Knicks trip Celtics; All-Star nod for Duncan
BOSTON—The Knicks ended an 11-game losing streak in Boston as Carmelo Anthony scored 28 points and won his rematch with Kevin Garnett in New York’s 89-86 victory over the Celtics on Thursday.
It came 17 days after a verbal clash between the All-Star forwards led to Anthony’s one-game suspension following Boston’s 102-96 victory in New York.
Rajon Rondo led the Celtics with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. Garnett had only eight points but finished with a game-high 12 rebounds.
Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan swished in a fadeaway jumper at the final buzzer as the Raptors fought off a late-game charge to nip the Orlando Magic, 97-95.
DeRozan led Toronto with 22 points, followed by Amir Johnson with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
Goran Dragic scored 19 of his 24 points in the first half and the Phoenix Suns held on to beat the Los Angeles Clippers, 93-88, and improve to 2-0 under interim coach Lindsey Hunter.
Marcin Gortat added 15 points, including two free throws with 23.3 seconds left. Luis Scola and Markieff Morris had 14 apiece for the Suns, who had not won two in a row since a four-game winning streak ended on Dec. 19.
Jamal Crawford led Los Angeles with 21 points.
Meanwhile, Tim Duncan was selected to his 14th All-Star game, Spurs teammate Tony Parker is joining him, and the Chicago Bulls also had two reserves chosen Thursday for next month’s game in Houston.
Joakim Noah and Luol Deng were picked from the Bulls, who have stayed in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race despite the season-long absence of point guard Derrick Rose. Noah is one of five first-time All-Stars for the East, along with New York’s Tyson Chandler, Indiana’s Paul George, Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving, and Philadelphia’s Jrue Holiday.
Miami’s Chris Bosh, picked for his eighth All-Star team, rounded out the East squad.
West forwards David Lee (Golden State), LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland) and Zach Randolph (Memphis) all were picked for the second time. Houston’s James Harden was chosen for the first time and joins former Oklahoma City teammate Russell Westbrook, headed to his third straight All-Star game.
Duncan wasn’t chosen last year for the first time in his career but has bounced back with a terrific season at age 36, averaging 17.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.7 blocked shots, his best statistics since 2009-10.
The reserves were voted by the head coaches from each conference. AP
