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Celtics Blow Out Knicks
November 30, 2007
Knicks forward insisted he wasn’t awed by the Celtics’ great start and said they hadn’t proven anything yet before he went on to criticize their bench. Last night, he got to see the Boston reserves play a great deal because the game was such a blowout as the Celtics embarrassed New York — doesn’t that sound great? — by a 104-59 score before another sellout at the Garden.
With the game well in hand, all five Boston starters sat out the entire fourth quarter until Rondo had to reenter in the final minute when Eddie House fouled out. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen each scored a game-high 21 points in only 29 minutes. Kevin Garnett played just 22 minutes and scored a season-low 8 points, but pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds. Rondo scored 10 points, all in the first quarter, and dished out a game-high 7 assists.
The Celtics improved to 8-0 at the Garden. Defending NBA champion San Antonio (9-0) is the only other team that has yet to lose at home. That’s pretty good company.
All of last season, the Celtics won only a dozen home games, finishing 12-29. Of their eight home victories, seven have come by 22 points or more.
The Celtics outscored the Knicks, 12-3, to start the first quarter, 16-2 to start the second, 15-2 to start the third, and 13-2 to start the fourth.
Garnett’s jumper with 9:14 left in the third enabled the Celtics to lap the Knicks, 62-31. Pierce followed with a 3 to put the hosts up by his number, 34.
Pierce’s trey with 4:26 left in the third put Boston up by 40, 77-37. A little later, Allen’s drive pushed Boston’s lead to a mind-boggling 45 points, 82-37, a score that would make Bill Belichick blush.
It grew even worse for New York. House’s 3-pointer increased the lead to 50, 93-43, with 8:34 left. A disgruntled New York fan tossed a Knicks jersey onto the court in disgust. Gabe Pruitt’s jumper made it 95-43.
The Celtics posted the most lopsided win in their 62-year history by 51 points, 153-102, against Philadelphia on March 2, 1962.
The Knicks shot only 30.3 percent (23 of 76). Robinson led New York with 11 points, thanks to his buzzer-beating hoop. Jamal Crawford paced the New York starters with 8. Richardson finished 3 of 12 and scored 7.
-Boston Hooligan
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