The last time Boston and New York played, the Celtics used an 18-point third quarter from Rajon Rondo to dispose of the Knicks, 124-105.
Sunday night at Madison Square Garden, however, the Knicks outscored the Celtics, 28-15, in the frame to secure a 100-88 win.
"I didn't think we should have won tonight," said Boston Coach Doc Rivers after the game. "Not with the way (the Knicks) played… I thought Mike (D'Antoni) did a better job coaching than me and I thought their players did a better job playing than our players did."
The win snaps New York's eight-game losing streak to the Celtics who are now 1-4 in their last five road games.
New York was led by Wilson Chandler and Al Harrington who combined for 61 points by going 7-of-12 from three-point range. Boston, meanwhile, shot only 6-of-25 from beyond the arc.
Boston's strongest performance came from Paul Pierce who scored 31 points in 42 minutes. Pierce also grabbed seven rebounds and chipped in with four assists.
"He was phenomenal," said Rivers. "I thought he had unbelievable focus tonight. He tried to, at one point, win the game for us single-handedly. What I don't like is what I did tonight and kept him on the floor that long. If I would have (taken) him off, I don't know if we would have scored again."
New York jumped out to an early 10-point lead midway but Boston pulled to within one point by the end of the first quarter.
Boston would capture a three-point lead by the end of the half despite strong shooting from Harrington. The Knicks big man was three-of-four from three-point range in the first 24 minutes and finished the half with 20 points.
In the third, Chandler scored 15 thanks to two threes. He also had six rebounds in the quarter.
"It was three bad three quarters," said Rivers. "We played great in the second quarter. That was it. We played awful in the first quarter, we played awful in the third quarter and we played awful in the fourth quarter. If this was the CBA, they would have gotten an extra point because they would have won three quarters."
As for Rondo, who hurt New York so badly in their previous matchup, the night did not go well. Knicks Coach Mike D'Antoni used the 6-10 Jared Jeffries to cut off driving lanes as Rondo finished the night 1-of-7 from the field with only three assists.
"That was great," Rivers said of the Knicks defense. "We kind of assumed (Jeffries and Chris) Duhon were going to sag (on him). I will say this: We didn't handle it very well. Even in the first half, we were shooting 54% and that was mostly when Eddie (House) was on the floor (instead of Rondo)."
During crucial stretches in the fourth quarter, Boston played without their floor general, Rondo.
"It was easy," Rivers said of the decision. "We were scoring more when he was off the floor."
Tuesday, Boston (29-6) will go to while New York (13-19) begins a four-game road trip with Oklahoma City.
