How it Happened
In their final meeting of the season -- the sixth total, counting two preseason matchups -- the Knicks and Celtics battled down to the wire; New York refused to quit, pulling to within three on a Jason Smith 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left before Boston sealed victory at Madison Square Garden.
Andrea Bargnani provided the scoring punch, finishing with a game-high 25 points to go with his seven rebounds, but the Celtics' balanced attack -- including 35 off the bench from Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder -- was too much to overcome.
Knick of the Night
Bargnani's scoring kept New York in the game until the very end on a night when only Shane Larkin (14 points) was his only teammate in double figures until the very end of the night.
Game Notes
Tim Hardaway Jr. missed his seventh straight game with a wrist injury. Derek Fisher said he's progressing but needs to increase his range of motion before returning. Tonight, the Knicks celebrated Walt "Clyde" Frazier's 70th birthday (the actual birthday is Sunday) by honoring him at halfcourt during the 1st quarter and featuring the Four Tops throughout the night.
Next Up
The Knicks fly to Chicago after the game for a Saturday night showdown with the Bulls tomorrow at 8 pm on MSG.