Los Angeles - Kevin Garnett struggled on the offensive end nearly the entire game Sunday, until the "Big Ticket" came through with the big shot in the end. Garnett hit the game-winning jumper to beat the overtime buzzer, lifting the Boston Celtics to a dramatic 107-105 road victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday.
"I took my time," said Garnett, who finished with a sub-par 10 points on just 4-of-15 shooting. "I was rushing everything earlier in the game. A lot of times it's not how you start, it's how you finish."
Paul Pierce scored a game-high 33 points for Boston (10-4) which won for just the second time in the last five games. Kendrick Perkins had 16 points with 13 rebounds while Rajon Rondo added 14, 10 assists, nine boards and four steals.
Though misfiring, Pierce admired Garnett's determination to keep shooting in crucial situations.
"He's that type of player," Pierce said of his fellow-All-Star sidekick. "You are talking about a Hall of Fame player. He's missed millions of shots. He's going to keep playing, going to keep taking shots when he gets an opportunity. He really stepped up big for our team when we needed it."
The Knicks knotted the game at 105 on David Lee's layup with 9.3 seconds left, setting the stage for Garnett's heroics. On the game's final play, Pierce, who up until then had scored all seven of the Celtics' overtime points, drew two defenders, leaving Garnett wide open at the top of the key to bury the 19-footer.
"I knew they were going to sort of follow Paul and he's going to draw a lot of attention," Garnett said. "I just had to make the shot."
"I am expecting Pierce to try and make a move and pull up," said Lee, who left Garnett unguarded. "Good play by them and it's just unfortunate to lose a game like this."
Al Harrington scored 30 points, and Lee finished with 22 and 15 boards for New York (3-10) which was seeking its third straight victory.
Elsewhere:
LA Lakers 101, Oklahoma City Thunder 85
Kobe Bryant scored 26 points, Andrew Bynum had 25 with nine rebounds in 29 minutes, and the Lakers beat the visiting Thunder for the 11th consecutive time.
The defending NBA Champions (10-3) received 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists from Spaniard Pau Gasol, in his second game back from a hamstring strain, following a 24-point, 13-rebound season-debut on Friday night.
Kevin Durant scored 19 points, Zaire-native Serge Ibaka had 11 with 13 rebounds and five blocks off the bench for Oklahoma City (7- 7) which trailed by 23 at intermission.
Phoenix Suns 117, Detroit Pistons 91
Amare Stoudemire scored 21 points, while Steve Nash added 20 with nine assists before both sat out the final quarter, as the Suns (11- 3) scorched the road-weary Pistons.
Charlie Villanueva and rookie DaJuan Summers scored 13 points apiece for the Pistons (5-9) who, without injured starters Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton, completed an 0-4 road trip.
Orlando Magic 104, Toronto Raptors 96
Vince Carter scored 24 points and Dwight Howard had 17 with 12 rebounds, and the Magic's (11-3) fifth straight win gave them share of the NBA's best record with Phoenix and idle Atlanta.
Chris Bosh had 22 points, Spaniard Jose Calderon added 16 for host Toronto (6-8) losers in four its last five contests.
Miami Heat 102, New Orleans Hornets 101
Udonis Haslem hit a pair of key baskets in the final minute, including the game-winning 18-foot jumper off the glass with 15.4 seconds left, stopping the Heat's three-game skid.
The visiting Hornets had an opportunity to pull out the win, but David West missed a jumper from the free throw line on the game's final play, ending their three-game run.
Dwyane Wade led Miami (7-5) with 31 points and Haslem finished with 14 off the bench.
Rookie Marcus Thornton scored a career-high 24 points, while West collected 13 with nine boards for New Orleans (6-9), which snapped Atlanta's seven-game winning streak on Saturday night.
Charlotte Bobcats 104, Indiana Pacers 88
Nazr Mohammed tallied 18 points, Boris Diaw added 17 and the Bobcats (4-9) broke their seven-game slide.
Dahntay Jones scored a game-high 19 points and Danny Granger followed with 18 as visiting Indiana (5-6) lost its third in a row.
