New York ? The Boston Celtics have their longest winning streak of the season thanks to a long — and difficult — jump shot by Paul Pierce.

The Celtics’ All-Star scored 23 points, including an off-balance jumper as the shot clock expired with 24 seconds left, giving the Celtics a six-game winning streak with an 87-84 victory Tuesday night over the New York Knicks.

Pierce’s shot from the left corner gave Boston an 85-82 lead.

“I made a tough shot, but a number of guys really carried us in the fourth and I just tried to do the little things that kept us in the game,” Pierce said.

After trailing most of the game, the Knicks took their first lead since the first quarter when Allan Houston’s jumper made it 74-72 with 6:53 left.

Tim Thomas’ three-pointer with 3:26 gave the Knicks an 81-78 lead, but a free throw by Pierce and two by Mark Blount tied the game. The Celtics then took the lead for good when Blount’s dunk with 1:06 left made it 83-81.

Thomas made one of two free throws before Pierce made his corner jumper while being tightly guarded by Shandon Anderson.

“Paul’s play was really a big-time shot with the clock running down,” Celtics head coach John Carroll said. “We had great execution and we got lucky.”

Thomas’ drive brought the Knicks within one, then Pierce gave Boston a two-point lead when he made one of two free throws with 17 seconds left.

On their final possession, the Knicks ran the clock down before Stephon Marbury launched a long straightaway three-pointer that hit the front of the rim.

Boston's Paul Pierce, left, shoots in front of New York's Nazr Mohammed. The Celtics defeated the Knicks, 87-84, Tuesday night in New York.

“I was open. I had a good look. I’d take that shot again,” Marbury said. “If I make it, we win, and I thought it was going in.”

Ricky Davis grabbed the rebound with 0.5 seconds left and was fouled. He made the first and purposely missed the second. The Celtics led by as many as eight points in the first half, and Brandon Hunter’s layup to begin the second half gave the Celtics their biggest lead of the game.

Kings 96, Warriors 92

Sacramento, Calif. — Doug Christie scored 23 points, Mike Bibby added 21 and Peja Stojakovic had 20 to lead Sacramento past Golden State. Christie also had six assists and five rebounds, and Bibby scored four of his points in a key 40-second span with just under three minutes remaining.

T’wolves 105, Sonics 92

Seattle — Latrell Sprewell emerged from a shooting slump to score 31 points, and Minnesota ended a two-game losing streak with a victory over Seattle. Kevin Garnett had 29 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who pulled away in the fourth quarter after taking a four-point lead into the final period. Garnett had 11 of his points in the fourth quarter.

Nuggets 117, Wizards 87

Washington — Voshon Lenard scored 27 points and rookie Carmelo Anthony had 26 in his first NBA homecoming to lead Denver past Washington. The Nuggets took control with a 16-2 run in the third quarter to break a three-game losing streak and win for just the second time in 10 games.

Pacers 94, Raptors 84, OT

Indianapolis — Ron Artest shut down Vince Carter in the fourth quarter and Indiana scored the first eight points of overtime to win its sixth straight game.

Rockets 90, Clippers 85

Houston — Steve Francis had 24 points and Yao Ming scored eight of his 19 points in a fourth-quarter rally in Houston’s victory over Los Angeles. The Rockets earned their third straight victory and their fifth in a row over the Clippers, but it took a final-period spurt to get the victory.

Grizzlies 94, Spurs 88

Memphis, Tenn. — Pau Gasol scored 27 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, and Memphis defeated San Antonio for its 40th win of the season. Gasol’s two free throws with 8.4 seconds left provided the winning margin in the Grizzlies’ sixth consecutive win. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the San Antonio, which hadn’t been beaten since March 1 — also against Memphis.

Heat 100, Magic 89

Miami — Reserve Rasual Butler scored 19 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, and Miami defeated Orlando. Eddie Jones also scored 19 for the Heat, who have won three straight. Butler’s three-pointer with 58.2 seconds remaining put Miami ahead 95-84.

76ers 89, Bulls 81

Chicago — Kenny Thomas had 22 points and 13 rebounds and Aaron McKie added 21 points as Philadelphia overcame the absence of Allen Iverson (right knee injury) to defeat Chicago.