[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRrdQsMeK2Y&w=440&h=385]
God damn. That was one helluva basketball game.
Paul Pierce nailed a 14-foot jumper over Amar'e Stoudemire with 0.4 seconds left to beat the Knicks 118-116 and extend the Celtics winning streak to 11 games.
Stoudemire drained a 27-footer… after the buzzer. The officials waved off the basket on the court and confirmed the call with replay. It was one of the few calls they got right in this game.
Amar'e was dominant (39 points, 10 rebounds) but he missed a bunny (4-footer) with 13 seconds left that could have given NY the lead.
Pierce (32 points, 10 rebounds) was vocal and feisty all night. But he didn't play a flawless game. His defense on Danillo Gallinari (20 points, all in 2nd half) was suspect and his bonehead foul at the end of the 3rd quarter cost his team three points. In the end… he was money.
Rajon Rondo (10 points, 14 assists) tweaked an ankle late in the 3rd quarter. He returned to the court after a brief stint in the locker-room but clearly lacked mobility. Doc should have pulled him.
The Knicks shot 53% for the game. While I can live with the contested jumpers finding the bottom of the net, I cannot stomach the layups. NY had 50 points in the paint. Unacceptable.
"I think this is the best the Knicks can play. This is not the best the Celtics can play." – Tommy Heinsohn.
"You need to beat someone to have a rivalry and right now…come on." – Kevin Garnett.
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