Boston Celtics Team Report - January 31

(Basketball News) - The Boston Celtics lost their third straight game on Friday, falling to Atlantic Division rival New York, 92-74, at the FleetCenter.

Mark Blount had a career-high 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Celtics, who have dropped three straight contests and are 0-2 under interim head coach John Carroll.

Boston made a dismal 32 percent of its shot (26-of-82). The Celtics were also just 2-of-21 on three-point tries.

New York blew the game open in the third quarter as a pair of free throws by Keith Van Horn stretched the cushion to 62-46 nearly four minutes into the period. Boston trailed by 13 later in the frame, but the Knicks ended the quarter on an 8-0 run and held a commanding 78-57 advantage after three.

The Celtics never threatened in the fourth quarter.

Boston’s Paul Pierce finished with just 12 points on 3-of-16 from the floor. He played 36 minutes and grabbed four rebounds and dished out three assists in the loss.

The Celtics visit the Indiana Pacers tonight.