Bradley's hot shooting lifts Celtics over Knicks
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Avery Bradley scored 26 points on 11-of-14 shooting to lead the Boston Celtics to a 108-97 win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.
Jared Sullinger posted 22 points with nine rebounds and six assists for Boston, which snapped its three-game losing streak.
Marcus Smart and Jae Crowder each tallied 13 points for the Celtics.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Carmelo Anthony contributed 21 points, while Jose Calderon and Tim Hardaway Jr. had 17 and 14 points, respectively, in the loss.
New York had its four-game home winning streak halted and its three-game winning streak over the Celtics.
"We didn't start the game with a purpose, (with) energy. And the Celtics did," Knicks coach Derek Fisher said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Smart buried successive 3-pointers as the Celtics jumped out to a 14-2 lead in the early going. Boston brought a 26-19 lead into the second quarter.
"Marcus Smart and the way he played defensively," Sullinger attributed to the quick start.
Brandon Bass converted a three-point play with under four minutes to go in the second that started a 9-2 burst for a 55-39 Boston lead. Lou Amundson's basket in the closing seconds cut New York's deficit to 57-44 at the half.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Boston secured a double-digit advantage for most of the third quarter, then Shane Larkin knocked down a trey to cut the Knicks deficit to eight, 80-72, entering the fourth.
Larkin made a layup early in the final quarter to make it an 86-82 deficit, but the Celtics responded with a 10-2 run to regain control. Bradley hit a jumper with under three minutes left before he found a cutting Crowder to make it a 102-89 lead and help the Celtics get back in the win column.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Boston made 54.5 percent from the floor, while the Knicks converted 49.4 percent of their shots ... The Celtics went 18-of-23 from the free throw line and New York made 8-of-11 shots from the stripe ... Boston had a 39-35 edge on the glass.