Knicks shock Celtics behind 31 from Wilson Chandler

The Boston Celtics lost for the fourth time in their last six games on Sunday as the New York Knicks used a big game from Wilson Chandler to prevail with relative ease by a 100-88 margin.  After starting the season 27-2, the Celtics are now 27-6 and are in full panic mode.  The loss will only serve to intensify the recent chatter about head case/locker room cancer Stephon Marbury joining the Celtics, as if a backup point guard who has burnt every bridge he ever crossed in the NBA is all that are standing between the team and another NBA championship.

The Knicks were led by a career high 31 from Wilson Chandler and 30 points from Al Harrington.  David Lee also added 14 points and 14 boards for New York.  The Celtics enjoyed a 31 point outing from Paul Pierce, but with the exception of Ray Allen’s 16 points no other Boston player scored in double digits.  The Knicks in particular stymied Kevin Garnett (6 points, 9 rebounds) and Rajon Rondo (3 points, 3 assists).

The Celtics squandered a 53-50 halftime lead in the third quarter, as New York outscored Boston 28-15 to put the game on ice.  It was the Knicks’ first win over Boston at Madison Square Garden since March 2005, ending a six game home losing streak to the Celtics and an eight game skid overall.  The Celtics Ray Allen pointed to his team’s lack of defensive intensity in his post game comments:

"It was the way they scored. It was frustrating watching it happen. It was disappointing because we couldn't get a stop. They were scoring in ways that each time they scored it was somewhat letting the air out of the balloon, out of ourselves."

Paul Pierce said that it was up to the Celtics players to right the ship:

"We've just got to come together. We talked about it after the game amongst the players, what we're doing right, what we're doing wrong, and the good thing about this group, we're a strong group. It's just about getting through this period and we know we're a better team than the way we've been playing."

Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni was pleased that his team was able to finish a tough opponent for the win rather than lose another close game:

"We've been close in a lot of games. I thought we've played and we haven't finished games. Tonight we finished them. I don't want to get too far ahead of us. That was a great win and we'll try to get better on the defensive end. If we can have that effort and learn how to finish games, which tonight we did, we'll just see if we can keep building on it."

Much of the media attention after the game centered on the prospect of Stephon Marbury joining the Celtics but guard Rajon Rondo sounded tired of the speculation:

"We can't really worry about it all. We've got to go out there and go with the staff at hand. You've got to talk to the general manager and coach Rivers. We got to go out there and play every night regardless of who they bring in."