Celtics slip past Knicks
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Isaiah Thomas posted 18 points and six assists to lead the Boston Celtics in a 96-92 win over the New York Knicks on Friday.
Jae Crowder scored 17 points with nine rebounds, Brandon Bass had 16 points and 10 boards and Evan Turner finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Celtics, who had lost four of five coming into the game.
Boston is sitting in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"At this point we just want to win as much as we can," said Crowder. "Whether we grind it out or come out on fire, as long as we get the win it doesn't matter how we do it."
Andrea Bargnani had 25 points and seven boards for the Knicks, who have lost their last six games.
"We've got to keep playing and keep our heads up," said Bargnani. "It's about pride and it's about keep getting better and what we're trying to build here."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New York trailed by seven entering the fourth and was four back when Cleanthony Early put in a layup to make it a 77-73 game with just under seven minutes to play.
A personal and technical foul call on Quincy Acy, though, saw Boston make three free throws to spark a 9-2 run that gave the team an 86-75 edge with four minutes to play after a Turner layup.
New York responded with the next six points to keep within striking distance and a 3-pointer from Langston Galloway with 25.9 seconds saw the Knicks back four at 92-88.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}They were unable to make it a one-possession game, though, until Jason Smith hit a 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds to play and the Knicks were unable to get a shot off after Avery Bradley missed his second free throw.
A tight first quarter saw the Knicks take a 22-21 lead into the second, but a 12-2 run saw the Celtics go on top as a pair of free throws from Bass gave the team a 33-26 lead with six minutes to go in the half.
Boston built its lead to 11 late in the second quarter, and eventually took a 47-39 advantage into the break.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New York cut Boston's lead to one twice in the third quarter, but was never able to pull ahead.
A pair of baskets from Bass and Thomas, along with a 3-pointer from Thomas gave the Celtics a 70-60 lead before Smith hit a 3 at the buzzer to make it a seven-point game going into the fourth.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Boston hosts the LA Clippers on Sunday ... New York plays in Chicago on Saturday ... Galloway posted 12 points and Smith 10 for New York.