Carmelo Anthony scored 21 points, and the New York Knicks beat the Boston Celtics, 88-80, in Boston on Friday night to win Game 6 and take the first-round, best-of-seven NBA playoff series, four games to two. It was the Knicks' first playoff series victory since 2000. New York had a 26-point lead earlier in the second half, but Boston cut the margin to four before fading down the stretch. The Knicks advanced to face the Indiana Pacers in the second round.

Jeff Green scored 21 points for the Celtics, while teammate Kevin Garnett had 15 points and 10 rebounds. The Celtics needed to win Friday to force Game 7 in New York on Sunday. No NBA team has ever come from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series.

New York def. Boston, 4-2

(Home team in bold.)

Game 1: New York 85, Boston 78
Game 2: New York 87, Boston 71
Game 3: New York 90, Boston 76
Game 4: Boston 97, New York 90
Game 5: Boston 92, New York 86
Game 6: New York 88, Boston 80

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