Celtic Bide: New-Look Knicks Can't Solve Boston
Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks were offered their apparent official 2023-24 New York Knicks christening by losing to the Boston Celtics.
While the Knicks looked a bit different this time around, extended medical absences continued to sting in a 116-102 loss to their longtime rivals on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. In the face of all they've accomplished this season, the Knicks (34-23) have struggled to take down the NBA-leading Celtics, who improved to 4-0 against New York this season.
All five Boston starters reached double figures as Jaylen Brown led the way with 30 points and former Knick Kristaps Porzingis put in 22 on 7-of-11 from the field. A primetime showdown with the hated Knicks allowed the Celtics (45-12) to further establish their spot atop the NBA standings and extend their season-long winning streak to eight games in a row.
Brad Penner, USA TODAY SPORTS
The Knicks' February strife was once again on pure display on Saturday en route to their sixth loss over the past eight games: another sterling opening dozen for Jalen Brunson (13 points, 3 assists in the first quarter) offered hope that the Knicks could hang before Boston established what became a slim yet permanent lead while he rested. Brunson ended the game with a team-best 35 points.
Still missing OG Anunoby, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson, the Knicks proved incapable of getting ahead in a shootout, shooting 51 percent in the first half while allowing Boston to sink over 66 percent. New Yorkers beyond Brunson and Miles McBride (a perfect 4-of-4 over the first 24) were 11-of-26.
Hints of hope were prevalent, however, thanks to a 12-6 run over the final three-plus minutes: the Knicks fell behind by 10 but that final spurt going into the break, capped off by a buzzer-beating fastbreak lay-up for Josh Hart (sprung by a Precious Achuiwa block of Brown) narrowed the gap to four at intermission.
That drive continued in the third period as a Hart triple and a successful and-one for Brunson immediately tied the game before Boston bunkered down: deep-balls from Brown, Porzingis, and Derrick White re-established a double-figure lead less than three minutes later, igniting a third that was defined by the triples. Boston hit 9-of-13 with an extra point on the line in the third, dooming a Knicks group that could only hit eight total (four from Brunson alone).
A double from Hart narrowed the gap to seven but Boston jumped ahead by 20 on a 19-6 run that caused the Knicks to swallow a taste of their own medicine: frequently serenaded by cheers and MVP chants for Brunson at opposing arenas this season, the Celtics' third quarter outbreak allowed MSG's green visitors to reveal themselves, offering audible pro-Boston chants over the latter stages. Amidst the jeers, the Knicks only came as close as nine the rest of the way.
Boston has a chance to pull off a five-game sweep of the Knicks come April 11 when the teams have one more matchup in Beantown.
In the meantime, the Knicks get some potential welcome relief in their next game as they'll welcome in the woebegone Detroit Pistons on Monday night (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).
