After the boss match made by Indiana on the Cleveland prosecution the day before, this is another surprise that we did not necessarily expect with the victory of the Knicks with the reigning champion!
For a long time, the TD Garden waited for a “run” from its team to be able to ignite, and it finally arrived at the end of the first half at the end of a fierce struggle which cost Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns, wet at the level of the faults.
First there was this 8-0 concluded by the Dunk of Derrick White to switch to +10 (48-38), then the three Jaylen Brown baskets in less than 90 seconds just before the break to place Boston in the ideal position (61-45). There was then the 3-point of Jrue Holiday then the two of Derrick White before the Dunk of Al Horford in counterattack to bring the brand to 72-52 to 6 minutes from the end of the third quarter. It was then thought that the Celtics would be able to manage this gap without too much problem. But that was without counting on the flawless determination and the strength of character of these Knicks!
Stunning knicks!
Very quickly, Og Anunoby and Jalen Brunson put the New Yorkers back on the right rails. The passage of Og Anunoby, author of three 3-point baskets, two throws and one dunk in the minutes that followed had the merit of settling the tone, in addition to bringing the Knicks very quickly into the race (84-83). Then came Jalen Brunson’s tour to rise in temperature, with him also three 3-point arrows and two throws which then placed his own at + 6 (91-97)!
Under pressure, Boston managed to equalize, between the key 3-point of Derrick White and Jrule Holiday’s lay-up to equalize at 100-100. Jalen Brunson then had a golden opportunity to kill the game of a left hand floater over Al Horford who did not find the net, causing five additional minutes.
Og Anunoby again showed the way by offering an authoritarian dunk in transition with the bonus fault. The salvation of the Knicks has finally passed through Mikal Bridges at 3-point, on a service of the essential Anunoby, and the Karl-Anthony Towns tap at the offensive rebound (102-108). This time, Boston failed to recover, despite the 3-point of Jaylen Brown who maintained hope. On the last possession, it was Mikal Bridges who released the evening to prick the ball and thus offer victory to the Knicks, 108 to 105!
-What to remember
The breathtaking return of the Knicks. It was as if they had waited to be stung to react. And what a reaction! With Og Anunoby then Jalen Brunson in main craftsmen of this express return, without forgetting Mikal Bridges with his 3-point and his decisive interception in overtime, the Knicks were able to offer themselves a stunning victory!
The enigmatic outing of Kristaps Porzingis. It had to be an X factor for the Celtics, it was but in the wrong direction. Obviously not at the top of its form at the start of the match, like its double failure under the circle, KP was permanently released at the start of the second quarter. The staff spoke of his famous “disease” which cost him 8 absence games in March. On arrival, the defeat of Boston is not attributable to him, the C’s having built their advance without him. But it is clear that his absence cost at the end of the match.
The choice of Jayson Tatum at the end of the match. Returning to 100-100 after having approached the correctional, the C’s had an opportunity to take over 28 seconds from the end, thanks to a monumental defensive rebound by Derrick White. However on this penultimate possession, we knew the men of Joe Mazzulla more inspired. His protégés have shown nothing, and possession resulted in a 3-point Jayson Tatum shot that did not find the sights. One of the important games of this end of the match, especially since Boston suffered 3-point throughout the match (15/60!).
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How to read the stats? Min = minutes; Shots = successful shots / tempted shots; 3pts = 3-point / 3-point attempted; LF = Successful free throws / tempted free throws; O = offensive rebound; D = defensive rebound; T = total rebounds; PD = assists; FTE: Personal faults; Int = interceptions; BP = lost bullets; CT: against; +/- = Differential points when the player is on the field; Pts = points; EVAL: evaluation of the player calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
