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Rivalry renewed; Celtics meet Knicks in MSG

Dec 15, 2010 - 4:03 PM (Sports Network) - The old Boston-New York rivalry hasn't picked up steam for quite some time, but that could all change very soon.

While the Celtics have been one of the more dominating teams in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks haven't been relevant in NBA discussions since the turn of the century.

Celtics star Paul Pierce questioned the current rivalry with New York, which will welcome its Atlantic Division rivals to Madison Square Garden tonight.

"Hey, if that's what y'all want it to be, if it'll sell more tickets and get more viewers, then I guess so," Pierce was quoted as saying. "[The media makes] up the rivalries, we don't. To be honest, New York is playing well, they're in our division, and both teams are streaking, so it's going to be an exciting game."

The Celtics have ripped off a season-high 10 straight wins and will close out a three-game trek in the Big Apple. They are coming off Saturday's 93-62 blowout in Charlotte, as Glen Davis came off the bench to score 16 points and Kevin Garnett delivered 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics, who have won five in a row on the road and are 9-3 away from Beantown.

"Second half I thought we blew the game open with just our defense," Garnett said. "I thought it led to some easy baskets and some flow."

Ray Allen had 16 points and Pierce netted eight in the win. Boston committed 18 turnovers against the Bobcats and shot 44 percent for the game. Its longest winning streak was a franchise-best 19 games from Nov. 14 - Dec. 23, 2008. Doc Rivers is one win away from 300 wins and nine victories shy of tying K.C. Jones for third on the franchise's all-time list.

Celtics veteran center Shaquille O'Neal is questionable for Wednesday's game against New York due to a sore right calf.

Meanwhile, the Knicks have posted a season-best eight straight wins and will resume a three-game homestand Wednesday night.

In a 129-125 triumph over Denver on Sunday, Amare Stoudemire finished with 30 points and eight rebounds to become the first player in team history to score 30 or more points in eight straight games. He passed Willie Naulls' mark of seven consecutive games with 30-plus points set back in 1962.

Wilson Chandler hit a go-ahead three-pointer late in the fourth quarter for the Knicks, who have won four in a row at home and are 6-5 as the host this season. Raymond Felton posted a double-double with 19 points and 17 assists, as New York posted eight straight wins for the first time since December 27, 1994 to January 13, 1995.

"Wilson was terrific," Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni said. "Wilson, Landry (Fields), Gallo (Danilo Gallinari), Raymond, kept us in there until Amare started heating up. A great game. Denver played well. That was a great game. It was fun."

New York will also host LeBron James and the Miami Heat on the current residency. Stoudemire is averaging 33.9 points during his streak and is the first NBA player to score 30 or more points in eight games in a row since Lakers star Kobe Bryant closed out the 2005-06 campaign with nine consecutive 30-point efforts.

Felton is averaging 20.4 points, 9.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 2.50 steals over the last 14 games.

Boston defeated New York, 105-101, on Oct. 29 this season at TD Garden and has won 14 of the past 17 meetings in the series. The Celtics are 14-4 in their past 18 matchups at Madison Square Garden.