Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics look to defeat the New York Knicks for the ninth time in 11 meetings Friday when the Atlantic Division rivals square off for the second time in seven days.

Boston (4-7) is hosting this matchup after a 122-118 win at New York (4-9) on Saturday. Pierce scored 39 points and Ryan Gomes added 22 points and 14 rebounds as the Celtics won three straight for the first time since a four-game run from April 12-17, 2005.

The Knicks wasted Jamal Crawford's 37 points and missed a chance to win three in a row for the first time this season.

"We're at home, and it speaks for itself," Knicks coach Isiah Thomas said. "Boston was a lot better at playing small than we were. They were just better than we were tonight, and you have to give them credit."

The defeat started a season high-tying three-game slide for New York, which suffered its worst loss of the season Wednesday when it fell 107-89 at Minnesota. The Knicks trailed by 19 points in the first quarter and were never in the game.

"We were bad all the way around," Thomas said, before cutting short his postgame interview session.

Thomas changed his starting lineup before the game, inserting leading scorer Crawford in place of a struggling Steve Francis. Each finished with a team-high 19 points.

Francis averaged just 9.8 points and 4.0 assists in nine starts before Thomas opted to take some of the pressure off of him.

Stephon Marbury is also struggling, averaging career lows of 11.5 points and 4.7 assists in Thomas' offense. Marbury's starting job, though, is not in jeopardy for now.

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