Paul Pierce scored 18 points as the Boston Celtics routed New York 113-89 Saturday night, handing the Knicks their first loss of the pre-season.

Wally Szczerbiak added 17 points and rookie Leon Powe scored 16 for Boston (2-3).

The Celtics shot 56 per cent from the field in building a 27-point halftime lead.

Szczerbiak scored seven of his nine second-quarter points during a two-minute span near the end of the half, and rookie guard Rajan Rondo dazzled the crowd with a spin move and layup that gave the Celtics a 61-34 lead at the break. Szczerbiak led all first-half scorers with 15 points.

The Knicks (3-1) had more turnovers (16) than field goals made (11) in the first half and shot just 33 per cent from the floor.

Boston led by as many as 34 points in the third and owned a 93-63 lead entering the final period. Powe scored 10 of his points in the fourth quarter when the game was already well in hand.

Jamal Crawford led the Knicks with 15 points. Nate Robinson had 13, and Eddy Curry and Stephon Marbury added 12 points apiece.

Boston forward Al Jefferson was cut above the right eye in the first quarter and required three stitches. He returned to the floor in the second quarter wearing a bandage over the cut.

Forward Brian Scalabrine (left shoulder) and centre Theo Ratliff (sore lower back) did not dress for the Celtics.

For the Knicks, guard Steve Francis did not make the trip with the team while he recovers from oral surgery.

The game was played before a sellout crowd of 9,500 at the Mohegan Sun Arena, the home of the WNBA's Connecticut Sun.