Garnett sings praises of Knicks’ Randolph

The Celtics are getting a lot of preseason hype for their Big Three lineup, with Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. But Garnett says the Knicks should not be overlooked for what they added this offseason in power forward Zach Randolph to a frontcourt that already had center Eddy Curry.

“I feel like they’re going to be one of biggest 1-2 punches in the league,” Garnett said after Monday’s unusually chippy preseason game between the Knicks and Celtics.

The Knicks avenged an embarrassing 40-point blowout last week in Boston with an impressive — and noticeably determined — 94-87 win over the Celtics at Madison Square Garden. Curry struggled with foul trouble Monday and played just 17:34 as a result of his matchup with Garnett. But Randolph thrived in the hotly contested game and finished with 23 points, six rebounds and five steals in 34:07. Randolph was 7 for 15 from the floor and 9 for 12 from the free-throw line and battled with Garnett throughout the night.

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