Knicks ride out bumps
NEW YORK — There was joy again at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, a blend of holiday cheer, pent-up anticipation and the thrill of the NBA's belated return after a long, strange off-season.
[...] it ended with a final burst of merriment and a 106-104 New York Knicks victory over the Boston Celtics in the NBA's first game since June.
Along the way, the Knicks built and squandered a 17-point lead, lost Iman Shumpert to a knee injury and, most significant, got the attention of a Celtics team that played without Paul Pierce.
The Knicks were fortunate to get the victory after giving up 35 points in the third quarter, when the Celtics turned a 12-point deficit into an 8-point lead.
Shumpert, the Knicks' prized rookie guard, is expected to miss two to four weeks after spraining his right knee.
Mike Bibby, who missed the opener because of a back injury, will take Shumpert's minutes.
Josh Harrellson, a second-round draft pick, and Steve Novak, who was claimed off waivers last week, will fill in for Jeffries.
After a 149-day lockout, a half-dozen roster moves and a rushed, two-week training camp, the Knicks were eager, if not altogether polished.