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Final Score: Boston 99 - New York 93

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Rajon Rondo scored 23 points and pulled down 10 rebounds and Sam Cassell added 22 points off the bench, as Boston -- minus the big three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen -- disposed of the New York Knicks, 99-93, at Madison Square Garden.

In what could have been the final game of the Isiah Thomas era at the historic Garden, the Knicks lost to the Celtics, who had already sewn up homecourt advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.

James Posey scored 15 points and Glen Davis added 13 for the Celtics, who have won three straight and 10 of 11. Boston will conclude its regular season on Wednesday versus New Jersey.

"You want to get out healthy. That's the goal for us, getting out of game's healthy and getting Sam (Cassell) more minutes," said Boston head coach Doc Rivers.

Nate Robinson poured in a game-best 26 points, Zach Randolph totaled 15 points and eight rebounds and David Lee notched a double-double with 12 points and 16 rebounds for the lowly Knicks, who ended their worst-ever home record at 15-26.

"They didn't play any of their main guys and they still won," said Robinson. "They still played hard. It will be interesting to see how far they make it."

Going into each team's regular-season finale, the turnaround between these two members of original NBA royalty has been staggering. The Knicks were nine games better than Boston last season, and after Monday's loss, are 41 games behind for a 50-game difference.

That difference wasn't evident in the first three periods. New York came into the second stanza with a one-point deficit at 21-20, but seized control in the late stages of the first half.

A 12-4 stretch put the Knicks in front by double digits. Renaldo Balkman drained three straight free throws, and Robinson's trey with 2:16 to go put the Knicks in front, 53-43.

New York led 54-49 at the half.

Boston cut the deficit to 75-73 at the end of three quarters and slowly took control in the fourth. A three-point play by Rondo with 7:11 on the clock put the Celtics in front 84-79, but Robinson's driving layup not even one minute later cut the deficit to 86-84.

Cassell and Randolph Morris exchanged jumpers before the veteran Cassell connected from long distance for a 91-86 edge. After a Morris bucket and Davis free throw, Cassell sealed the game with another trey coming with 56 ticks to play.