Celtics Trounce Knicks

The New York Knicks' brief winning streak is history, and the Boston Celtics nearly made history ending it.

The Celtics cruised to one of the easiest victories ever on Thursday night, beating New York 104-59 to send the Knicks to their third-worst loss and their second-worst scoring performance of the shot-clock era.

Only Nate Robinson's 37-foot 3-pointer at the final buzzer saved the Knicks from an even bigger embarrassment. The Knicks' lowest point total ever was 58 against Utah, on Dec. 15, 2000.

Kevin Garnett played just 22 minutes, scoring eight points before leaving the game midway through the third quarter with Boston ahead 69-34. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen also sat out the fourth quarter and played 29 minutes apiece. And Rajon Rondo dribbled out 24 of the final 26 seconds, turning the ball over on purpose rather than go for a 50-point win.

Allen and Pierce had 21 points each for Boston. Robinson led the Knicks with 11 points.