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Celtics stall Knicks again

 
The Knicks’ Tyson Chandler (6) finds the rebound knocked away by the Celtics’ Paul Pierce (34) and Kevin Garnett (5).
The Knicks’ Tyson Chandler (6) finds the rebound knocked away by the Celtics’ Paul Pierce (34) and Kevin Garnett (5).
Published May 2, 2013

NEW YORK — Back in the series, now back to Boston.

The Celtics, winners of the most NBA titles, are two victories from making more history.

Kevin Garnett had 16 points and 18 rebounds, and the Celtics stayed alive in the playoffs, cutting the Knicks' lead in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series to 3-2 with a 92-86 victory Wednesday.

The Celtics host Game 6 on Friday. They are two victories from becoming the first NBA team to overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a series.

"We're still down. Our mentality has to be all out," Garnett said. "It can't be anything (else)."

"We just wanted to keep it going," said Brandon Bass, who hd 17 points, steadying Boston as it shook off an 11-0 deficit and again stopped the Knicks from achieving their first playoff series victory since 2000.

"We didn't panic, and that's something we've done," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "I thought once the game got back to that five, six area, our guys were good again."

New York's J.R. Smith, back from his one-game suspension for elbowing Jason Terry in Game 3, missed his first 10 shots and finished with 14 points. "We was going to a funeral, man," he said, "but it looks like we got buried." Carmelo Anthony scored 22 but was just 8-for-24 for the Knicks.

The Celtics were the first of the eight NBA teams that have come from 3-1 down, beating Philadelphia in 1968.

Pacers seize 3-2 lead

INDIANAPOLIS — David West scored 24, and Paul George had 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead the more physical Pacers past the Hawks 106-83, taking a 3-2 series lead.

The Pacers have all won three home games in the best-of-seven series and are 5-0 at home this season against the Hawks. They'll go to Atlanta on Friday with a chance to clinch the series, but the Hawks have won 13 straight at home against the Pacers.

"We needed to re-establish our confidence," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "We needed to re-establish our ability to slow them down."

Rockets stave off Thunder: James Harden scored 31 and the host Rockets overcame 36 from Kevin Durant to beat the Thunder 107-100 and narrow their series deficit to 3-2.

late tuesday: Zach Randolph scored 10 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter as the Grizzlies beat the host Clippers 103-93, taking a 3-2 lead in their series. "It certainly feels better than going home down 2-3," coach Lionel Hollins said. Los Angeles forward Blake Griffin was late for warmups because he was getting treatment for his right ankle, which he turned at Monday's practice. He played 19 minutes and had four points and five rebounds.

around the league: Bucks coach Jim Boylan won't be offered a new contract, an expected development after Milwaukee lost 12 of its last 16 games, finishing with a third straight losing season and eighth in nine years. The Bucks were then swept by the Heat in the East quarterfinals. Boylan, a longtime assistant of Scott Skiles, took over Jan. 8. He went 22-32. … Blazers point guard Damian Lillard was named rookie of the year.

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Celtics 92, Knicks 86

BOSTON (92): Green 5-8 6-6 18, Bass 6-7 5-5 17, Garnett 5-9 6-6 16, Bradley 2-6 0-0 4, Pierce 6-19 0-0 16, Terry 6-16 0-0 17, Williams 2-5 0-0 4. Totals 32-70 17-17 92.

NEW YORK (86): Shumpert 4-7 3-4 12, Anthony 8-24 6-6 22, Chandler 3-5 2-2 8, Felton 10-19 1-2 21, Prigioni 1-5 0-0 3, Smith 3-14 5-6 14, Martin 1-1 0-0 2, Kidd 0-4 0-0 0, Novak 1-1 0-0 2, Camby 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 32-81 17-20 86.

Boston 20 25 24 23— 92

New York 22 17 21 26— 86

3-Point GoalsBoston 11-22 (Terry 5-9, Pierce 4-8, Green 2-2, Williams 0-3), New York 5-22 (Smith 3-8, Shumpert 1-2, Prigioni 1-4, Felton 0-3, Anthony 0-5). Fouled OutNone. ReboundsBoston 47 (Garnett 18), New York 43 (Chandler 11). AssistsBoston 20 (Garnett 5), New York 13 (Felton 4). Total FoulsBoston 16, New York 19. TechnicalsTerry, Smith. A19,033.

Pacers 106, Hawks 83

ATLANTA (83): Smith 5-16 3-7 14, Horford 5-14 4-4 14, Petro 2-3 1-2 5, Harris 3-9 7-8 13, Teague 3-16 1-1 7, I.Johnson 1-2 7-8 9, Korver 2-5 5-5 10, Tolliver 1-2 0-0 3, Stevenson 0-1 0-0 0, Jones 0-1 2-2 2, Mack 1-2 0-0 2, Jenkins 0-0 0-0 0, Scott 2-4 0-0 4. Totals 25-75 30-37 83.

INDIANA (106): George 7-8 5-7 21, West 11-16 2-2 24, Hibbert 3-7 12-14 18, Stephenson 3-7 1-2 8, Hill 5-10 4-4 15, T.Hansbrough 1-5 1-1 3, Pendergraph 1-4 0-0 2, Mahinmi 1-2 0-0 2, Augustin 3-10 2-3 11, Green 0-0 0-0 0, O.Johnson 0-0 2-2 2. Totals 35-69 29-35 106.

Atlanta 22 21 24 16— 83

Indiana 21 29 31 25— 106

3-Point GoalsAtlanta 3-14 (Tolliver 1-2, Korver 1-3, Smith 1-3, Mack 0-1, Teague 0-1, Stevenson 0-1, Harris 0-3), Indiana 7-19 (Augustin 3-9, George 2-2, Stephenson 1-3, Hill 1-5). Fouled OutNone. ReboundsAtlanta 39 (Horford 9), Indiana 58 (Stephenson 12). AssistsAtlanta 14 (Teague 5), Indiana 24 (Hill 10). Total FoulsAtlanta 24, Indiana 30. TechnicalsI.Johnson, Smith, Teague, Atlanta defensive three second 2, Indiana Coach Vogel, Indiana defensive three second. A18,165.

Rockets 107, Thunder 100

HOUSTON (107): Garcia 6-14 1-2 18, Parsons 4-12 2-4 10, Asik 4-6 13-18 21, Beverley 5-11 2-2 14, Harden 10-16 4-5 31, Delfino 0-1 0-0 0, Smith 1-1 1-2 3, Brooks 4-11 2-4 10. Totals 34-72 25-37 107.

OKLAHOMA CITY (100): Durant 11-23 13-16 36, Ibaka 7-14 0-0 14, Perkins 1-3 0-0 2, Jackson 7-15 4-6 20, Sefolosha 3-8 0-0 9, Martin 1-10 1-2 3, Fisher 2-6 2-4 8, Liggins 1-4 0-0 2, Collison 3-3 0-0 6. Totals 36-86 20-28 100.

Houston 30 20 37 20— 107

Oklahoma City 26 17 32 25— 100

3-Point GoalsHouston 14-35 (Harden 7-9, Garcia 5-12, Beverley 2-5, Delfino 0-1, Brooks 0-3, Parsons 0-5), Oklahoma City 8-33 (Sefolosha 3-6, Fisher 2-5, Jackson 2-6, Durant 1-8, Ibaka 0-1, Liggins 0-2, Martin 0-5). Fouled OutNone. ReboundsHouston 58 (Asik 11), Oklahoma City 50 (Ibaka 9). AssistsHouston 15 (Parsons 4), Oklahoma City 20 (Durant 7). Total FoulsHouston 22, Oklahoma City 28. TechnicalsBeverley, Durant. A18,203.