nice job by the celtics...

although the game wasn't on time warner cable, it's still nice to beat boston in something, particularly when they were chirping all over the place. f beantown all over again.

In the opening minutes, the Atlantic Division-leading Celtics, who had won seven straight, thought they were on the way to another easy night against the Knicks, strutting to a 6-2 lead, jabbering on every play.

Celtic sixth man Ricky Davis yapped from the bench, repeatedly screaming at Jamal Crawford, "Garbage, you're garbage," and yelping, "It's going to be over early.

Stephon Marbury, standing alongside the lane, turned around and shouted back at Davis, "Sit your (butt) back down where it belongs on the bench" while Davis continued his harangue. The officials blew the whistle and called double technicals on Marbury and Davis.

On the next possession, Pierce and Tim Thomas almost came to blows, earning double technicals. Pierce, meanwhile disintegrated after his near fight with Thomas and finished with five points in 23 minutes. Antoine Walker was awful, too (5 of 20, 13 points).

"It's not even MTV and (Pierce) got punk'd," said Thomas.