Anthony shines as Knicks beat Celtics

NEW YORK (AFP) –

Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks celebrates a three-point shot against the Boston Celtics on April 20, 2013. Anthony carried his late-season scoring assault into the post-season, netting 36 points in a 85-78 victory in the opener of their first-round series.

Carmelo Anthony carried his late-season scoring assault into the post-season, netting 36 points in the New York Knicks’ 85-78 victory over Boston in the opener of their first-round series.

Anthony shot 13-of-29 from the field and added a half-dozen rebounds and four steals for the Knicks, who were swept by Boston in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs two years ago.

The game was the first of two Eastern Conference contests on the opening day of the playoffs, with the Brooklyn Nets also hosting the Chicago Bulls.

“This was a big game for us. We had to protect our home court. But we haven’t done anything yet,” said Anthony, vowing another victory on Tuesday when the Knicks host game two of the best-of-seven series.

The Knicks clamped down on defence in the second half as they forced the Celtics to make eight turnovers in the fourth quarter.

The Celtics were also held to just eight points in the fourth and 25 overall in the second half. Boston shot 25.9 percent in the second half.

Jeff Green (R) of the Boston Celtics takes a shot as Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks defends, on April 20, 2013. The game was the first of two Eastern Conference contests on the opening day of the playoffs, with the Brooklyn Nets also hosting the Chicago Bulls.

J.R. Smith netted 15 points, while Raymond Felton added 13 points and six assists for the Knicks who held a 10-4 advantage in offensive rebounds and a 12-6 edge in second-chance points.

New York scored 20 points off Boston’s 21 turnovers in the contest.

“We kept our composure,” Anthony said. “We stayed with it, corrected our mistakes and made the shots at the end.”

Boston’s Jeff Green scored 20 of his 26 points in the first half and Paul Pierce finished with 21 points and seven assists in the defeat.

The Celtics even wore a special patch on their jerseys in response to the attacks which left three dead and over 180 injured.

Raymond Felton (L) of the New York Knicks tries to control the ball as he collides with Avery Bradley of the Boston Celtics, on April 20, 2013. The Knicks clamped down on defence in the second half as they forced the Celtics to make eight turnovers in the fourth quarter.

Anthony said that even as the Knicks battle the Celtics, they and everyone in the league recognize that the city of Boston is going through a tough time in the aftermath of the deadly bombings at the Boston marathon.

“We know what Boston is going through,” he said. “This is the USA, one nation, one country and we’ve got to support each other.”

The Celtics took their largest lead of the game in the third after Pierce drained a three-point shot to make it 70-63 with 1:20 left in the quarter.

Jason Kidd nailed two free throws to make it 70-67 at the end of the third as New York answered with a 9-0 surge that straddled the end of the third and beginning of the fourth.

Kenyon Martin made a layup and a free throw to make it 72-70 with 9:26 left in the fourth for the Knicks.

Soon after, Pierce hit a jump shot to bring the Celtics within 76-74 but then the Knicks countered with a 7-2 run to put the game away.