Celtics thump Knicks, tighten hold on series playoff

NEW YORK – The Boston Celtics dominated the New York Knicks 113-96 on Friday to take a stranglehold on their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series.

Paul Pierce scored 38 points and Ray Allen added 32 for Boston, whose Rajon Rondo handed out a Celtics playoff-record 20 assists in a victory that put Boston within one victory of advancing.

They lead the best-of-seven series 3-0, with the Knicks no doubt well aware that no team has recovered from an 0-3 deficit to win an NBA postseason series.

Rondo scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Celtics, who emerged with two close-run victories in Boston but never trailed and were never threatened in this one.

They made sure that the first playoff game at Madison Square Garden in seven years didn’t mark a happy return for Knicks fans.

They will try to finish off a four-game sweep in New York on Sunday.

Carmelo Anthony had 15 points and 11 rebounds but shot just 4 for 16 from the floor for the Knicks. New York remain without a playoff game win in a decade.

Amare Stoudemire, battling back spasms, shot just just 2 for 8 and finished with seven points.

Elsewhere in the East, the Atlanta Hawks hosted the Orlando Magic, each team trying to gain the upper hand in a series tied at 1-1 after the first two contests.