If there is any genuine dislike between the Knicks and Celtics, any of the hatred the two cities feel for each other simmering in the players’ hearts, it was embodied yesterday by Quentin Richardson and Paul Pierce.
In a chippy matinee that saw the Celtics thrash the Knicks 109-93, the players celebrated Martin Luther King Day by committing five technical fouls and seeing both Richardson and Pierce ejected in the third quarter, the former appearing to motion for the latter to meet him in the tunnel to fight.
Neither spoke to the press, leaving their teammates to do their talking.
“This game is an emotional game. Q is an emotional person, and unfortunately it ended up like it did,” said Fred Jones.
“That was all on us. I was disappointed in us,” said Celtic coach Doc Rivers. “We got a lead and started pounding our chests, running our mouths.
“The (Knicks) have pride; they’re not going to back down. New York’s playing well now, and there’s some frustration; but we can’t answer to it. I told them be quiet and play the game.”
The last time they played, Richardson vexed the Celtics by proclaiming “We’re not in awe of them. They ain’t won no championships.”
The Knicks got drilled 104-59 in Boston, and yesterday he gave the Celts more reason to be mad, when he fouled Pierce three times in a ten-second span.
“I don’t know what was going on between Paul and Quentin, what sort of history they had – or have. Obviously they have a history,” said Ray Allen. “With Paul, we all have to realize, for what we want to do, the smaller things we got caught up in years past, it’s just a different day for us. We’ve got to maintain our composure.”
After the first of Richardson’s three quick fouls on Pierce, both drew technicals with 3:07 left in the third. Richardson fouled him again :05 later, and after a timeout, fouled him yet again. Both got tossed after jawing at each other with 1:57 left.
“Q and Paul, they have a past of talking trash,” Kevin Garnett said. “I guess the refs weren’t going to deal with it.”
Zach Randolph (24 points, 15 rebounds) – who jawed at the Boston bench – said, “That’s two competitive teams playing hard and it got heated. There was just a lot of talking on the court. Sometimes you get situations like that, they get heated. Sometimes it might get out of hand.”
Isiah Thomas downplayed it, saying “Those two, if they were playing at the YMCA would battle and compete.”