BOSTON, April 9 (UPI) -- Jamal Crawford had 31 points and 11 rebounds Sunday as the New York Knicks beat Boston, 101-86.
The loss dealt a severe blow to Boston's faint playoff hopes.
Crawford added five assists and three steals. Nate Robinson had 12 points, two assists and two steals; and Jackie Butler had 10 points and seven rebounds for the Knicks (22-54).
New York has won three in a row following a nine-game losing streak.
In a weak team effort, Paul Pierce had 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists; Tony Allen had 18 points, three rebounds, four assists and two steals; Kendrick Perkins had 14 points, five rebounds and three assists; and Gerald Green had 14 points for the Celtics (32-45), who were out-scored, 31-10, in the fourth quarter.
Boston, which has five games left to play, is 3 1/2 games behind Chicago and Philadelphia for the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.
