The Boston Celtics repeated the same mistakes during a 91-90 defeat on Wednesday in match 2, allowing Knicks to make a new return after being made by 20 points to take a 2-0 lead in the semi-finals of the Eastern Conference.
It is a new debacle in the fourth quarter for reigning champions, who now go to Madison Square Garden on the verge of elimination.
At the end of the third quarter, the Celtics led 73-53 after a series of 16-6. The turn of the match occurred in the last quarter when New York dominated Boston 30-17 to conclude the meeting. 12 seconds from the end, Joe Mazzulla did not take a dead time while the Celtics accused a point of delay. The Boston coach explained his decision after the match.
Why didn’t the Celtics coach have died at the end of the fourth quarter?
With 24 seconds to play, Joe Mazzulla called a dead time while the Knicks led 89-88. Jayson Tatum then allowed Boston to resume the 90-89 advantage thanks to a powerful dunk against Mitchell Robinson.
Jalen Brunson came into play in place of McBride and Karl-Anthony Towns replaced Robinson. On the following action, Brunson obtained two free throws and succeeded in giving the advantage to the Knicks 91-90 with only 12.7 seconds remaining.
Joe Mazzulla did not take time after this basket, but Jayson Tatum had the opportunity to give victory to the Celtics. However, a decisive interception of Mikal Bridges two seconds from the end sealed the victory of the Knicks. After the meeting, Mazzulla explained her choice not to call a second dead time in the last seconds.
“We had a good shot on exactly the same action 20 seconds earlier. We tried to do the same thing, but they defended better on their point of taking below, “Mazzulla told journalists. “We failed to obtain the advantage that we had on the last Dunk of Tatum. In play in the field, they released Towns, we could not get Brunson, there was a possible action, but we did not perform. »»
“When (Tatum) was going to the left, we didn’t know yet. I thought he had a good shooting window, but he didn’t take the shot, “added Mazzulla. “Time has missed. »»
Mazzulla recognized her mistakes and praised the Knicks for their rise in the fourth quarter. The bad percentage of three -point success of the Celtics cost them dear in the second period. Boston only scored 10 out of 40 out of 40 shots, after a 15 out of 60 in match 1.
“Yes, they have successfully completed each important action. Even at the end of the third quarter and at the beginning of the fourth, I think we generated good shots, but then we lost balloons and they took advantage of it, “said Mazzulla. “They did the necessary actions to win. We gave ourselves a chance, but we could not conclude. »»
The teams carried out 2-0 in a series of playoffs earn only 7 % of the time, and Boston is now under immense pressure. The Knicks have a golden opportunity to make a historic sweep in front of their audience. Match 3 between the Celtics and the Knicks will take place on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.
Credit Photo: David Butler II-Imagn Images
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