Garnett’s jumper gives Celtics 107-105 overtime victory over Knicks

Garnett’s jumper gives Celtics OT win over Knicks

NEW YORK — Kevin Garnett made a jumper to beat the overtime buzzer, giving the Boston Celtics a 107-105 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday.

Paul Pierce scored a season-high 33 points, and had all of Boston’s points in overtime until the final shot. Two Knicks followed Pierce on the final play, leaving Garnett wide open from the top of the key for his 19-footer.

Garnett and Ray Allen had miserable shooting nights, but Rajon Rondo finished with 14 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds as Boston won for the second time in five games.

Reserve Al Harrington scored 30 points and David Lee had 22 points and 15 rebounds for the Knicks, who had won their previous two games.

The Celtics opened a big lead and blew all of it in a seesaw third quarter, then rallied to force overtime and improve to 17-4 against the Knicks since the 2004-05 season.

Pierce opened overtime with a 3-pointer and his jumper later made it a four-point game, but Lee’s dunk tied it again with 9.3 seconds left, setting up Garnett’s winning shot.

The Celtics, whom coach Doc Rivers said had been playing “awful” recently, needed a big afternoon from Pierce while his remaining Big Three teammates struggled. Garnett was 4 of 15 for 10 points, while Allen was 3 of 13 for his 13 points.

Both made big shots late in regulation, though, and Kendrick Perkins chipped in with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

Nate Robinson rebounded from a poor decision Saturday with a strong game Sunday, scoring 19 points off the bench. The Knicks fell to 3-10 in the opener of consecutive games against the last two NBA champions. They start a three-game trip Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Perkins had two baskets and Pierce made a 3-pointer, forcing the Knicks to call timeout early in the third quarter. Rondo then stole the inbounds pass when they returned, setting up Pierce’s free throws that capped a 11-0 run out of halftime and made it 67-53.

The Knicks had more passes into the seats (2) than baskets (1) in the first four minutes of the period, then suddenly turned it around as quickly as they’d fallen apart.

Harrington made three 3-pointers in a 20-6 surge that tied it at 75, Robinson made a 3 to snap a 77-all tie, and Harrington’s follow shot made it 82-77 heading to the fourth.

New York led for nearly the entire period before Allen’s 3-pointer gave Boston a 96-94 advantage with 2:47 left. Lee tied it again with 1:19 to play, but Garnett knocked down a jumper 12 seconds later.

The Knicks got the ball back following a couple of questionable calls and no-calls and tied it on Harrington’s free throws with 4.7 seconds remaining. Rondo missed a 3-pointer as time expired.

Eddy Curry had six points in his first home game since March 2008. He received a decent ovation when he checked in with 3:32 left in the first quarter, then departed the game after shoving Rondo down and getting whistled for a flagrant foul with 5:21 remaining in the fourth.

Pierce scored 14 points in the first quarter, making all three 3-point attempts, as the Celtics built a 30-22 lead. Boston led 56-53 at halftime following a lengthy second period in which 15 fouls were called.

Robinson had only 11 points in three games since his return from sprained right ankle, going scoreless Saturday while playing just six minutes. His shot into the wrong basket just after the first-quarter buzzer, frequently replayed Saturday night, angered Mike D’Antoni, but the Knicks coach insisted Robinson hadn’t been benched and that they were past it.

NOTES: Actors Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Brooke Shields and Rosie Perez were seated courtside, with Ferrell and Wahlberg dressed as passionate Knicks fans. Those two play cops in next summer’s The Other Guys and were filming a scene Sunday. … The Knicks presented Yankees manager Joe Girardi with the November “City Spirit” Award, given to someone who’s made a “significant difference in the lives of others” during the second quarter. Driving home the night of the World Series clincher, Girardi stopped to aid a motorist who had been injured in an accident.