nifty reverse layup and a power dunk over both Kevin Garnett and Jermaine O’Neal in the fourth quarter. Carmelo Anthony finished with 15 points but was just 5-18 from the field while scoring just three points in the second half.

If losing wasn’t bad enough for the Knicks, they were without their starting point guard in Chauncey Billups during the final portion of the game after suffering a strained ligament in his knee on a drive to the basket. Billups immediately was helped to the locker room and did not return to the game.