New York Knicks Team Report - March 10

(Basketball News) - The New York Knicks dropped into a tie for sixth-place in the Eastern Conference playoff race on Tuesday, as they found themselves on the wrong end of an 87-84 decision to the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden.

Allan Houston collected 23 points and Tim Thomas chipped in with 17 for New York. Stephon Marbury added 14 points and seven assists for the Knicks, who had a three-game winning streak snapped.

Trailing by two, the Knicks went for the win, with Marbury taking a three- point shot from the top of the key in the final seconds. However, it bounced off the front of the rim, sealing the win for the Celtics.

New York, at 29-36, is just a half-game ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, both of whom are tied for the eighth spot. Miami, Toronto and Philadelphia are also all within striking distance of the Knicks.

The Knicks also made some off the court news on Tuesday when they locked up forward Kurt Thomas to a multi- year contract extension. Although, terms of the deal were not released it is believed to be in the neighborhood of four- years for $30 million.

New York, which fell to 17-16 in the Big Apple this season, will return to action on Friday when it kicks off a brief two-game road trip in the City of Brotherly Love against the Sixers.