Let me start this post by saying that keeping track of a basketball game on Twitter, on a phone, in a nursing home while eating and opening Christmas presents is really frustrating.

It got sweaty at the end and the Knicks actually blew a double digit lead but thankfully, so did the Celtics.

Carmelo Anthony carried the team, finishing with 37 points, eight rebounds and was 10-17 from the floor. Another stat of note: he was 13-15 from the free throw line, including the two shots he made to put the Knicks up for good in the waning moments of the game. Amare Stoudemire added 21 points and Toney Douglas had 19.

The Knicks who led by 17 in the first half, found themselves trailing by 10 in the fourth quarter, but then the miracle happened. They came back, pulled ahead AND they were able to pull out a Christmas victory against the much hated – by me – Boston Celtics.

Rajon Rondo had 31 points and 13 assists and almost led the Celtics – who were without Paul Pierce – to a victory. But thankfully, Kevin Garnett took the last shot, missed it and the Knicks won!

As I was following along on Twitter, Knicks fans were all tweeting “KEEP IT AWAY FROM RONDO!!!!!!!” Let me tell you, being in a place with no wifi or a TV was total torture. I kept hitting refresh and at the same time, flashing back to Rondo making a last second shot against the Knicks last season. I really don’t need my heart beating out of my chest on December 25. I’m getting too old for that kind of stuff.

And just in case you missed any of the action, here are the highlights!

Yes, I know it’s only one game but anytime the Knicks can beat the Celtics, it’s a good thing.

I’m standing here as I type this entry and I’m clapping for the New York Knicks. Okay, not really, but in my mind I am. They made the playoffs. Yes, it would have been nice if they had won at least one game – they could have and probably should’ve won both Game 1 and 2 – but after a seven year playoff absence, a chance to play in the postseason is nice.

The Knicks were down 23 in this game and cut the Celtics’ lead to four with just over seven a half minutes left but couldn’t get any closer and the Celtics closed out the series with a 101-89 victory. Their next opponent is the winner of the Miami/Philadelphia series.

Via Yahoo Sports

Carmelo Anthony had 32 points and nine rebounds, and Amare Stoudemire, who decided to play after his back felt better, finished with 19 points and 12 boards but shot only 5 of 20 from the field.

Some quotes from the Knicks:

Coach Mike D’Antoni: “It was all heart. He just gave it all. With him and Carmelo going forward, the Knicks are in good shape.”

Carmelo Anthony: “Tonight was one of those games that we have to leave it all out on the court. Wasn’t no need to take anything home with us, and we did that. So I’m pretty sure that we gained a lot of respect from a lot of people right now, but this is the first step of something great.”

You did Melo and from the Celtics coach and players!

Paul Pierce: “They’re not that far away. They’re going to be a team to be reckoned with next year.”

More from Pierce: “They earned our respect . . . even though we won four games, they earned our respect.”

Doc Rivers: “Oh, they’re going to be good. I think Mike’s one of the best coaches in this game….”

More from Rivers: “They’re just going to keep building. You’ve got to get pieces first, having Stoudemire and Carmelo two great pieces to have as long as everybody stays patient with them, they’re going to be OK.”

So was the outcome ideal? Of course not, but this is a stepping stone. With a full season as teammates under their belts and with some offseason moves, the Carmelo Anthony-Amar’e Stoudemire Knicks will be much better in 2011-12.

Is there any way the NBA can let the Knicks and Celtics play Game 4 in the TD Garden instead of Madison Square Garden? Ten years to the day of their last playoff victory at home, the Knicks were humiliated by the Celtics. The Celtics didn’t need a last minute comeback this time, they scored the first nine points of the game and led the entire time. The Knicks just had no answer for Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, or Rajon Rondo who had a Celtics’ playoff-record 20 assists in Boston’s 113-96 victory. The Celtics now have an insurmountable 3-0 lead and look to close out the series on Sunday.

The Knicks’ highest scorer was Shawne Williams who finished with 17 points, six rebounds and two assists. Carmelo Anthony added 15 points and 11 rebounds but only shot 4 for 16 from the field for the Knicks. Amar’e Stoudemire was 2 for 8 from the field and only scored seven points.

Chauncey Billups sat out another game with his knee injury and the Knicks just were completely overmatched by the Celtics.

I felt bad for the people who were at the game. After so many years of playoff futility it would have been nice for the Knicks to win just one game. Who knows, they still could win on Sunday but at that point it will be too late. No NBA team has ever come back to win a series after falling into a 0-3 series deficit.

There are some positives about the 2011 season for the Knicks, they made it to the playoffs. Next step, winning a playoff game, then a series, and then, maybe two?