BASKETBALL

CELTICS REST BIG 3 AND BEAT KNICKS

With his three All-Star teammates resting, Rajon Rondo had 23 points and 10 rebounds, leading the Boston Celtics to a 99–93 victory over the Knicks last night in what may have been Isiah Thomas’ final home game as Knicks coach.

Boston improved to 65–16 despite giving Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen the night off. Sam Cassell added 22 points for the Celtics, who learned during the game they will face the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the playoffs.

Nate Robinson scored 26 points, and David Lee had 12 points and 16 rebounds for the Knicks, who fell to 23–58 and need a win in their season finale at Indiana to avoid tying the franchise record for losses, last matched two years ago during Larry Brown’s lone season.

KNICKS GIVE AWAY FREE FOOD AT SEASON FINALE

The Knicks rewarded fans who stuck it out until the end of a miserable season with a feast.

The Knicks gave away free food and nonalcoholic beverages during their season finale against the Boston Celtics last night, their way of thanking the fans who helped them sell out more than half of their home games.

Madison Square Garden announced its 21st sellout in 41 home games, even though the Knicks came into the game with a 23–57 record. The building played to 96% capacity for the season.

Howard Jacobs, senior vice president of marketing for MSG’s sports teams, said the giveaway was “just to say thank you for their passion all season along.”

NUGGETS’ ANTHONY ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF DUI

NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony was arrested early yesterday on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, hours after his worst game of the season.

The Denver Nuggets forward was arrested on Interstate 25, police said. He was alone in the car and pulled over for weaving and not dimming his lights.

Detective Sharon Hahn said Anthony failed a series of sobriety tests. He was charged with DUI, then taken to police headquarters before being released to a “sober responsible party,” Hahn said. Anthony is due in court May 14.

Mark Warkentien, the Nuggets’ vice president of basketball operations, said the team was aware of the situation but declined comment. The Nuggets did not practice Monday and Anthony wasn’t available. He’s expected at practice today.

HOCKEY

PENGUINS RALLY IN THIRD TO BEAT SENATORS

Sidney Crosby, Jordan Staal, and Marian Hossa scored in the third period to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 4–1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on last night, taking a 3-0 lead in their first-round series.

Maxime Talbot scored in the first period and Hossa also had two assists to push his former team to the brink of elimination one year after beating Pittsburgh in five games on its way to the Stanley Cup finals.

ARNOTT LEADS PREDATORS OVER RED WINGS

Jason Arnott scored with 3:58 left in the final period, the second goal Nashville goal in 9 seconds, and Predators rallied to beat the Detroit Red Wings 5-3 yesterday night to get back into the teams’ first-round series.

TENNIS

FEDERER TRIES OUT NEW COACH

Roger Federer, stuck in a slump, said he will work with coach Jose Higueras at the Estoril Open in Portugal this week.

“I am excited as I have asked Jose Higueras, one of the most respected and accomplished coaches in the world of tennis, to join me,” the top-ranked player said on his Web site Monday. “We are going to spend the week together to see if we could make a good team.”

Federer begins the European clay-court season at Estoril having failed to reach a final in four tournaments this year.

Higueras is a clay-court specialist who coached a teenage Michael Chang to the 1989 French Open title. The Spaniard reached two semifinals at Roland Garros as a player and also has coached Americans Jim Courier, Pete Sampras, and Robby Ginepri.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

BEASLEY LEAVING KANSAS STATE FOR NBA AFTER ONE SEASON

After putting together one of the best freshman seasons ever, Michael Beasley is headed to the NBA. Kansas State’s All-American freshman announced Monday that he will skip his final three seasons to enter the June 26 NBA draft, where he could be the No. 1 overall pick.

“It’s time to take my game to the next level,” Beasley said as his family and several teammates looked on.