Knicks’ Second-Half Comeback Falls Just Short in Loss to Celtics

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The New York Sun

Ricky Davis had seen this kind of thing before. Boston would build a big lead and then let the other team back into the game. It almost never ended well for the Celtics. Yesterday, Davis got a pleasant surprise.


Davis scored 27 points and made two free throws with 8.7 seconds left, then Knicks rookie Nate Robinson missed a long 3-pointer on the game’s final play as the Celtics beat New York 102-99.


“Usually when guys come back from a lead we kind of hang our heads,” Davis said. “We just kept executing, kept getting defensive stops.”


The Celtics led by as many as 14 in the third quarter, but Channing Frye hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds of the period to cut Boston’s advantage to 76-67. From there, the Knicks chipped away until they got within 99-98 with 21.4 seconds left.


Moments later, Boston reserve guard Dan Dickau scored his only points of the game by making two free throws. The Knicks got back within 100-99 on two free throws by Stephon Marbury’s with 8.9 seconds left.


But Davis hit his two free throws and Robinson was unable to make a big buzzer-beater for the second straight week. Eight days ago, the rookie from Washington made a 3-pointer as time expired to give the Knicks a 105-102 overtime win against Philadelphia.


“Sometimes the ball goes in yourfavor, sometimes it don’t,” Robinson said.


It was a difficult way for New York to leave home in preparation for a three-game West Coast road trip that begins Tuesday in Seattle.


Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 28 points and nine rebounds in the latest in a string of strong performances. Over the last four games, Pierce is averaging 29.8 points and 11 rebounds.


Now the Celtics have some momentum heading into the last four games of a five-game road trip that began Sunday. They face Houston on Tuesday before visiting the New Orleans Hornets, San Antonio, and Dallas.


Marbury scored 24 points in the first half. He was 17-of-21 from the freethrow line overall in a game where the Knicks went 35-for-46.


Frye set a career high with 25 points, the rookie’s third straight game with at least 21. Delonte West added 17 points for the Celtics.


New York center Eddy Curry was a non-factor in his first appearance after missing five games with a strained left calf. He had three points and one rebound in 13:51 of playing time.


The Knicks got a scare with 5:24 left in the third quarter when West drove for a dunk. Jamal Crawford was trailing the play and collided under the basket with Marbury, who was coming over to help. Both players went down, and Crawford was helped from the court. He received 11 stitches to close a cut on his chin and didn’t return until 44.1 seconds were left in the fourth quarter. Marbury stayed in the game, but was sporting a bump on his forehead after the game.


“I was a little woozy” Crawford said. “But other than that, I was all right.”


New York struggled to maintain any offensive rhythm in the first half, but was able to get within 46-45 at the break by going 16-for-18 from the freethrow line, including an 8-for-9 performance by Marbury.


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