Celtics ‘keep it going’
Pacers, Rockets win in their series
NEW YORK — Back in the series, now back to Boston.
The Celtics are two victories from NBA history, and from extending the Knicks’ postseason futility in a most improbable manner.
Kevin Garnett had 16 points and 18 rebounds and the Celtics stayed alive in the playoffs, cutting New York’s lead to 3-2 with a 92-86 victory Wednesday night.
The Celtics will host Game 6 on Friday night, needing two victories to become the first NBA team to overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a series.
“We’re still down. Our mentality has to be all-out,” Garnett said. “It can’t be anything (else).”
Brandon Bass added 17 points, steadying Boston as it shook off an 11-0 deficit and pulled away in the second half to stop the Knicks again from achieving their first playoff series victory since 2000.
J.R. Smith, back from his one-game suspension for elbowing Jason Terry with the Knicks way ahead late in Game 3, missed his first 10 shots and finished 3 of 14 for 14 points.
Terry also scored 17 off the bench.
Jeff Green scored 18 points and Paul Pierce had 16.
The Knicks were perhaps a bit overconfident heading into the game for a franchise that lost an NBA-record 13 straight postseason games from 2001-12.
Smith said Tuesday he’d have been playing golf instead of practicing had he played in Game 4, and players wore black to the game Wednesday as if they were heading to the Celtics’ “funeral.”
The Celtics didn’t like it, with reserve Jordan Crawford exchanging words with Carmelo Anthony and Raymond Felton after the final buzzer.
PACERS 106, HAWKS 83: In Indianapolis, David West scored 24 points and Paul George had 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead Indiana past Atlanta, taking a 3-2 playoff series lead.
The Pacers have won three home games in the best-ofseven series and are 5-0 at home this season against the Hawks. They’ll go to Atlanta on Friday with a chance to clinch the best-ofseven series. But the Hawks have won 13 straight at home against the Pacers, including both games in this series.
Atlanta was led by Josh Smith and Al Horford, who each had 14 points.
ROCKETS 107, THUNDER 100: In Oklahoma City, James Harden scored 31 points and sank seven 3-pointers as Houston beat Oklahoma City to pull within 3-2 in their firstround playoff series.
Kevin Durant finished with 36 points for Oklahoma City, which must now travel to Houston for Game 6 on Friday
night.
Notes
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Portland point guard Damian Lillard has been unanimously chosen the NBA’s Rookie of the Year.
Lillard, the sixth overall pick in June’s draft out of Weber State, led all rookies with a 19-point scoring average. He also averaged 6.1 assists and 3.1 rebounds, playing in all 82 games this season, and pretty much was a lock for the award after he swept all six Rookie of the Month awards this season.
“I kind of figured I was ahead,” Lillard said about the race for the honor.
BUCKS: A trip to the playoffs wasn’t enough to save coach Jim Boylan’s job. Milwaukee announced Wednesday that Boylan won’t be offered a new contract.
KABONGO: Former New Mexico State Aggie Christian Kabongo, kicked off the Aggies team during the 201112 season, is among the early entries for the NBA draft.
SUMMER LEAGUE: For the first time since the league’s inception in 2004, it will feature a format that includes preliminary games followed by a single-elimination tournament where a champion will be crowned on July 22.