Boston beats Knicks by 41, biggest margin of victory this season

Jordan Crawford scored 23 points and the Boston Celtics posted the most lopsided victory in the NBA this season, bursting out to another sizzling start and pouring it on from there to batter the Knicks, 114-73, on Sunday in New York.

Jared Sullinger added 21 for the Celtics, who jumped to leads of 12-0, 18-1 and 25-3 and improved their Atlantic Division-leading record to 10-12.

The Celtics led 58-31 at halftime, then Crawford made four three-pointers in a 34-point quarter that extended Boston’s lead to 92-56. The Celtics then scored the first four points of the fourth for a 40-point bulge, triggering loud boos that would get louder at the final buzzer.

Boston went on to surpass a 38-point victory by the Clippers over Chicago that had been the NBA’s biggest victory this season.

Carmelo Anthony scored 19 points for the Knicks, who were on the receiving end of a rout this time. New York was coming off of a 30-point victory over Brooklyn and a 38-point rout of Orlando.

Crawford hit six three-pointers for the Celtics, who stay in New York for the next couple of days during something of a reunion week. They face Kevin Garnett and Brooklyn on Tuesday for the first time in the regular season since last summer’s blockbuster trade, then return home to face former coach Doc Rivers and the Clippers on Wednesday.

It was 12-0 before the Knicks finally got on the board on Anthony’s free throw after the Celtics were called for a defensive three-second violation. Crawford and Sullinger then hit consecutive three-pointers to make it 18-1 before the Knicks finally made a basket on Anthony’s shot with 5:45 remaining.

The Celtics led 34-11 after one and opened a 26-point lead when Courtney Lee nailed a three-pointer to open the second. Leading by 17 late in the period, then ran off 12 in a row, Jeff Green’s three-point play making it 58-29 with 37 seconds remaining.

Knicks starters were three for 23 in the first half, including a combined 0 for 8 by guards Raymond Felton and Iman Shumpert.

Miami 110, at Detroit 95: LeBron James had 24 points, nine assists and seven rebounds for the Heat, who were without Dwyane Wade but still shot 56% from the field and 11 of 28 from three-point range. Ray Allen added 18 points for Miami. Andre Drummond had 19 points and 14 rebounds for Detroit, which had its four-game winning streak snapped. The Pistons never showed any sign of slowing down Miami, and although they finished with 17 offensive rebounds, they never took full advantage of a potential edge inside.

at Houston 98, Orlando 88: Dwight Howard celebrated his 28th birthday in a big way, getting 20 points and 21 rebounds against the Magic. James Harden scored 27 points and also had 10 assists and eight rebounds for the Rockets. Terrence Jones contributed 16 points and 13 rebounds. Glenn Davis scored 18 points in Orlando’s fifth straight loss.

at Oklahoma City 118, Indiana 94: Kevin Durant had 36 points and 10 rebounds as the Thunder turned a matchup of two of the NBA’s best teams into a blowout. Durant was 14 of 23 from the field and Oklahoma City shot a season-best 61%. Russell Westbrook finished with 26 points, Reggie Jackson had 15 and Serge Ibaka 13 for the Thunder. Paul George scored 32 points for the Pacers, who shot just 40%.