Celtics tie club benchmark with 18th straight win

BOSTON: The Boston Celtics crushed the New York Knicks 124-105 on Sunday to roar to a team record-tying 18th consecutive win.

League-leading Boston (26-2) scored the game's first six points and streaked to a 40-21 first-quarter lead on the way to a 16th home win in 17 games. The 1981-82 Celtics also won 18 games in a row.

Seven Boston players including all five starters finished in double figures, led by Rajon Rondo who scored 18 of his career-high 26 points in the third quarter.