Pierce, Celtics edge Knicks

The Celtics' All-Star scored 23 points, including an off-balance jumper as the shot clock expired with 24 seconds left, to give the Celtics a six-game winning streak with an 87-84 victory Tuesday night over the New York Knicks.

Pierce's shot from the left corner gave Boston an 85-82 lead.

``I made a tough shot, but a number of guys really carried us in the fourth and I just tried to do the little things that kept us in the game,'' Pierce said.

After trailing most of the game, the Knicks took their first lead since the first quarter when Allan Houston's jumper made it 74-72 with 6:53 left.

Tim Thomas' 3-pointer with 3:26 gave the Knicks an 81-78 lead, but a free throw by Pierce and two by Mark Blount tied the game. The Celtics then took the lead for good when Blount's dunk with 1:06 left made it 83-81.

Thomas made one of two free throws before Pierce made his corner jumper while being tightly guarded by Shandon Anderson.

``Paul's play was really a big-time shot with the clock running down,'' Celtics head coach John Carroll said. ``We had great execution and we got lucky.''

Thomas' drive brought the Knicks within one, then Pierce gave Boston a two-point lead when he made one of two free throws with 17 seconds left.

On their final possession, the Knicks ran the clock down before Stephon Marbury launched a long straightaway 3-pointer that hit the front of the rim.

``I was open. I had a good look. I'd take that shot again,'' Marbury said. ``If I make it, we win, and I thought it was going in.''

Ricky Davis grabbed the rebound with 0.5 seconds left and was fouled. He made the first and purposely missed the second.

The Celtics led by as many as eight points in the first half, and Brandon Hunter's layup to begin the second half gave the Celtics their biggest lead of the game. The Knicks kept chipping away, and Houston's 3-pointer brought them within 57-56 with 4:19 left in the third quarter.

Walter McCarty's 3-pointer re-established a four-point lead, and Boston managed to hold a 62-60 lead going into the fourth.

Blount finished with 15 points and 17 rebounds for Boston, which also had a five-game winning streak in December. Pierce added eight assists, eight rebounds and three steals.

Houston scored 23 and Thomas had 17 for the Knicks, who had their three-gamewinning streak snapped.

Notes
The Knicks captured the season series 3-1, but haven't swept the Celtics since 1996-97. ... The win was the Celtics 250th all-time vs. the Knicks. They lead the series 250-165. .... Prior to the game, Kurt Thomas signed a four-year contract extension with the Knicks. ... The Celtics are 6-1since trading for Chucky Atkins on February 19.