NBA

The New York Knicks' brief winning streak is history, and the Boston Celtics nearly made history ending it. The Celtics cruised to their biggest victory since Larry Bird was in high school, beating New York 104-59 on Thursday night to send the Knicks to their third-worst loss and their second-worst scoring performance of the shot-clock era. It was the sixth-biggest win in Celtics history and the biggest since a 153-107 victory over the Baltimore Bullets in 1970 - five NBA titles ago. Only Nate Robinson's 37-foot 3-pointer at the final buzzer saved the Knicks from scoring the fewest points in franchise history. That might not be enough to save coach Isiah Thomas from getting fired: He was all-but-gone during an eight-game losing streak before earning a reprieve with two straight wins. And, unlike the Boston area's NFL team, the Celtics didn't even try to run up the score. Kevin Garnett played just 22 minutes, scoring eight points before leaving the game midway through the third quarter with Boston ahead 69-34. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen also sat out the fourth quarter and played 29 minutes apiece. Rajon Rondo dribbled out 24 of the final 26 seconds, turning the ball over on purpose rather than go for a 50-point win. Robinson followed with long jumper off the inbound pass to save the Knicks from their lowest-scoring game in the shot clock era. The exchange kept Boston from threatening it's biggest-ever win, a 153-102 victory over Philadelphia on March 7, 1962.

Sasha Vujacic did his best impersonation of Kobe Bryant, dominating the fourth quarter with his perimeter shooting. Bryant scored 24 points, but remained on the bench during the final 12 minutes while Vujacic scored 19 of his career-high 22 points to power the Los Angeles Lakers to a 127-99 rout of the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night. The victory was completed just hours after coach Phil Jackson received a two-year contract extension. Andrew Bynum had 12 points and 13 rebounds, and Luke Walton added a career-high 14 points in 27 minutes. Los Angeles' much-improved second unit played so spectacularly and efficiently down the stretch that Bryant was reduced to spectator status - despite the fact that Los Angeles led by only six points after three. The Lakers' reserves outscored their Denver counterparts 63-29.

Al Harrington gives up 9 inches and 60 pounds to Yao Ming. Yet by using his quickness to front and harass the 7-foot-6 Yao, Harrington is somehow able to shut down Houston's All-Star center. Harrington outplayed Yao for a second straight meeting, shutting him down at one end and scoring 18 points on the other to help the Golden State Warriors beat the Rockets 113-94 on Thursday night for their eighth win in nine games after an 0-6 start. Yao shot 4-for-12 and had five turnovers, finishing with a season-low 10 points. Andris Biedrins started the game guarding Yao but coach Don Nelson quickly changed to Harrington. In two games against the Warriors since Harrington joined the team last season, Yao has only 19 points on 6-of-16 shooting.

NBA scores