Lakers guard Derek Fisher won the Magic Johnson Award, given by the Pro Basketball Writers
Paul Pierce scored 22 points and hauled in eight rebounds to lead the Kevin Garnett-less Celtics in a 110-101 victory over the Knicks.
Garnett sat out after being suspended for hitting Milwaukee's Andrew Bogut during Boston's 102-97 overtime win on Saturday. The one-game suspension cost Garnett upwards of $200,000. Brian Scalabrine started in his place and had eight points, including a clutch three-pointer down the stretch.
"Even though Kevin's out, it's not like I'm saying I have to go out and score 30,"
said Pierce. "I know what type of team we have and knowing we have guys that can step up and that's what happened tonight."
Kendrick Perkins had 16 points for the Celtics, who have won two in a row and eight of nine overall. Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen scored 15 points each in the win.
Wilson Chandler scored 23 points for the Knicks, who have lost two straight and three of five overall. Zach Randolph had 18 points and eight boards, while Chris Duhon had 15 points and five helpers.
Down 12 late in the fourth, the Knickerbockers outscored the Celtics 8-3 to get back in the game.
"Well, you know, I thought the last sixteen minutes we upped our intensity where we had to have it the whole game,"
said Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni. "I'm kind of energized right now because we can do that. We took it up, I thought we played harder than them the last sixteen minutes, and that's what we had to do."
Chandler, Nate Robinson and David Lee connected on consecutive baskets before Pierce nailed a three. Randolph then added a pair of free throws to make it 97-90 with 4:50 left in regulation.
A Duhon three-ball and Chandler layup pulled the Knicks within four points moments later, but Pierce hit a free throw and Scalabrine drained a three from the left wing to make it 107-99 and all but seal the win.
The Knicks edged the Celtics for a 28-26 lead after the first 12 minutes.
With Boston up by two, Glen Davis connected on a jumper that served as the first two of eight straight Celtics points. Allen's layup closed the run to give the home team a 47-37 lead with 5:21 left in the half.
As the second quarter came to a close, the Celtics held a 56-47 lead.
Two free throws from Pierce and a Eddie House jumper gave the Celtics an 89-77 lead heading into the fourth frame.
Game Notes
Rondo also had eight rebounds and seven assists...The Celtics are 6-1 in Beantown this season...New York's Jerome James did not play due to personal reasons...The Celtics swept the four-game season series between the two clubs last season and have won seven straight overall versus New York.
