Knicks 108, Celtics 89: Carmelo Anthony had 24 points and 10 rebounds and Raymond Felton added 18 points as host New York defeated Boston for its eighth consecutive victory.

J.R. Smith had 15 points and 12 rebounds and reserve Chris Copeland added 22 points as the Knicks (.639) moved percentage points ahead of the Indiana Pacers (.635) for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.

Jeff Green scored 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting and Paul Pierce had 24 points and 15 rebounds for the Celtics, who have lost six of their last eight games. Boston is in seventh place in the East.

New York pulled away with a 37-point second quarter for a 65-48 halftime lead. The Knicks were 11-of-16 from 3-point range in the half with Felton punctuating the display with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from midcourt.

Green and Pierce each scored nine points in the third quarter but Boston still trailed by 17 entering the final stanza. Anthony’s jumper stretched the lead to 97-73 with 6:43 remaining as New York cruised to the finish.

GAME NOTEBOOK: New York went 3-1 against Boston to win the season series for the first time since the 2003-04 campaign. … Celtics F Kevin Garnett (ankle) missed his fifth straight game and Knicks C Tyson Chandler (neck) sat out his 10th in a row. … New York was 14-of-27 from 3-point range.