Revived Knicks visit rival Celtics
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(SportsNetwork.com) - The New York Knicks have been playing much better of late and will try to keep the momentum going Wednesday night when they visit the Boston Celtics.
The Knicks have won four straight, including two in a row on the road.
While this once-storied rivalry has been taken down a bit due to both teams' sub .500 records, the Knicks still have plenty to play for. The Knicks are just 3 1/2 games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Knicks' fourth consecutive win came Monday night, a 123-110 triumph at Madison Square Garden over the hapless Philadelphia 76ers.
Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 28 points off the bench to lead the Knicks against Philly. Amar'e Stoudemire deposited 23 points on 9-of-10 shooting, while J.R. Smith and Carmelo Anthony each scored 22 points in the win, with Anthony adding nine boards.
"I love nights like this," said Anthony. "Four guys in 20-plus points, sharing the ball, making plays, taking the load off of me. I love nights like that."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Raymond Felton added 13 points for the Knicks, who shot 54.3 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from long range. New York scored 28 points off 18 Sixers' turnovers.
The Knicks play two straight at home after the trip to Beantown.
According to reports, this could be the last game before Phil Jackson is announced as the new president of the Knicks. Published reports indicate Jackson is going to assume control of basketball operations.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Celtics' two-game winning streak ended on Tuesday night when the Indiana Pacers secured a 94-83 home victory.
Jared Sullinger and Kris Humphries paced Boston with 17 and 15 points, respectively, but the Celtics folded late in dropping their fifth straight road test.
Chris Johnson scored 14 off the bench, followed by 12 from Jeff Green and 11 out of Brandon Bass. Rajon Rondo shot 4-for-15 en route to eight points.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"It was a pretty good effort by our guys," Celtics head coach Brad Stevens said. "Everything went great except the ball going in the basket. That's OK. I feel like we're getting better, I really do, and I think you can see it."
The C's, who have won two straight at home, shot a dismal 35 percent from the floor and 15.8 from long range against the Pacers.
The Celtics have won two of three meetings with their Atlantic Division rivals this season. The Knicks won the last matchup, but the Celtics have taken 12 of the last 14 at home against New York.