Despite the late run of the Boston Celtics their valiant effort cannot overcome the Knicks huge lead. Boston scored 33 points in the 4th quarter to keep things interesting. They were down 20 points 67-47 at the end of the 3rd quarter but somehow manage to score 33 points in the 4th to keep it close but the run wasn't enough. Avery Bradley led a Celtics 20-0 run in the fourth scoring 10 points and 3 steals.
Kevin Garnett had a great scoring night with15 points and manage to have 15 rebounds, Jeff Green chipped in 21 points, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry had 14 apiece.
Carmelo Anthony led the New York Knicks with 21 points and Iman Shumpert scored 17.
NEW YORK - Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett had a heated game they jawed and shoved each other. Carmelo even proceeded to the Celtics locker room to shout at Celtics players and waited for Kevin Garnett besides the Celtics bus which made him looked like a fool. NBA should fine or suspend Carmelo for this shameful acts.
Paul Pierce scored 23 points, and Boston beat New York 102-96 on Monday night in a heated first meeting of the season between the Atlantic Division rivals.
Garnett added 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics, who even without the suspended Rajon Rondo won their third straight and finally are playing like the team that has ruled the division for the last half-decade.
The Knicks want that title now, but Anthony and his teammates were reminded how tough the Celtics can make it.
Anthony had 20 points but shot 6 of 26 while battling his temper, Garnett and foul trouble.
J.R. Smith led the Knicks with 24 points. Tyson Chandler had 13 points and 17 rebounds.
They allowed 78 points per game in their last two wins, then held the Knicks to 40 in the second half Monday.
Pierce, who was also in foul trouble in the tightly and sometimes inconsistently called game, put it away with a jumper with 45 seconds to go, blowing a kiss toward the crowd he loves to torment after putting the Celtics up by six.
Boston led by four when Anthony and Garnett became extra physical with each other on a Boston possession that ended with a turnover with 9:03 remaining. Anthony followed him all the way to midcourt as they jawed at each other following the play, leading to technical fouls on both players.
The trash talk didn't just stay on the court - or between players. Pierce tried to throw the ball in from the sideline shortly after, only to have Spike Lee standing and yelling in his ear the whole time.
