BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics blew out the New York Knicks the last time they met. Demaryius Thomas Orange Jersey . This one may have been more rewarding for Celtics coach Brad Stevens. "I wouldnt want to go through it again, but thats exactly what our team needed," the first-year NBA coach said on Friday night after Boston blew a 17-point lead and then came back to beat the Knicks 90-86. "We needed to have a lead, lose it, be backed up against the wall and figure out a way to win." Avery Bradley scored seven of his 13 points in the fourth quarter, hitting a 3-pointer with 2:38 to play to give the Celtics the lead for good. Jared Sullinger had 19 points and six rebounds, all but one basket in the first half when the Celtics opened a 17-point lead, and Courtney Lee scored 18 points to help Boston snap a two-game losing streak and hold onto first place in the woeful Atlantic Division. Carmelo Anthony scored 26 points and Andrea Bargnani had 22 for the Knicks. But Anthony missed a jumper that could have tied it after Bradley gave Boston the lead, and then he was blocked by Jeff Green with a minute to play. "Carmelo got going like Carmelo can get going, and it didnt really matter who was guarding him," Stevens said. "But Jeff went to a different level in the last eight minutes. And that was encouraging to see, because I really thought he did a great job." Kenyon Martin had eight points and seven rebounds before leaving struggling to the bench in pain with about 9 minutes left with an abdominal injury. He did not return. Other than Amare Stoudemire, who scored 18, the Knicks bench totalled four points as they lost for the third time in four games and their 12th in their last 15. "Our bench guys, theyve got to feel good about coming into the game and playing and producing," Knicks coach Mike Woodson said. "Our bench is just as important as the guys who start the game. Theyve got to understand that and be ready when they come in." The victory came five days after the Celtics led the Knicks by as many as 45 points in New York in a 114-73 victory that was the biggest blowout in the NBA this season. This one seemed headed the same way when Boston went on a 21-2 run at the end of the first quarter and start of the second to open a 17-point lead, but the Knicks chipped it down to six at the half and then tied it at 59 with 7:15 left in the third on Iman Shumperts 3-pointer. The Knicks had an 11-point lead before Boston scored 10 in a row, getting 3-pointers from Vitor Faverani and Bradley to make it a one-point game. New York led 84-81 when Brandon Bass, who had 10 points and eight rebounds, made a basket and then Jordan Crawford hit Bradley for a 3-pointer that put Boston ahead with 2:38 to play. After trading misses, Crawford found Faverani underneath to make it 88-84, and Green blocked Anthony with 1 minute to play. Bargnani hit a jumper from the foul line to make it a two-point game, but Green drove to the basket on J.R. Smith and made a right-handed layup from the left side of the basket as Stoudemire unsuccessfully flailed at the ball. Green missed the free throw, but Anthony missed an off-balance 3-pointer at the other end with 4 seconds left and Bradley grabbed the rebound. "You have to realize youre away, on the road and these teams arent going to give up," Smith said. "This team is No. 1 in our division for a reason." Notes: Boston first-round draft pick Kelly Olynyk returned after missing 10 games with an ankle injury. He had four points and four rebounds in 14 minutes, and also one highlight blocked shot... NY PG Raymond Felton missed his second straight game with a strained left hamstring that is expected to keep him out two to three weeks. Shumpert, who is nursing a bruised left knee, played 23 minutes and scored three points. Tom Jackson Orange Jersey . -- Jermaine Marshall scored eight of his 29 points in the second overtime and Jordan Bachynski blocked T. Shannon Sharpe Orange Jersey . The Trail Blazers lead the first-round series 3-2 entering Game 6 on Friday in Portland. A basket by Damian Lillard got the Trail Blazers within two points before James Harden stepped back and swished a 3-pointer to make it 103-98 with about three minutes left.CLEVELAND -- The Cavaliers are working their way down the Los Angeles Clippers bench to maybe find their next coach. The team will interview Clippers assistants Tyronn Lue and Alvin Gentry over the next two days for their coaching job, a person with knowledge of the meetings told The Associated Press. Lue, who has spent the past four seasons working under Doc Rivers in Boston and Los Angeles, is meeting with the Cavs on Thursday and Gentry is scheduled to sit down with the Cavs on Friday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team is not commenting during its search. The Cavaliers are looking for their third coach in three years after firing Mike Brown -- for the second time -- this month following a 33-49 season. The team interviewed Chicago assistant Adrian Griffin on Tuesday and is expected to interview former Memphis coach Lionel Hollins. The 37-year-old Lue played 11 seasons in the NBA for seven teams. He retired followingg the 2008 season with Orlando. Peyton Manning Orange Jersey. . A pesky defender as a player, Lue worked in the Celtics front office from 2009-11 before joining Rivers staff. The Cavs are being meticulous in their search. After firing Byron Scott following the 2012-13 season, owner Dan Gilbert rushed to re-hire Brown, who guided Cleveland to the NBA finals in 2007 but was dismissed following the 2010 season. The Cavs job became more attractive recently after the club won the NBA draft lottery for the second straight year and third time in four seasons. New general manager David Griffin promised an expansive search not limited to the pro ranks. The team reportedly reached out to Florida coach Billy Donovan, who has previous flirtations with the NBA. This week, Donovan would not guarantee he would be back for another season with the Gators. Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley, however, said Wednesday he has not been contacted by any NBA teams to speak with Donovan. ' ' '
