BOSTON – Carmelo Anthony scored 28 points and won his rematch with Kevin Garnett as the New York Knicks ended an 11-game losing streak in Boston with an 89-86 victory over the Celtics on Thursday night.
It came 17 days after a verbal clash between the All-Star forwards led to Anthony’s one-game suspension following Boston’s 102-96 victory in New York.
Anthony was booed frequently Thursday but there was no sign of hostility with Garnett. At one point, Anthony even extended his hand to a fallen Garnett and helped the Celtic to his feet.
Rajon Rondo led the Celtics with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. Garnett had only eight points but finished with a game-high 12 rebounds. There were 17 lead changes in the game but none in the fourth quarter.
Feud over, everything’s Melo
The Celtics and Knicks got together Thursday night for the first time since they had to be separated two weeks ago in New York.
Carmelo Anthony received a one-game league suspension for trying to confront Kevin Garnett after the game, first in the hallway to the dressing room and later at the Celtics’ bus, a situation arising from an on-court dust-up that earned each a technical foul in the C’s win.
But both All-Star frontcourt starters said there will be no carryover of those hostilities.
“Oh, yeah,” Anthony told reporters in New York when asked if things between him and Garnett are over.
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