New York ? Ricky Davis had seen this kind of thing before. Boston would build a big lead and then let the other team back into the game.

It almost never ended well for the Celtics.

On Sunday, Davis got a pleasant surprise.

Davis scored 27 points and made two free throws with 8.7 seconds left, then New York’s Nate Robinson missed a long three-pointer on the game’s final play as the Celtics beat the Knicks, 102-99.

“Usually when guys come back from a lead we kind of hang our heads,” Davis said. “We just kept executing, kept getting defensive stops. That’s what I liked about it.”

The Celtics led by as many as 14 in the third quarter, but Channing Frye hit a three-pointer in the final seconds of the period to cut Boston’s advantage to 76-67. From there, the Knicks chipped away until they got within 99-98 with 21.4 seconds left.

Moments later, Boston reserve guard Dan Dickau scored his only points of the game by making two free throws. The Knicks got back within 100-99 on two free throws by Stephon Marbury’s with 8.9 seconds left.

But Davis hit his two free throws and Robinson was unable to make a big buzzer-beater for the second straight week. Eight days ago, the rookie from Washington made a three-pointer as time expired to give the Knicks a 105-102 overtime win against Philadelphia.

Boston Celtics' Paul Pierce, right, drives past the New York Knicks' Trevor Ariza, left, in the fourth quarter of the Celtics' 102-99 victory against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York on Sunday. Pierce was the high scorer for the Celtics with 28 points.

“Sometimes the ball goes in your favor, sometimes it don’t,” Robinson said.

It was a difficult way for New York to leave home in preparation for a three-game West Coast road trip that begins Tuesday in Seattle.

“It’s tough,” said Marbury, who led the Knicks with 35 points. “This is a game you want to get away with, but unfortunately we didn’t come up with a victory.”

Kansas University product Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 28 points and nine rebounds in the latest in a string of strong performances. Over the last four games, Pierce is averaging 29.8 points and 11 rebounds.

Now the Celtics have some momentum heading into the last four games of a five-game road trip that began Sunday. They face Houston on Tuesday before visiting the New Orleans Hornets, San Antonio and Dallas.

“That was a great win for us, obviously,” Boston coach Doc Rivers said. “It was our first win going on a long road trip. We couldn’t have asked for a better win.”

SuperSonics 107, Pacers 102

Seattle – Ray Allen scored 25 points and the Seattle SuperSonics won their third straight.

Allen and Rashard Lewis managed just two points for the first 10 minutes of the fourth quarter, but backup guard Ronald Murray picked up the slack, scoring eight of his 18 in the fourth quarter.

Ron Artest tied his season-high with 30 points and Jermaine O’Neal added 22 for the Pacers.

Suns 112, Hawks 94

Phoenix – James Jones scored a season-high 20 points and Shawn Marion also had 20 to lead the Phoenix Suns to their sixth consecutive victory.

The Suns’ winning streak is the longest in the NBA and lifted them within a half-game of Pacific Division co-leaders Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State.

Jazz 98, Trail Blazers 93

Portland, Ore. – Mehmet Okur had 28 points and eight rebounds, and the Utah Jazz withstood the Portland Trail Blazers’ second-half rally.

Matt Harpring added 20 points, including a key three-pointer in the final minute, as the Jazz snapped a three-game losing streak.

The Blazers, losers of four straight, trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half.

Timberwolves 85, Kings 77

Sacramento, Calif. – Wally Szczerbiak scored 18 points and Troy Hudson had 17 to help Minnesota overcome Kevin Garnett’s shooting problems.

Garnett, 3-for-14 from the field, had a season-low 11 points and also finished with 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have won two straight and taken first place in the Northwest Division.

Lakers 99, Bobcats 98

Los Angeles – Kobe Bryant scored 29 points and made the winning free throws with seven seconds remaining.

He was 9-of-30 from the field but made 11 of 12 free throws.

Melvin Ely scored 20 points, Brevin Knight added 17, and Emeka Okafor grabbed 12 rebounds for the Bobcats, who have yet to beat a Western Conference opponent.