The Basketball Diaries - The Celtics Suck

Detroit Pistons 109 Boston Celtics 102

So it's pretty obvious at this point, that the Celtics are playing for either Greg Oden or Kevin Durant. They lost their 15th consecutive game Tuesday night, as the Pistons had a very easy time of it. "We really didn't have a chance," said coach Doc Rivers. "We played a better team tonight. They had some matchup advantages, and they went right at us. The problem is that, with Webber in the middle, there's not much you can do. He might be their best passer." That's a helluva attitude. No wonder the Celtics are doing so well.

New York Knicks 102 Los Angeles Clippers 90

The Knicks were playing like the Knicks in the first half against the Clippers, but after halftime they began to resemble an actual basketball team. The Knicks started the second half on a 24-4 run, to go from being 10 down, to up 10 points. Stephon Marbury scored 12 points in the run, while both Jamal Crawford and Eddy Curry added 23 points. The win is New York's 22nd of the season, leaving them just one win short of matching their total from last season. "You hate to look at it like that, but that's crazy," Crawford said. "I think we'll definitely have that win total by the break. We're a better team."

Phoenix Suns 109 Portland Trail Blazers 102 OT

The Phoenix Suns are trying to rob Steve Nash of the chance to be named MVP for a third consecutive year. Nash missed Tuesday's game in Portland, but the Suns won without him. Amare Stoudemire had 36 points and Leandro Barbosa had 23 second half points to rally the Suns. "Barbosa really came out in the second half and picked it up," Stoudemire said. "He's been there all season long for us."

Elsewhere...

• Bucks 116 Magic 111
• Rockets 98 Grizzlies 90