Paul Pierce keyed a fourth-quarter rally with 13 of his 21 points and Rajon Rondo provided the game-winning plays as the visiting Boston Celtics beat the slumping New York Knicks 96-86 on Monday.

Kevin Garnett had 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics (50-19), who rallied from a 15-point second-quarter deficit to win for the fourth time in eight games with a 23-4 closing run.

Boston remained tied with Chicago for first in the Eastern Conference after the Bulls routed the Kings 132-92 on Monday.

Carmelo Anthony scored 22 points and Chauncey Billups added 21 for the Knicks (35-35), who have lost six of seven and dropped to 7-9 since the Anthony trade.

New York took control of the game late in the first period and held a comfortable lead until Pierce scored nine points during a 17-4 run to give Boston an 86-82 lead with 4:18 to play.

With the game tied at 86, Rondo converted a nifty wrap-around layup, then drove the lane and found Glen Davis alone under the basket for a layup with 2:29 left.

Rondo then stripped Toney Douglas in the final minute to help seal it.