NEW YORK — The Boston Celtics changed their starters – and their start.
“We came with energy right out of the gate,” guard Marcus Smart said. “That’s what we’ve been lacking.”
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WHO: Denver Nuggets at Boston Celtics
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
TELEVISION: CSN
Avery Bradley scored 26 points, Jared Sullinger added 22 and the Celtics snapped a three-game losing streak with a 108-97 victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.
Bradley shot 11 of 14 from the field for the Celtics, who rediscovered their offense after a lineup change that put Smart in the backcourt with Bradley. Smart made consecutive 3-pointers during the Celtics’ 14-2 start, and they never trailed.
“Starting is the same as coming off the bench,” the rookie said. “I got a job to do, to come in there and bring energy and that’s what happened with me starting today, and that’s what will happen if I don’t start here on out.”
Sullinger finished with nine rebounds and six assists. Boston had been held to just 86.7 points per game during its skid, including a season-low 75 in an eight-point loss to Miami on Sunday.
Carmelo Anthony scored 21 points for the Knicks, who had won 5 of 7 during their best stretch of the season. But they had no energy at the start and not enough at the finish.
“They came out hot. They made shots. We didn’t make shots, along with the lack of energy that we put out there tonight. For some reason we looked tired out there, we looked fatigued out there and them guys didn’t.”
New York did cut it to 86-82 with about 8 minutes left, but Sullinger had two baskets and Jae Crowder – who came out of the starting lineup to make way for Smart – added another to push the lead back into double figures. Bradley and Smart then followed a Knicks basket with consecutive jumpers, putting it away at 96-84 with 4 minutes remaining.
Smart and Crowder each scored 13.
The Knicks came in with as many wins in the last seven games as in the entire first half of their schedule, when they were 5-36. They had held teams to 91.4 points per game during those seven, about 10 per game fewer than in the first 41. But they allowed the Celtics to make their first five shots and 54.5 percent for the game.
“It helps when the ball is going through the net,” Celtics Coach Brad Stevens said. “We hit a lot of jump shots tonight.”
Bradley had eight in the second quarter, including a layup that capped a 12-4 run that extended Boston’s lead to 55-39 with 2:27 left in the half.
Jose Calderon scored 17 points for the Knicks.
Stevens said the lineup change wasn’t necessarily a permanent thing and that he would constantly evaluate. Tayshaun Prince missed his second straight game with a hip injury.
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