Celtics Vs. Knicks, Final Score: Rajon Rondo’s Triple Double Helps Give Boston 3-0 Series Lead

On Friday night, the offensive firepower of the Boston Celtics was just too formidable for the New York Knicks to handle. Rajon Rondo notched a triple-double, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen broke the 30-point barrier, and the Celtics cruised past the Knicks in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs, 113-96.

Rondo dished out a remarkable 20 assists while adding 15 points and 11 rebounds to secure his triple-double. Many of those feeds came to Ray Allen, who knocked down eight of 11 three-point attempts to score 32 points. Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 38 points, knocking down 14 of 19 shots. Combined, Allen and Pierce were 14-for-19 from beyond the arc, as they kept finding open looks against a hapless Knick defense.

After a poor third quarter, the Knicks showed some life in the fourth, but New York simply couldn’t overcome poor performances from its two biggest stars, Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire. Anthony could only knock down four of 16 shots from the field, though he did add 11 rebounds and six assists. Stoudemire’s night was more dismal; in his return from injury, he scored only seven points of 2-for-8 shooting, while only pulling down three rebounds.

Facing an 0-3 hole, the Knicks’ prospects aren’t looking bright. Game 4 will tip off in New York at 3:30 p.m. Eastern on Sunday. The winner will move on to face the winner of the Heat-Sixers series, which the Heat currently lead three games to none.

For more on these teams, check out SB Nation’s Knicks blog, Posting and Toasting, and our Celtics blog, the appropriately-named CelticsBlog.