Knicks Battle Shot for Shot, but Celtics Make the Last One

BOSTON — The Knicks’ presumed playoff frailties came to bear Sunday night, and they nearly overcame them all: their relative youth, their inexperience as a group and their previously unforeseen attention to defense.

They played with a steady precision, as if they had been together years instead of weeks. One of their youngest players hit the biggest shot. They defended with surprising passion.

They played the Boston Celtics, the defending Eastern Conference champions, down to the final seconds, losing only when Ray Allen — the author of countless memorable playoff moments — got the ball and a little open space at the arc.

Allen, the N.B.A.’s career 3-point leader, took a pass from Paul Pierce and sent the ball through the net with 11.6 seconds left, sending TD Garden into a happy frenzy. Carmelo Anthony missed a deep 3-pointer over Pierce seconds later, and the Celtics danced away with an 87-85 victory to open this first-round series.

As the buzzer sounded, Allen spiked the ball and was mobbed by teammates.

The Knicks were left to ponder a grand missed opportunity after leading for most of the second half and blowing a 3-point lead in the final minute. They might have also lost their point guard, as Chauncey Billups limped away with a strained left knee and is questionable for Game 2.

“Anytime you lose with a few seconds left, it’s never a good feeling,” said Amar’e Stoudemire, who celebrated the Knicks’ first playoff game in seven years with 28 points and 11 rebounds. “But we did play extremely hard. We did a great job defensively for most of the game. We just didn’t get the win.”