Boston massacre: Celtics by 45
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 in Boston, 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.
And unlike the Boston area’s NFL team, the Celtics didn’t even try to run up the score.
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.
Warriors 113, Rockets 94: At Oakland, Calif., Baron Davis scored 27 points and undersized Golden State held Yao Ming in check, beating Houston for its eighth win in nine games after an 0-6 start.
Stephen Jackson added 19 points and Al Harrington had 18 for the Warriors, who became the fastest team in NBA history to post a winning record after losing its first six games.
Lakers 127, Nuggets 99: At Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant scored 24 points and reserve guard Sasha Vujacic dominated the fourth quarter, scoring 19 of his career-high 22 points and powering the Lakers to a rout of Denver.
•Lakers coach Phil Jackson has agreed to terms of a two-year contract extension worth about $24 million, putting him under contract through the 2009-10 season.
He had expressed uncertainty about returning because he’s undergone two hip replacement operations since October 2006.
•The Nuggets signed center Jelani McCoy off the Los Angeles Lakers’ Developmental League affiliate.
James questionable
An MRI on LeBron James’ injured left finger in revealed a sprain, and the Cleveland Cavaliers said their superstar would be a game-time decision today.