BOSTON - Ray Allen hit the decisive three-pointer with 12 seconds remaining Sunday as Boston rallied to beat New York 87-85 in the first game of their NBA Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
New York led 85-84 before the Knicks' Carmelo Anthony was called for an offensive foul for pushing Paul Pierce with 21 seconds to play.
Allen, who led the Celtics with 24 points, then sank the key shot from behind the three-point arc.
After Anthony's foul, Rajon Rondo lined up to inbound the ball for Boston but called timeout.
Then Allen in-bounded from just in front of the half-court line. He tossed the ball to Pierce, moved to the opposite side of the court and caught a pass from Pierce and put up his three-pointer.
The Knicks rushed downcourt, but Anthony missed a long three-point attempt with two seconds remaining, Anthony finishing 1 for 11 from the field in the second half.
Amare Stoudemire had 28 points and 11 rebounds for New York, and Anthony finished with 15.
The Celtics, who won their league-leading 17th title in 2008, are trying to get back to the NBA finals after falling to the Lakers in the championship series last season. they host game two on Tuesday.
The Knicks are in the playoffs for the first time in seven years.
Pierce finished with 18 points for Boston and Kevin Garnett added 15 points and 13 rebounds as the third-seeded Celtics snatched the victory from the Knicks.
Pierce did a superb job of guarding Anthony, giving him few clear looks at the basket.
With the score knotted at 82-82, Toney Douglas made a three-pointer to put the Knicks in front with 38 seconds remaining.
Boston called a timeout and when play resumed immediately scored when Rondo tossed an alley-oop to Garnett on the inbounds pass.
- Agence France-Presse
New York led 85-84 before the Knicks' Carmelo Anthony was called for an offensive foul for pushing Paul Pierce with 21 seconds to play.
Allen, who led the Celtics with 24 points, then sank the key shot from behind the three-point arc.
After Anthony's foul, Rajon Rondo lined up to inbound the ball for Boston but called timeout.
Then Allen in-bounded from just in front of the half-court line. He tossed the ball to Pierce, moved to the opposite side of the court and caught a pass from Pierce and put up his three-pointer.
The Knicks rushed downcourt, but Anthony missed a long three-point attempt with two seconds remaining, Anthony finishing 1 for 11 from the field in the second half.
Amare Stoudemire had 28 points and 11 rebounds for New York, and Anthony finished with 15.
The Celtics, who won their league-leading 17th title in 2008, are trying to get back to the NBA finals after falling to the Lakers in the championship series last season. they host game two on Tuesday.
The Knicks are in the playoffs for the first time in seven years.
Pierce finished with 18 points for Boston and Kevin Garnett added 15 points and 13 rebounds as the third-seeded Celtics snatched the victory from the Knicks.
Pierce did a superb job of guarding Anthony, giving him few clear looks at the basket.
With the score knotted at 82-82, Toney Douglas made a three-pointer to put the Knicks in front with 38 seconds remaining.
Boston called a timeout and when play resumed immediately scored when Rondo tossed an alley-oop to Garnett on the inbounds pass.
- Agence France-Presse
