Boston's Kevin Garnett sank the go-ahead basket with 14 seconds left, then stole the ball to secure the host Celtics' 96-93 win over the New York Knicks yesterday, taking a 2-0 lead in their NBA playoff series.

Garnett hit the decisive jump hook after backing Jared Jeffries into the lane. The Knicks then got the ball to Carmelo Anthony in the left corner, where he was double-teamed by Paul Pierce and Glen Davis. Anthony passed inside to Jeffries, but Garnett stole the ball and called timeout with 4 seconds remaining.

The Knicks then fouled Delonte West, who made two free throws with 0.6 seconds to go.

Anthony scored 42 points for New York, which played the entire second half without Amare Stoudemire, who had back spasms. Chauncey Billups missed the game with a sore left knee.

Rajon Rondo led the Celtics with a career playoff-high 30 points.

Game 3 of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series is scheduled for Friday in New York.

Mavericks 101, Trail Blazers 89

In Dallas, Peja Stojakovic tied his career playoff best with five 3-pointers and had 21 points, helping Dallas down Portland and take a 2-0 series lead.

Jason Kidd continued showing off a surprising scoring touch with 18 points, while Dirk Nowitzki scored 14 of his 33 points in the final quarter for Dallas, which hadn't won the first two games of a playoff series since the 2006 NBA finals.

Portland led most of the first half, but the Mavericks went ahead on a 3-pointer by Kidd seconds into the second half and never trailed again. Dallas spread out its scoring, tightened up its defense and protected the ball - zero turnovers the final 28:42.

Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge scored 24 and Gerald Wallace and Wesley Matthews regained their scoring touch after struggling in the opener, but the Trail Blazers got only 11 points from their bench, none in the second half.

Magic 88, Hawks 82

In Orlando, Dwight Howard had 33 points and 19 rebounds to help Orlando defeat Atlanta and square their best-of-seven series 1-1.

Jameer Nelson added 13 points and eight rebounds for the Magic, who will travel to Atlanta for Game 3 on Friday.

Orlando used a 10-1 run to close the third quarter to take an 11-point lead into the fourth and fought off a late Atlanta charge.

After allowing the Hawks to become the first opponent in 16 straight playoff games to score 100 points against it in Game 1, Orlando's defense tightened around Atlanta's shooters in Game 2. The Hawks shot 39 percent.

Jamal Crawford led Atlanta with 25 points and Josh Smith added 17.