By Tom Liddy
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
The struggling Knicks suffered a heartbreaking loss at the Garden last night, getting slammed by the Celtics to drop 0-3 in the playoffs.
Injury-plagued New York was down their star pickup Chauncey Billups, who was out with a strained knee.
"Obviously, if it was close, I would play," Billups said before the loss, according to the New York Post.
It was the second straight playoff game that the point guard missed due to the injury.
Amar'e Stoudemire was in the mix, but he was reeling from a pulled back muscle.
He was held to just seven points in the game, going 2-for-8.
"The last few days, every step hurt, every step I took I felt in my back," the forward said, according to the Post.
"I've never had a strained muscle in my back and didn't know quite what to expect...I had a hard time putting my socks and shoes on. I had a hard time sitting."
But Stoudemire played through the pain.
"I knew I wasn't 100 percent," he said, according to the paper. "But I also knew that my teammates needed me to play out there.
"I tried to show some courage out there for the fans of New York."
The Knicks were behind the entire game, shooting 43.4 percent and turning the ball over 18 times.
"They totally took us out defensively," said guard Roger Mason Jr., according to the Post.
"You've got to give them credit, they played a very good defensive game. We just have to try and come back in Game 4."
The Knicks weren't able to stop the scoring duo of the Celts' Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, who combined for 70 points in Boston's 113-96 victory.
The Knicks came within eight at the half, but were blown away in the third quarter when Boston put 34 points on the board, sparking a chorus of boos.
Carmelo Anthony was shut down throughout the rout.
After putting up 42 in Game 2, he was held to just 4-of-16 in Friday's game.
"I just think we came out a little bit too slow," Anthony said, according to the Post.
And Boston's point guard, Rajon Rondo was unstoppable with a whopping 20 assists, 11 rebounds and 15 points.
The Knicks are staring down elimination Sunday afternoon after dropping the first three against Boston.
