BOSTON (AP) -The New York Knicks’ brief winning streak is history, and the Boston Celtics nearly made history ending it.
The Celtics cruised to one of the easiest victories ever on Thursday night, beating New York 104-59 to send the Knicks to their third-worst loss and their second-worst scoring performance of the shot-clock era.
Only Nate Robinson’s 37-foot 3-pointer at the final buzzer saved the Knicks from an even bigger embarrassment. The Knicks’ lowest point total ever was 58 against Utah, on Dec. 15, 2000.
Kevin Garnett played just 22 minutes, scoring eight points before leaving the game midway through the third quarter with Boston ahead 69-34. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen also sat out the fourth quarter and played 29 minutes apiece. And Rajon Rondo dribbled out 24 of the final 26 seconds, turning the ball over on purpose rather than go for a 50-point win.
Allen and Pierce had 21 points each for Boston.
Robinson led the Knicks with 11 points.
Warriors 113, Rockets 94
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – Baron Davis scored 27 points and undersized Golden State held Yao Ming in check, beating Houston for its eighth win in nine games after an 0-6 start.
Stephen Jackson added 19 points and Al Harrington had 18 for the Warriors (8-7), who became the fastest team in NBA history to post a winning record after losing its first six games. Cleveland took 23 games to do it in 1995-96.
Even though Yao had a decided size advantage over Harrington (6-9) and Andris Biedrins (6-11), he was unable to convert that into success on the court. He shot 4-for-12 and had five turnovers, finishing with a season-low 10 points.
Golden State even held its own on the boards against the taller Rockets, outrebounding them 45-41. Ellis and Biedrins led the way with 10 boards apiece.
Lakers 127, Nuggets 99
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Kobe Bryant scored 24 points and reserve guard Sasha Vujacic dominated the fourth quarter, scoring 19 of his career-high 22 points and powering Los Angeles to a rout of Denver.
Vujacic shot 6-for-14 in 21 minutes of action. Andrew Bynum had 12 points and 13 rebounds and Luke Walton added a career-high 14 points in 27 minutes. The Lakers’ reserves outscored their Denver counterparts 63-29.
Carmelo Anthony led Denver with 23 points and Allen Iverson had 21. The loss was the Nuggets’ third straight, following a 7-1 stretch.
Anthony was ejected with 6:18 remaining after committing a flagrant foul against Vujacic, hitting him in the throat away from the ball.
END
Add A Comment