For the third straight time this season, the Celtics allowed the Knicks to stay tantalizingly close all evening before stepping on their dreams. In Boston-New York rivalry terms, this is the photonegative of what happens during baseball season.

Adding an interesting twist last night is that the biggest Yankees fan on the Celtics made the key plays - at both ends of the floor - in a 101-100 victory.

Eric Williams hit the killer trey with a half-minute left and stole the ball from Allan Houston - then dove into the diamond analogy.

``This is just like what the Bronx Bombers always do to the Red Sox,'' Williams said. ``And you know who I was in this? I was straight Bucky Dent tonight. But you don't want to hear that one, do you.''