Pierce powers Boston past Knicks

YESTERDAY IN THE NBA For once, Celtics don’t fade away Phoenix racks up sixth win in a row

Ricky Davis had seen this kind of thing before. Boston would build a big lead and then let the other team back into the game.

It almost never ended well for the Celtics. But Davis was in for a pleasant surprise. He scored 27 points and made two free throws with 8.7 seconds left, then Nate Robinson missed a long three- pointer on the game’s final play as the Celtics beat the Knicks 102- 99 in New York.

“ Usually when guys come back from a lead we kind of hang our heads,” Davis said. “ We just kept executing, kept getting defensive stops. That’s what I liked about it.” The Celtics led by as many as 14 in the third quarter, but Channing Frye hit a three- pointer in the final seconds of the period to cut Boston’s advantage to 76- 67. From there, the Knicks chipped away until they got within a point, 99- 98, with 21.4 seconds left. Moments later, Boston reserve guard Dan Dickau scored his only points of the game by making two free throws. The Knicks got back to 100-99 on two free throws by Stephon Marbury with 8.9 seconds left. But Davis hit his two free throws and Robinson was unable to make a big buzzer- beater for the second straight week. Eight days ago, the rookie from Washington made a threepointer as time expired to give the Knicks a 105- 102 overtime win over Philadelphia. “Sometimes the ball goes in your favour, sometimes it don’t,” Robinson said.

It was a difficult way for New York to leave home in preparation for a three-game West Coast road trip that begins tomorrow at Seattle.

“ It’s tough,” said Marbury, who led the Knicks with 35 points. “ This is a game you want to get away with, but unfortunately we didn’t come up with a victory.”

Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 28 points and nine rebounds in the latest in a string of strong performances. Over four games, Pierce has averaged 29.8 points and 11 rebounds. HAWKS at SUNS:

James Jones scored a season- high 20 points and Shawn Marion also had 20 to lead Phoenix to its sixth consecutive victory, 112- 94 over Atlanta and former teammate Joe Johnson. The Suns’ winning streak is the longest in the NBA this season. It also was Phoenix’s sixth consecutive home victory and the eighth game in a row the Suns have held an opponent under 100 points.