"Doc Rivers has drawn up some beautiful plays in late-game situations this season. But in last night's 96-93 Game 2 win over the Knicks, Rivers called a play that was as gritty as the game itself.

Trailing by a point to Carmelo Anthony and a rag-tag group of fill-ins, the Celtics had the ball out of bounds with 19 seconds remaining. Rajon Rondo inbounded and his first option was Paul Pierce, who was covered. Rondo then went to option No. 2, Kevin Garnett, posting Jared Jeffries on the block.

Garnett took the pass, backed Jeffries down with a number of hard dribbles and turned for a jump hook. As the ball dropped through the net, it gave the Celtics a 94-93 lead with 13 seconds remaining.

"I really wasn't in a nice rhythm, to be honest," Garnett said. "I was just taking what (Jeffries) was giving me. I've been in this situation before a couple times. I think earlier he had gotten a poke from the back and that wasn't going to happen twice. I just remained calm and went to a shot that I knew I could make."

Jeffries' defense was solid, but Garnett simply willed himself into position.

"It was a tough shot," Jeffries said. "We wanted to send him middle and not give him his baseline shot, which is his bread-and-butter shot, and he made it. When he went middle, he made a tough, contested shot."

The victory wasn't secured until Garnett got his hand on a Jeffries pass on the Knicks' final possession, secured the loose ball and called a timeout."