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Celtics beat Knicks by 3
AP
Photo
Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (9) drives to the basket through the defense of New York Knicks guard Toney Douglas (23) and center Ronny Turiaf (14) during the first quarter of Game 2 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, in Boston on Tuesday, April 19, 2011.
Associated Press
BOSTON
Kevin Garnett sank the go-ahead basket with 14 seconds left, then stole the ball as the Boston Celtics overcame Carmelo Anthony’s 42 points and beat the depleted New York Knicks 96-93 to take a 2-0 lead in their playoff series on Tuesday night.
The Knicks played the entire second half without Amare Stoudemire, who had back spasms. Chauncey Billups missed the game with a sore left knee.
Garnett hit the decisive jump hook after backing Jared Jeffries into the lane. The Knicks then got the ball to Anthony in the left corner, where he was double-teamed by Paul Pierce and Glen Davis. Anthony passed inside to Jeffries, but Garnett stole the ball and called timeout with four seconds remaining.
The Knicks then fouled Delonte West, who made two free throws with 0.6 seconds to go.
Rajon Rondo led the Celtics with a career playoff-high 30 points.
Game 3 of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series is scheduled for Friday night in New York.
Anthony matched his career playoff high for points and set a new high with 17 rebounds. Toney Douglas had 14 points in place of Billups, whose status for Game 3 was uncertain.
Pierce had 20 points after missing his first five shots, and Ray Allen, who hit the game-winning 3-pointer in Boston’s 87-85 win in the opener, scored 18.
Magic 88, Hawks 82
ORLANDO, Fla.
Dwight Howard had 33 points and 19 rebounds, and Jameer Nelson added 13 points and eight rebounds, and Orlando evened its series with Atlanta at 1-1.
Orlando used a 10-1 run to close the third quarter to take an 11-point lead into the fourth and fought off a late Atlanta charge down the stretch.
After allowing the Hawks to become the first opponent in 16 straight playoff games to score 100 points against it in Game 1, Orlando’s defense tightened around Atlanta’s shooters in Game 2. The Hawks shot 39 percent.
Jamal Crawford led Atlanta with 25 points and Josh Smith added 17.