Anthony leads Knicks over Celtics

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony drives past Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett (5) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013. Anthony had 28 points as the Knicks won 89-86. AP Photo/Charles Krupa

BOSTON, Massachusetts–Carmelo Anthony won his much-anticipated showdown with Kevin Garnett on Thursday, scoring 28 points to lead the New York Knicks to an 89-86 NBA victory over the Celtics in Boston.

J.R. Smith also played a key role for the Knicks. Although he shot just 3-of-16 from the field, Smith delivered a crucial three-pointer and forced a key turnover in the finishing stretch to help the Knicks overcome Boston guard Rajon Rondo’s fourth triple-double of the season.

Rondo scored a team-high 23 points with 11 assists and 10 rebounds, but couldn’t prevent the Celtics from losing a season-worst fifth straight game.

The Knicks’ victory was their first in Boston since 2006, ending a 13-game losing streak on the Celtics’ court.

Anthony endured another tough shooting night, making just 11-of-28 from the field. But he helped the Knicks avenge their defeat by the Celtics on January 7 at Madison Square Garden, where things got heated between Anthony and Garnett.

An exchange between the two during that game prompted Anthony to confront Garnett after the contest, for which the Knicks star was suspended one game by the NBA.

Garnett had a quiet scoring night, finishing with eight points. But he grabbed 12 rebounds. Paul Pierce added 22 points for the Celtics.

Amare Stoudemire added 15 points and nine rebounds off the bench for the Knicks, while Jason Kidd scored 12 points and Iman Shumpert 10.